Louisiana Flava

Country Back Roads

Deer Hunters Weekend

It seems that four o'clock is the hour of decision at my house.  Should I or shouldn't I go.  This morning's wind had a clip of about 20 miles per hour, and the current weather report called for stormy skies.  On yesterday's trip out to the basin I noticed the wide expanse of sky surrounding a lone oak tree sitting in a sugar cane field.  Some times you should trust your instincts, but I didn't and I missed a beautiful sunrise.  Today's ride on Banker road offered only grey overcast clouds.

Gus said it was a good day for hunters.  It seemed that every pickup truck we crossed had a four wheeler parked in its bed.  This is the time of year when every father, son, brother, cousin, and uncle heads out to a deer hunters camp.. These holy grails are situated throughout the Atchafalaya Basin area.  Their locations on a GPS list them as Buffalo Cove, Cow Island, Bayou Cocodrie or Grand Lake. They are as elegant as a six room lodge or as humble as a small house boat.  What ever it may be its the deer hunters dream location for the weekend.  Tonight every camp will be filled with the aroma of seafood gumbo or wild game stews. 

After we returned home I started my own traditional first blue northerner-cold front gumbo.  Chicken, Oyster, and Andouille Sausage fills my own black pot.  Fresh and simple with no shortcuts, its a tradition that is passed on to me by my mother.  Tonight as I sit down to supper I'll be visualizing all of those black pots simmering on the camp stoves.  Pots filled to the brim with whatever the basin can provide.  This is surly a hunters dream weekend in the Atchafalaya Basin. 

Atchafalaya Beauty

 

After an early morining stop at the local bakery we drove down the levy road to Bayou Benoit Landing. As we topped the levy the sun was just coming up over the house boats docked their.  As I set up the camera I swore I could smell the aroma of strong black coffee coming from the nearest camp. 

Fall is such a beautiful time in the Atchafalaya Basin. The spectrum of light is amazing.  The rust and reds of the cypress tree leaves gives Lake Faussey Point a coffee colored look.  Kind of like caffe au lait. Seems like I'm really missing my cup of coffee this morning

We watched and waited for the perfect light and thats when I heard the hum of a motor boat approaching.