Kayaking with Alligators

Monday, March 24th we woke up in the swamps of Lousiana!  We both declared it our best nights sleep despite the gunshots all around.  They started about 11pm and stopped during the overnight rains!  So when we went down to check in to the office Julie asked about them....the local hillbillies were alligator hunting!  Hopefully there were some left to see!  Anyway we were excited to start the day!  Made coffee, took showers and had breakfast!  Again, have to say that this is the best campground yet! (And still)

Julie making breakfast (this one is for you Stacy)

First we raided an empty campground for firewood and then we set off for the nature trail.

 

Don and Sheba running around the park!  Circus tricks jumping from one table to the next!

Along the hike we met up with a woman from Quebec traveling alone with her dog (Caroline and Gypsy).  We chatted for a bit and invited her over for an evening campfire.  But first it was time to go kayaking.  

Our launching point...

Don is getting ready to go!

Julie is ready...alligators here I come

The kayaking was pretty cool!   We were kayaking through a series of channels between ponds that lead out to the Vermillion River.  We left Sheba behind in the van for this one because we didn't know what to expect with the alligators.

Don searching for an alligator

We had a few obstacles to get through...

Waters are getting murky!

During the kayak trip we heard a rather large animal on the shore, but we could never see it.  We definitely started paddling a bit faster.....but in the end we don't think it was an alligator.  Don guessed that it was a wild boar!

End of the road....guess we can't get to the river after all!

We made it this far....time to head back!

Having fun!

It wasn't until we were at our last pond that we finally saw some gators....Don first, through his binoculars.  They were laying on the surface about 50 feet away....a larger gator and the a few small ones.  We sat and watched them for awhile and turned back to our final stretch.  That is when Julie saw one floating a bit closer on the side of them.  It was time to head back.....then in our pond that we had launched from there was another one laying there....we got probably 25 feet from that one and he was the biggest....slowly slipped by and headed for the dock.  That is when we saw the wild boar munching on grass near the van.

While loading up the kayaks a few more boars came out to join the first!

Sheba...keeping watch over the boars....we were careful to keep them separated.

Overall, a great time!  with some excitement and definitely a beautiful serene setting!  It was really cool....our first of several kayaking with gator adventures had come to an end.

We spent that evening with Caroline our new friend.  She came to experience our first, hard to start fire!  The wood was wet so it took gas and finally some motor oil.  Don worked on it for about an hour.  Julie was about to give up and cook the steaks on our grill instead.   We spent a very nice evening with Caroline, sharing stories with her and learning about her adventures around the US.  She is home now....big shout out to Caroline!  Hope you made it home safe!