Days 22 and 23: Independence Day, Louisiana Style

4th of July in New Orleans!!!

Today we got up early not to party, but to explore one of America’s most spectacular wonders: the Bayou. We spent the  morning on a peaceful walk through the Barataria Preserve in the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park. We meandered across boardwalks alongside Cyprus trees who’s roots descended deep into the dark alligatored marsh waters. We met with a park ranger and discussed the fragility of this serene habitat. With the construction of levees along the Mississippi River came the end of the annual river floods that deposit sediment throughout the bayou. This, along with the increased prevalence of harsh tropical storms, such as Hurricane Katrina, due to climate change, has allowed the marshlands to become more and more submerged in water. With each inch of water comes radical changes in the habitat. Environmental change in high speed.

BGB in da Bayou

Following our adventure out to the boundary waters we returned to New Orleans to ponder these changes and take in the city. It was the fourth, after all, and we decided to mosey along the river, down Bourbon Street, and onto Frenchmen Street meeting up with friends, listening to NOLA sounds and swimming through crowds along the way.

The next day brought us out of the booming city and onto the elevated roads of I-10 on our way to Austin, Texas. Again we watched the bayou waters below but this time from the perch of our rolling bus. How much disruption building this road must have caused. The magical waters below were pierced by the heavy concrete columns of the road that supported us. The costs of infrastructure. Off to Texas.

The serenity is consuming

-Sign Off AK