Lower Pearl River

Riding the Pearl Down

The Honey Island Swamp has one of those great names that draws you in. Questions come and if I tell you mine I'll have to answer them.
Adding to my own personal desire to check the place out, a reader suggested going by and, yes, he did warn me it was pretty much closed up. I had gotten a late start and this putt was just going to be a recon mission anyway. I accidently got off of La. 41 at Pearl River, La. seeing Spur 41. I wanted to check out the little town, but the road led directly to Interstate 59 where I saw the sign directing me north to, I'll be, the Honey Island Swamp. I got on the "I" and headed north. Shortly I was there. I saw this sign from a distance thinking it was a guide to the swamp. No, it was an ad for an invasion where there shouldn't be one. Why? Why would someone want to live next to a mosquito infested swamp? Why would someone want to ruin the beauty with suburban sprawl? I was sickened. Looks like seeing this place in its natural state is pretty pressing if this horror is to happen.

Up from the sign I saw the wooden bridge. Was it an old train bridge? Investigation was called for.

There were those bothersome "No Treaspassing" signs and a large "tie": across the bridge. The other side looked "buggy" and it was too early in the ride to get bitten or arrested. So, I let it go. Maybe latter?

This shot was taken from the center of the bridge.
No, I hadn't learned anything from the Bridgeport Bridge which I'd fallen through. I don't believe this is the Pearl. The Pearl is up there at the top of the picture. The "Pearl Uncertainty" would continue. This might be the West Pearl. If so, it is the begining of the "Pearl Delta".

I don't believe I had to cross a bridge to get on this road. I need to do these reports a little sooner. I do know this is the main rode back into the Pearl River WMA. (Honey Is.) The shade was much appreciated and the temperature noticably cooler.

You know how I feel about swamps? I have 500 pictures that could be this one. You've seen half of them if you've been around here a while. You'll continue to see them if you stay.

One of those questions I was not going to share with you was, "Why is this called Honey Island"? Look at the water. I think natural honey is close to that color. Could be wrong. Might be named for all the bees that inhabit the area. I didn't see any bees.

There were many dark places, also. I could hear Charlie Danials singing about the "Woody Swamp" and that you didn't want to be out there alone at night. The next question would be, "How would another person help?" And, the next, "Who'd be stupid enough"?

Heading out I saw this hole in the foliage. It led to a large lake.

This was the only opening onto the lake. Bet that development company could fix that. The WMA was closed for wild turkey nesting. I wonder if those developer guys have ever seen a mad wild turkey?