Old Spanish Trail in Cajun Country

We arrived at Cypress Bayou Casino where we will stay for about a week, exploring the area. This is the heart of Cajun country. We are close to the Atchafalaya Bayou, Bayou Teche, and lots of antebellum homes and old plantation homes.

But down along the levee of Atchafalaya Bayou we spotted this Cajun outhouse. Or maybe this is just a redneck outhouse.

Typical of many of the homes we saw, this home was built in 1857. Although this home is open for tours, many of the homes are being lived in. In fact, you can pick up one of these historic homes, it's on the historic register, for only $285,000. It has over 4,000 sq. ft. It was a lovely home right in the heart of Franklin, just waiting for a buyer.

There are fields and fields of sugar cane and I wanted to take a tour of a sugar processing plant, but none of the plants give tours. We did drive by one though. This plant boasts that it has been in operation since 1807. That's a long, long time.

I'm sure these buildings are not that old.

Bridges everywhere. So much water. But I love how none of the bridges are the same.

This is Morgan City. In the fall of 2009 we bought fresh shrimp right off the boat down on this pier. But no one was there today. Darn. I wanted more fresh shrimp.

I missed this when I was here in 2009, but this is Mr. Charlie, the first portable, off-shore well digging platform. Designed by Charlie Murphy, the founder of Murphy Oil. You know, the gas stations you find at Wal-Mart.....

On the way back we stopped at Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge. Some other birdwatchers pointed out this barred owl. The barred owl is one of the more common, larger owls found in North America. It is better known as a 'hoot owl'. He didn't mind getting his picture taken at all.

Then I spotted this pretty green fellow.

And then this beautiful caterpillar. Such bright colors. I guess they want to make sure you see them.

It was a nice day and this guy was sunning himself next to Yellow Bayou.

The Hilaire Lancon House, Antebellum Home. Most people think of an antebellum home as a large, pillored mansion, just like the one in 'Gone With the Wind'. And although many classic antebellum homes are of that nature, the word actually means 'pre-war', meaning pre civil war. So this home was built prior to the civil war and is still being used today.