Bayou Wauksha

Roaming Bayou Wauksha

Ok, some of my ideas are spawned from my ideas, thus making them questionable.
     That out of the way, I am free to spout anything since you know the "fact bank" from which the following ramblings originate.
Fred, that's a "disclamer" if your mouth is still opened.
      Yesterday, after eating a big old fat hamburger from John's Store, I pondered a little ride. It was about one o'clock and not too hot.
That's it for the poetry part of this ride.
      I knew to keep the ride short since overextending at this late hour could lead to bad things, like night driving, which I detest.
The sky did not threaten, but, nevertheless, I headed north away from the coast which is known for its daily downpours.
      Up the "shute" I flew, camera securely stationed in my tank bag. I rode and rode, the speedometer reaching above 50 on several occations. Nothing tugged at me. I saw stuff but "just riding" won out in the Priority War. I reached La.743, which snakes north from US190 east of Opelousas. It follows the Little Teche up to La.103 as that road exits Washington, La. going east. At that point, I took the camera out. La.103/359 follows the Wauksha Bayou up to La.10.
       Bayou Wauksha is the shorter of the three sisters that inhabit the basin between US 167 and US 71. Much has been written about the other sisters, Boeuf and Cocodrie, but not Wauksha. (here is an instance of where the disclamer applies, you'll not be warned again) I figured it was time to look a little closer at Wauksha and share it with you. It would be difficult, though, because our Louisiana foliage has been the beneficiary of continuous rains this year, and it is thick and happy.
        Riding east and then north on La.359, the beauty and contrast of the agrarian landscape just flat slapped me, again.
There was no subtleness in that slap. Simple pictures, like the ones below, depict so much. I'll let you digest the next two and get from them what you will. To borrow an adjective from my long past, I'll just say I found them pretty "heavy".
        Reflecting, it seems that my mind was primed for the rest of the trip. More "heavy" would be found. Maybe "heavy" is not the right word. Maybe "magnified" is better. Yep. I was set to see things in "magnified mode" That is the best way to take advantage of a short time allotment, resulting in a short distance allotment. The formula was written. I'd make the most of what I had by being careful and looking closer. If I keep writing, I'll be written out and there are a lot of pages left. Let's move on.

The first one hit me hard, so I took another (below). It's hard to see, so I'll explain what I saw. The truck, at the head of the line, has a "claw" device mounted on it. It seems that the claw had descended and eaten the engine.
I've seen monster movies where the "aliens" have self-distructed for some purpose*.I'm still pondering on this one.
If I hadn't been looking "close". I might have missed that. It's a lesson. (*Aliens IV and Trimmers II)

Across 359, these newer carts sat. I'm still working on the "heavy" aspect of this picture.
For now, let's go with, "I liked the colors".

I've wanted a picture of this house for a long time. I really like it. I saw that they'd just mowed the yard and felt that the place was red lining on looking good. So I stopped and worked with angles to expose what I liked most about the place. I think the opened bathroom vent on the back right of the house is my favorite feature, as I am familiar wth that device. I'm almost certain it has a fan in it. Maybe not.

I just magnified it so you wouldn't miss it. Passing over stuff is our loss.

If you had experiences with this device, please share them.

This field road was just down the ways. I've included it to make a point. La.359 rides on a ridge, a natural levee provided by Bayou Wauksha. This picture is looking east from the bayou. The decrease in elevation is obvious. At the base of the "hill", behind those trees, is Hog Bayou, a derivitive of the natural levee process which creates "back swamps". The higher land on the opposite side of Hog Bayou supports US 71. Thought you'd like to know.

Maybe "heavy" was the right word, I vasillate.
Louisiana is so well known for it's grand architecture. That's a given and, frankly, boring to me. I'm a lot more impressed by how the poor man made it. I find these little homes and think about how hard it would be to adjust to "gettin' it done" like these folks have and still do. It seems that not only the agrarian landscape, but the agrarian community would become a theme of this ride.

I saw this little house back in the underbrush.

The theme was taking root. I actually dismounted to go see more. One of the family's small pleasures was still visible, "sitting on the porch". "Sitting on the porch" transends communities, but it becomes more of a requirment when it's really hot inside. Sleeping on the porch to escape the heat is/was natural.

David said that this is a grain elevator I cannot vouch for this statement although he was a farmer. I was a motorcycle mechanic and jack of all trades minus farming. You can put your money on his statement or my previous guess of, "cotton gin", as you will. It's your money. Look, I see some cotton.

   Below is a scene I've found hard to photograph simply because I know nothing about cameras. When one works, it is a moment of celebration. This is Morain Road which short cuts west from La.359 to La.10. It is a short easy ride through the old Wauksha flood zone. Those little fan shaped plants are palmettoes. Their presence lends to the prevailing primitive atmosphere.
    I've met Mr.Morain. He sits under the shed cover of his family's old store, daily. I wave whenever I go by. I spent an hour one day with him and his friend who sits with him. They told me the whole history of the area. That was a treat.
    There's something more I want to say right here. I get mad as hell with Louisiana, its politicians, some of its people's attitudes, and more. But, these rides bolster my love for this state as if for a bad child, which I hope may one day learn its lesson and become something of which to be proud. For sure it has "the looks".
Vote Jindal.