Tag: Mississippi green water snake

Until we meet again: Farewell to friends and all that nature has to offer at St. Bernard State Park, LA

This campground, a wildlife paradise near New Orleans, was the turning around point for my journey.

Spiderwort burst into bloom during my 12-day sojourn.

I left Louisiana this morning, to begin my long journey back to Maine. It was sad. For this “62-plus” solo RVer, St. Bernard State Park was the perfect campground (except for the fire ants). With the senior discount, the cost for my water and electric site was just $14 per night. I also lucked out with a long green space that led back to a busy wetland full of wildlife. There were hot showers, an on-site laundry, and it was an easy 18-mile drive to the French Quarter. The main road near the campground goes straight into New Orleans and becomes Rampart St., with parking readily available.

My backyard wildlife list included a red-eared slider, little blue heron, alligator, raccoon, and a pair of yellow-crowned night herons, as well as the almost hourly call of the barred owls.

Best of all was time with friends – Sue and Roy, my camping neighbors from Blythe Island in Georgia, and Al and Ingrid, who I met here in the manner I often do, when Al came over to guide my backing up. I am improving, but I don’t want to get so skilled that I no longer make wonderful friends this way!

Al’s smoked chicken quarters and deer wraps with bacon made for a fine picnic!
Roy provided much needed moral support for my refrigerator repair. I miraculously discovered the problem (a blown thermal fuse), thanks to advice on the Grand Design owners’ forum.
Young alligators in the lagoon beside the state park’s nature trail. There were seven that day, all the same size, in one small area. Later, I would return with Sue to find a huge mother alligator in the same spot, with foot-long babies sunning on her back.
Sue, Roy, and I took a four-hour guided kayak tour of the Manchac Swamp
A non-venomous Mississippi green water snake
This campground, a wildlife paradise near New Orleans, was the turning around point of my journey.
Roy and Sue in their canoe, with shrimping boats in the background. We explored the salt marshes of Bayou Bienvenue yesterday. After all the meals and rides and campfires they’ve shared with me, it was fun to show them the abundant birdlife, especially a gorgeous pink roseate spoonbill.