Many of the country roads in Louisiana are marked as scenic byways; this is the LA 384 past Lake Charles, on the way from Sulphur to Cameron ....
.... where more turtles catch the rays near Boone's Corner.
Alongside the walking trail through the Cameron Prairie National Refuge, this egret stalks ....
.... and tries to spike a fish.
Nothing quite so exotic - moorhens are common on lakes and ponds at home.
Another turtle - this one is somewhat slower, so has moss growing on his shell !
Now how many turtles do you need from this nest to make a good soup ?
A typical view from the car window on the Pintail Wildlife Drive ....
.... and closer inspection reveals an alligator ....
.... sunning himself on the opposite river bank.
There were 'gators everywhere we looked in this area, so we appreciated being able to drive rather than walk around here.
Next was a walk along a wildlife trail in the Cameron Prairie Refuge, where we saw two very shy nutrias ....
.... a pink spoonbill (with a submerged duck in the background) ....
.... and a red-winged blackbird in full song.
This grey heron was after his lunch ....
.... although he had to run after the fish.
Another grey heron makes a dash for a fish ....
.... then flies off to a more sheltered spot ....
.... for a good shake.
Another wader ....
.... fishes alongside another spoonbill.
If alligators may be on the trail, why can't we drive around here ?
A typical view from the "Alligator Alley" footpath, and in the middle of the picture ....
.... there is one of the 'gators.
Speaking of 'gators, in the Visitor Centre was a poster featuring amongst many others ....
.... a Navigator ....
.... an In-Vest-A-Gator and a Litigator.
From the Cameron Prairie Refuge, we drove past this interesting sign - alongside the LA27 road near Sulphur in the Sabine Wildlife Refuge.
A typical wooden house at Holly Beach.
Another typical house.
Our SVT Cobra on Holly Beach.
A purple flower in the Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge.
This is the view that most people got of our SVT Cobra Mustang, as we drove on to the TraveLodge, Lafayette (272 miles, 08:30 - 20:00, US $ 44,35).
