April 13, 2016 Last Evening of Winter Trip in The Lark

Here we sit at Rocky Fork State Park in Hillsboro, Ohio.  Or Ohia…as the locals would say.

Our last stop over before the last leg of the trip home.  Four months and 5 days.  I’ll figure the mileage tomorrow, bet close  to 3800.  We have been to lakes and oceans and rivers, beaches  and even a “meander”.  We hiked countless nature boardwalks. We have observed and photographed 100’s of birds.  We have seen nature at it’s scariest (storms) and sunsets at their most spectacular.

We have made many new friends, and enjoyed countless encounters with friendly strangers.

Often our only company was Eze and each other.  We shared a whole week with Jason, Michaela, Savana and Rylan at a beach house. 

We suffered no-see-ums and mosquitoes. We enjoyed good health and rode miles on our bikes.  I prepared over 300 meals aboard the Lark.  I hand washed a lot of dishes….. If there was just  a place for a dishwasher……I left with a full fridge and it never emptied. I added a few condiments: Pure Sorghum Molasses, Maldon sea salt flakes and “Slap Your Momma’s Seasoning.  Always room for a condiment.

We watched little TV, listened to music and dragged along Ed’s “Laptop”,  an Apple Desk Mac with 27” monitor!  I think there is an Apple commercial in there somewhere.

We made new friends: Eric and Laurel  alias: RavenandChicadee.com 

Yummy "Chickadee's Crab Cakes!

We ate shrimp and oysters and crawfish (some of us) and fried catfish.  I found a weakness for sweet tea and grits.  We had beignets at Cafe DeMonde and I missed the turtle soup at the Jazz festival in New Orleans.  Good excuse to go back.

We read enough historical markers along the Natchez Trace to cover American History 101-102.

The old Natchez Trail

I “shot” enough early southern architecture to fill a coffee table book. We did the entire D-Day experience at the WWII Museum in New Orleans…there were other sections of the museum, but we ran out of time.  An amazing history lesson. We lived through the revolution, the War of 1812 and the Civil War.  We walked on the Trace where ancient American people walked, where the Choctaw and Natchez Indians walked and where the “Kaintucks” walked back to the Ohio land from selling their goods in Natchez and New Orleans.

We also walked the “Trail of Tears”…. Remember the Chickasaws, the Choctaws, the Seminoles and the Cherokees….so sad.  Only one Cherokee woman managed to live to come home to Alabama before her death.

So tonight will be our last dinner on the road. We crossed the mighty Ohio River in Maysville and on into camp.  A beautiful lake view, and chilly enough to cuddle.  Just in time to be home in Cle without winterizing.  No snow boots for me, bad enough I had to switch to real shoes and socks!

Last evening at Camp...on to Cle and home.
4 months 5 days on the road in The Lark
4256 miles
:)

Two Bewitching Southern Cities

New Orleans and Natchez, Mississippi

Two beautiful Southern cities and so different from each other.  When we got an invitation to follow RavenandChickadee into New Orleans, we could not refuse.  I had been to New Orleans with my sister, Pat, once before.  I always wanted to take Ed.  The "birder" was grumpy, but agreeable.
That was until until he tried out Beignets and Chicory coffee at Cafe DeMonde.

We road on the oldest running street car in the US. And we rode it often to get around the city.  The second week of April is the "French Quarter Jazz Festival"...amazing food and music.  All free and we got our 10,000 steps in.  14,000 one day!  We drove to a ferry and crossed the River to the French Quarter.  Very cool.












We said good by and safe travels to Eric and Laurel and headed a North compass towards home.  Natchez, Mississippi.  So many of our road companions had recommended Natchez and the Natchez Trace.

We spent an evening at Riverside RV Park, literally below the river bridge into Natchez, on the La. side of the Great Mississippi River. It was a splurge for us, however, we were right on the river bank with the 3 mile bike trail to ride.

I looked back and we looked so cozy.

Camp on the River

Barge Traffic on the Mississippi River

Good Night   Sweet Dreams

Morning brought us to the Information Center for Natchez. As usual we were looking for a good place to park The Lark.  We were invited to drive right into town (really not a city) and park on the Riverfront bluff, safe and right in the center of town.

Eze gets a waterfront seat and view all day.

The Lark gets to park with the "big boys"

We had a lengthly breakfast...turned into a brunch.  Southern time again! Then we spent the day following the sidewalk tour which included kiosks to read about all of the history you were surrounded by.





Over 300 beautiful homes from prior the civil war.  They are called Anti-bellum homes. (sp?)  So southern, it was like walking through a movie set!  Natchez was Spanish and French before American, who knew.  We saw many homes and a tavern from the 1770's.. that's old. The trees, oh, the trees. Amazing oaks  everywhere.  The flowers were blooming, purple wisteria and azaelas.

Camp Bayou Signette State Park

Bayou Segnette State Park  Louisiana

Such a lovely name. So romantic and French.  I have been to New Orleans one time at a convention. This is a first for Ed.  We blew through Alabama, Mississippi and into Louisiana  Put some states on The Lark for sure. 

We have been in the Mississippi Sound and the coastal bayou for two months.  We have heard cajun music, boiled shrimp and decided catching blue crabs was more fun than all the work to cook and eat them.  Only a few times could I not understand what a native was saying to me.

And we have acclimated to island time.

Considering the number of mosquito  bites, I surely have zika virus. Ed has crossed paths with a water moccasin and I’ve grown weary of alligators.  Alligators are like old forts. Seen one, seen them all.  We have had the joy of seeing spring burst forth and the birds have not disappointed. 

Cle is calling and we did have a plan to start heading north, well at least Northwest to Natchez, Miss.  That changed when we met a delightful couple known as RavenandChickadee.com.  How could you not love an Eric and Laurel who have such an alias. They are from Oregon and have been full-timers for three years. Yes, that means they rented their house, packed their belongings and have been living in a RV trailer, a very nice one, for much of the past 36 months.

We shared the same camp on Dauphin Island, as they had visited her folks in Apalachacola, Fl and were heading back west. 

They are also birders, which also makes them very good people. 

 Their plan was revisiting New Orleans for 5 days and a Jazz Festival.  It was over wine and dinner we decided to follow them to New Orleans and attend the festival and other good things.

I am really hoping we did not invite ourselves…too much wine, perhaps.  Anyway we set out to meet in Bayou Segnette State Park. They had some errands to do and we just rewrote our trip back north.  

Raven and Chickdee's Rig   A beautiful Arctic Fox  

We put in an hour on Rt10 West  with the semi-trucks and traffic and cut off onto the beach road near Biloxi, Miss.  So glad we did.  A beautiful coast with a haunting past. We noted so much RE for sale on empty lots facing the Gulf.  Then began to realize this was Katrina territory just over 10 years ago.  So much land with all signs of history and habitation gone.  Some beat up old Live Oak trees and RE for sale signs.  All facing a beautiful white sand coast line, beach going on forever.

When I saw the sign for “Pass Christian” I remembered the stories of Katrina on the news.

So sad, but rebuilding hotels and some marinas has happened.  As we got closer to New Orleans we drove through a Wildlife Refuge and a very strange cement bulwark. What in the world? Ed nailed it as a new gate in a dike, made to close and seal up the road if necessary.  Very scary thought.

We approached the camp ground to go through what appeared to be a prison entrance, which gave way to thoughts of local wild people.  The camp road ran along a dike with each expansion numbered.  Thinking you always hear about such and such number dike being watched. Ed wanted to know if we were on the good side or bad side.  If water is coming over…neither side would be a good side.

So, presume we are below sea level….the adventure continues.

Time to join our friends with a glass of wine.

Eze Speaks of Raven and Chickadee:

“Let me start by saying WIFI has been hard to find this trip.  Every camp says there is WIFI, but that was a stretch, either it didn’t work, it never worked or you have to go to the “office”…I don’t get out that easily. Of course, try to get on mom’s hot spot. She guards that like gold. So, for me to blog is a special treat.

I want to talk about “list birds”.   It all started when my humans met Raven and Chickadee. Now what kind of humans name themselves after birds?  You may know, although politically incorrect, I am a birder, a lister in fact. I know Chickadees when I see them.  They are common on my table feeder at home in Ohio.  I have never seen a Raven.  I have a theory.

Chickadee is really Laurel, she admitted to that and took quite a liking to me. She is a cat person and had a sweet baby of her own for 17 years.  It was Raven I have a problem with.

Raven is a lot like my human dad.  He is a birder for sure, talks birds, knows birds and “speaks bird”.  Yes, he ID’s with sound,  knowing bird language.  That caused me to question: was he really the unknown Raven? He had a lot of face hair and wore a jungle Jim hat … to conceal his identity perhaps? Was I in the company of a Raven?

I know my imagination is running wild, but still….

Yes, I’m going with Raven….I need a new "list bird."  Got the Carolina Wren just yesterday in Tenn. and wild turkeys on the Trace. Until I see evidence on IBird Ultimate (of which I never get a turn on the Iphone)….yes, I’m adding Raven to my list.”

Eze

                                                 ***************************

I knew I should not have let Eze on the hot spot. He is charming when he begs.  Of course, Eric is the Raven in www.RavenandChickadee.com.  Eric and Laurel are full-time RV’ers and the most interesting couple. Their "real" home is in Ashland, Oregon.  They have been out on the road three years in their lovely Arctic Fox. Eric is a very good birder, indeed. We also share a love of fine food and good wine. 

Laurel is a professional writer and blogger which causes me to pause. I ramble on my blog with little experience with journalistic endeavors.  I just know she is going to read this. Be kind, Laurel. :)  

Ed and I so enjoyed their  company; we met on Dauphin Island and we followed them to New Orleans.  We didn’t have New Orleans on our travel agenda, however that is what a road trip can become. Destination unknown.  We spent two days together at the French Quarter Jazz festival.  We did a wonderful walking  tour in the Garden District. Ed had his first Beignets and Chicory coffee.  Eric (alias Raven) and Laurel were so kind to offer their vehicle to get us from camp to the Ferry to the French Quarter, a wonderful adventure together.

I know our paths will cross again. We look forward to seeing you, Raven and Chickadee, soon!

Eric and Laurel  Alias: Raven and Chickadee

Davy Crockett and Meriweather Lewis Slept here:

I have never blogged before in "real time".  Tonight is the exception.  This is one of the last nights on the road for this winter trip of 2015-2016.  I am feeling so nostalgic.  How is our 4 month trip so close to being over? Is is possible?

We left home from Ohio on Dec. 9th, 2015 wondering if we could be happy on the road 4 months? Here it is April 10, 2016 heading full tilt north, back to Ohio.  We share the sentiment of our friends on the road.  Once you are 3 days from home, all you want is to be at home.  We are feeling that this evening.  Also we are feeling the joy of our adventure.


We have covered great distance,  a stop at Okefenokee  Swamp in Georgia and Christmas week on Amelia Island, Ga. Christmas Eve with our dear friends, Sue and Don, and Christmas holidays at their house watching Cairo, Eze's cousin.

We traveled over to visit my dear Aunt Carol and Jim and moved on west to the Emerald Coast (panhandle of Florida). We traveled a similar route last year, this year adding a few new parks and springs to our itinerary.  I enjoyed a visit with a high school friend in Santa Rosa Beach.

This year was "Dauphin Island Birding" winter.  We booked 60 days and awaited the birds to start Spring migration.  Listed 126 species.  In the mean time we walked the beach, biked many miles and waited for Jason and family to join us on Dauphin.

We had such a wonderful time with the "kids". There was crabbing and beaching afternoons and great food and fun.  There was a "LIFER" found by Jason, the Clapper Rail.  Kayaks were launched and seafood eaten. I spent as much time as would allow with my beautiful grand daughters. As always, the time went by too quickly.

We made new and interesting friends, some I hope forever friends.  We parted the Island, over the bridge,  heading for New Orleans. Hopefully we will return someday.

A New Orleans adventure, a Natchez, Miss. history lesson and  a north heading on the Natchez Trace. A history lesson every few miles.  Ancient Americans, 200years AD, mound builders walked the Trace.  American Indians, the Choctaw and Natchez and the Chickasaw Indians followed. "Kaintucks" from W.Va and Ohio and Pa. walked back home on the Trace after floating down the Mississippi River to sell goods. Only took them a month! Confederate soldiers are buried along the Trace.  So much American History.  The sad "Trail of Tears" story comes alive along the Trace.

Tonight we are parked up on a hill in Davy Crockett State Park.  Pretty much by ourselves, only a few other travelers.  A rainy afternoon to finish up the Trace, we have had a nice dinner with a good red and are playing "Southern Traditional" music, a collection of old-time southern favorites performed on mandolin, banjo, guitar, and fiddle.

I chose the music at the store  of the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail, one of 400 parks in the National Park System, celebrating 100 years this year.  That is a very good thing. Our National Parks are such a gift to every American.

So, our trip is ending, should be home in a few days.  Feeling sad, must be the music and/or the wine. That is what happens when you blog in real time.

Be Well,
Diana

Vacation from an Adventure

April 3, 2016 

I’ve been busy recording birds on the migration.  Have not had a moment to write about anything else.  So to catch up with Our Life In The Lark:

I call last week a vacation from an adventure, not a vacation from a vacation.  We don’t consider our four month adventure a vacation at all.  It’s a learning opportunity, it’s an escape from northern winter and it’s birding.  That entails a lot of work.  Pleasant, but still work.  We do all of the things that need being done when you are home. Cooking, cleaning, bill paying, entertaining and shopping.  We have been doing it at Island Time.  Add Southern Time to that and it is any wonder anything gets done. 

We have a lovely bakery on the Island.  If there are five people in line ahead of you…well, just plan a lengthly wait for your bread or the best Pecan cinnamon roll ever.  Ed feels Island time is perfect.  Eze is OK with it….I’m doing better than last year.

Back to vacation last week.  Jason and Michaela and the girls, Rylan and Savana, joined us on the Island for a week.  Their spring break in Davis, Ca. worked with Spring Break here on the Island.  We planned this last year as a rendezvous.  Pap-Pap and WaWa split for a beach house (a bucket list item for me) and the kids bought tickets to fly.  

What a wonderful time we had.  A great big 2 story beach house with a back yard, our own private docks and view over the Mississippi Sound.  The front of the house faced the Gulf Beach.  

We did stuff.  Kids kayaked the marsh from the house.  We dined and drank with style (never hurts to have an exec chef in the family),  we “beached” “shelled” “crabbed” and  hiked the Audubon.  Jason got us all a LIFER, a Clapper Rail in the scope.  He is heading down the birder path. 

We ate ice cream before supper and stayed up late.  Eze tolerated the girls and was won over by Rylan by the end of the week.  The girls camped one night  with Pap-Pap in the Lark in the driveway.  I preferred the use of soaking tub and master suite.  I suppose in the biggest of buss RV’s  there are bath tubs, not so the Lark.

As all of our time with the “kids”, time goes by too quickly.  The week flew by.  They went on to several days in New Orleans.  Had a great time, as Facebook tracked their adventures for us.

They are back home and we are enjoying our last week at camp Dauphin Island.

We found Dauphin Island on the web for last years Lark adventure.  We spent thirty days winter 2014-15 and returned to spend 60 days this winter.  60 days is too long for us in one spot is the verdict.  Saying later into April was the birding thrill this year.  The migration started the last of March and is going full steam.  We have over 125 specious on the Island this year and 7 LIFERS.  Our life list is close to 350…will hope to get there by the end of this week.

Our next adventure takes us NW to Natchez, Miss. and then North to Nashville Tenn. via the Natchez Trace.  A parkway of history, 50 MPH speed and no stop signs.  Said to be as beautiful in the spring as the Skyline Parkway in Va.  We shall see. The adventure continues.

THE BIRDS ARE ARRIVING....a continuation of the last three blogs on Dauphin Island

If you are following our bird and bird list for Dauphin Island, this is a continued list from Feb. and March and April blogs.

Yellow-Throated Vireo  LIFER

April 2, 2016



My last entry on OurLIfeInTheLark shows 121 species on Dauphin Island since we arrived.

The birds are arriving daily across the Gulf of Mexico and Landing on Dauphin Island.

This is what we came for and are not disappointed.

Tennessee Warbler

Blue Winged Warbler

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

LIFER  Yellow-Throated Vireo

#125

American Redstart

#126

Summer Tanager

Yellow Billed Cuckoo