One of the many things that Ed arranged for our stay in Louisiana was a swamp tour with his friend Gene Seneca. We didn't really know what to expect, but this was a major highlight of the trip (at least for me).
"Cheese"
Grateful that Rhiannon and Dustin were able to join us for the tour.
Atchafalaya swamp.
Perpetually making sure Owen didn't go overboard.
Daddy & Owen
The Dow Family enjoying a perfect day in the sunshine.
Gene, our tour guide.
He is a real Cajun with his ancestors from Nova Scotia, Canada. He was a wealth of information and insight about the area, oil businesses that have come through the swamp, as well as alligator hunting which he does every September (alligator season). As a side job/hobby he takes movie crews (mainly documentary) through the Atchafalaya swamp, and does contract work taking alligators to touristy locations.
A bald eagle perched atop this tree.
Letting the boys take a turn driving the pontoon.
Dustin, Kaden, and Rhiannon.
And then we finally spotted one.
Apparently they are as just as scared of us; he didn't hang around long after hearing our boat before disappearing under the water.
looking quite serious
Married 9 years
...and 15 weeks pregnant with baby #3
beauty in the swamp
Cruising under the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. We drove over this bridge twice on I-10 on our way to/from Baton Rouge.
sweet boy... almost 5
Also hard to see but a prickly pear cactus was placed in the crack of the highway 40 years ago when the water was almost up to the road. Crazy that it survived and is still thriving today.
The Dows, July 2014
Crawfish carving at the Grosse Tete visitor's center.
baby alligator (the "nice" one)
After Gene taped his mouth shut, we were able to hold him/her.
Rhiannon not as excited about holding the alligator. But she was braver than Owen.
For a 6-month old baby, that critter was muscular and strong!
Kaden was brave enough to pet it.
Owen- not so much... He liked to admire from a good 3-feet away.
Relaxing in our dueling rockers while waiting for dinner at Parrain's Seafood.
Yes, we tried the alligator... And really liked it!
