A return trip to Gulf Islands National Seashore

A week ago last Saturday was the grand opening of the Visitor’s Center for this National Park.  I was busy attending the air show at the Air Force Base, so I missed it.

Everything had to be rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina, and I guess it took over five years!  The new VC has lots of educational displays, and the 20 minute or so video about the park is well worth the time to view. 

The first thing I noticed as I arrived was the profusion of blooming azaleas. 

It was hard not to take a million pictures of them.  They were just glorious.

Emma tried to be patient while I hovered from bush to bush with my camera.  It never ceases to amaze me that if I say, “Time for a picture,” she stops pulling on her leash, and waits until I’m done.  She’s such a wild child in the rest of her life, why is this the only time she is calm?  Of course, if someone walked by, that calmness would be right out the window!

Then we headed out to see how things had changed along the trail we did in February.  Things were beginning to bloom this time around.

It looks like the Southern magnolias that are found along the trail are getting ready to bloom.

I found the work of this caterpillar along the way on some of the magnolia leaves.  It was resting along one of the buds of what I think will be a blossom.  Guess I’ll be taking this trail again in a week or two.  I really want to see the magnolias in bloom.

On the way back to the car, we encountered this 6’ long fellow out basking on the other side of the boardwalk.  Skies were overcast, but he didn’t seem to mind.

It’s hard to see, but we also spent some time watching this river otter fishing the Davis Bayou.  All in all, a great outing today.  While at the Visitor’s Center, I spoke with the volunteer coordinator about opportunities here.  My thoughts are for next winter/spring.  Solo’s are required to put in 32hrs/week, and the park provides a site in the campground.  The red flag that went up for me was that the site included water and electric, but I’d have to move the rig every two weeks to dump the tanks.  Packing up every two weeks while volunteering that many hours is not something I’m willing to do at this point.  Too bad for them. 

 

The skies are beginning to rumble outside, and the forecast is for 2-3” of rain in the next 36 hours.  I’ve rolled in all the awnings, and packed away my rocker in preparation.  There’s a tornado watch on until 10:00 tonight, so I’ll be monitoring the weather radio, and am prepared to pull in the slides and get us to headquarters if necessary.  I hope you’re all in fair weather tonight.

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy