Atchafalaya Basin

Much of today's drive was spent on the I-10, which runs the full length of the south of the country from Jacksonville, Florida to Los Angeles. We joined it near Baton Rouge Louisiana. This shot was taken from the car as we crossed the Atchafalaya Basin, the nation's largest swamp wilderness. It is about 20 miles in width from east to west, and about 150 miles in length. It is filled with bayous, bald cypress swamps, and marshes that give way to more brackish conditions and end in the Spartina grass marshes, as it nears the Gulf of Mexico. It is susceptible to heavy flooding and is sparsely inhabited. The I-10 crosses the basin on elevated pillars in a continuous 18.2 mile bridge. Today was sort of the reverse of yesterday, with blue skies and sunshine in the morning, giving way to overcast skies in the afternoon, and ultimately, as we approached Houston, it started to rain. We finally reached Jen and Jason's appartment around 6pm. We were greeted by Jason, as Jen was still at work - she's a nurse, and works 12-hour shifts. She should have got off at 7.30, but it was more like 8.15 when she called to say she was ready to be picked up. So we all went along with Jason, so we could see where she works, and went out to eat at a Thai restaurant on the way back. Philip arrived soon after we got back to the appartment, after his almost 7 hour drive from San Angelo, Texas.

One year ago: Nativity and cards