Campin' on the Bayou

Yesterday, after a big breakfast and some housekeeping chores, we headed to the Mississippi Sandhill Cranes National Wildlife Refuge. It was the first such refuge established under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. At that time, Mississippi cranes were down to about 30-35 in number. These are not the same guys who migrate to Nebraska. I don't think they have any biases against the Huskers; they just don't migrate. We didn't see any of the 130 or so birds that live on the sanctuary because midday is apparently their siesta time but did watch an informative video, browsed the exhibits, and walked a nature trail on the restored wet pine savannah.

The dedication and helpfulness of the National Park Service and their volunteers never fails to amaze me. They are very knowledgeable and obviously dedicated to their work. The only disappointment was that our visit coincided with the only cloudy part of the day.

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Earlier in the day, while Butch was tracking down the nearest RV dealer for a replacement sewer cap, I walked down to a boardwalk overlooking a 'nursery' area and read the alligator warnings. Didn't see any, but I felt very brave.

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For supper we got wild and crazy and ate out--a chance to sample the local cuisine. We ate at Anthony's Under the Oaks--a very apt name because the oak in front of the place could shelter the whole town. The restaurant looks over the bay and has a wonderful view of the sunset. I had a very good broiler grouper while Butch had the seafood casserole. Every place we have been, we have learned more about the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. The 26-foot storm surge covered the restaurant as well as the Visitor's Centers here at the National Seashore and at the crane refuge. Many places have only been reopened since 2010 or later, even though the hurricane was ten years ago.