Feb. 12, 2010 Snow, AGAIN!!

Two snowfalls in one winter? Amazing! This was only an inch or two, and the minute it stopped snowing it all began to melt. Snowed from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m., and all snow was gone by noon. The snowflakes were more like small wet clumps of snow. Mighty pretty while it's coming down, though!

Jan. 27, 2010 Tammany Trace Rail-Trail bike ride

We drove to Fontainebleau State Park (near Mandeville) and parked there. Our bike ride was from the park to the newly-opened bridge over Bayou Lacombe. For many years, it was a railroad bridge that was permanently open to water traffic and the bike trail stopped at the bridge. They finally renovated it into a lift bridge for the larger watercraft that pass by. (yay!) It was a fine sight to see, that brand new bridge for bicycles!

Here we are at Fontainebleau; the dead liveoak with a twist, been there forever; and as we get rolling on the trail, we see this boat which has had better days.

Fine-looking biker-dude! View of new bridge. Fisherman just below bridge who was happy to chat while he caught crappies (sac-a-lait).

Ancient, majestic liveoaks at the park, full of graceful spanish moss. Plus we had a full moon to peek at all afternoon.

After the ride, these are the bikes on the rack. As a bonus, I got a picture of a great horned owl (thanks to a serious cameraman who I followed...). Sunset on Lake Pontchartrain from Rips on the Lake, where we had supper.

Jan. 18, 2010 Clark Creek Nature Preserve, MS

Clark Creek Nature Preserve is north of St. Francisville in the Tunica Hills of Mississippi. It is a lovely drive, and the hiking is wonderful, although it gets pretty steep in places. This creek is famous for its six waterfalls; the first three are the most accessible, and that's what we visited.

The start of the trail; how nice of them to include a comfy swing to observe the open area; and the first set of stairs.

Here is Waterfall No. 1.

The streambed is a big pile of gigantic chunks of clay; saw kids & adults who hiked IN this streambed between waterfalls (bet their feet were freezing!); Waterfall No. 2.

Here is where we stopped to eat our sandwiches. Lovely!

Waterfall No. 3. Only accessible by crossing the creek.....

The old Pond Store, near the trailhead. The old Pond, complete with donkeys!

This donkey yelled at me and appeared to be pretty old; then I visited with the two Mama donkeys with their young'uns.