Today we explored the Bayous east of the city. We ventured along I-90 and found Bayou Sauvage not far from the city. The first site we visited did not inspire confidence that this would be an uplifting experience. A burned-out pickup truck marked the entrance to the bayou trail. Only the shell of the pickup truck remained.
The next stop was much more promising—a boardwalk that stretched almost a mile along a forested bayou. We saw snowy egrets, a blue heron, fuzzy caterpillars, and geckos. No panthers or boa constrictors, though there was scat (possibly from wild pigs) and paw prints from a large raccoon (we think).
When we returned from our walk, two volunteers with the fish and wildlife department had arrived to scout the area and do repairs and cleanup. They had waited until we returned because they wanted to see who was from Maine. As it turned out, they had just finished a three-month assignment in Calais, Maine, where they have volunteered for the past seven years. They were happy to connect with some residents of the state.
Life is filled with happy coincidences!