I will return, but not yet. Need to explore more first. A bit like a riptide, pulling you back in over and over with such force you could just throw your arms up and say fine ill float. One final thrust and I was off in my journey again with a completely new out look on who I am and who I want to be
Fish abounds down here and feasting on fresh caught shrimp and fish for breakfast.
Seeing this contraption the first time it reminded me of a baby incubator and intimidating to say the least.
I was told it didn’t work. Well that was just a challenge. After a couple driver upgrades and software adjustments we were running some pretty basic stuff. My need to push the edge and valentines on the cusp, I wanted to do a basic heart. Back to my vector graphic skills that that are a bit rusty, I made a nice heart. That had a cute little attribute I didn’t expect but started a nice little token exchange.
It started with positive affirmations in an open heart. All my new friends on the island got one and some even got the extremely difficult monarch butterfly..
to these amazing creations in hearts or circles for the heart un friendly
Ive been asked for things more grand isle, even told the sea turtle will piss off the shrimp fishermen. /seriously?
Now I will forever think of Grand isle as the home town of hometowns. The people are super friendly, although most Hi’s are followed up with what are you doing here? Running from the law.. .. ? Your concerned look is no concern as you will soon find out the rumors are true and as good heated this town is the roots are from pirates themselves and some locals are all to willing to let you know that is their heritage. From coast to coast this little town has a ton to offer.
There seems to be a mixed consensus on the edibility of these wild bananas that grow in southern coastal Louisiana. I decided I would have to try them for myself. For the most part I found the green ones inedible no matter how I prepared them. I tried boiling them like the Jamaicans, grilling them and even just plain. Not tasty.  But if you let them completely ripen to past what I consider edible for the traditional banana with brown spots and such, they become sweet and tender with just a little al dente bite in the middle almost like a just ripe traditional banana with a little green still on the end. My favorite banana now. Cant wait till next year when all the banana trees come back after the first freeze down here in years killed most of them. Good thing is they will come back I just have to have patience.
Farming as in Oysters farms. One of my all time favorite foods in the world and this being the place in the world best known for oysters how could I turn down an invitation to see a real oyster farm with some brand new techniques being used down here. I climb onto the “party barge” as it was named with the Executive Director of the port commission and his trusty side kick. We zipped around the Caminada pass between the main land and the island the fog was think and the waters were a little rough. There was actually a “Fogbow” as we termed it in the sky.
these oyster farms on a few acres of water ways in the Caminada Pass suspend from the surface in large barrel like structures. The Oysters are turned every day by the farmers making them grow faster and more plump. Using three-chromosome variety grown from seeds that can not reproduce the farms have more control over the final product.
The are wonderful oysters. The shells are a little more brittle and that make them hard to shuck for even the most experience shucker.
After a couple minutes on a grill they an be shucked pretty easily by me a complete novice. they are salty, plump and delicious!!
The hospitality on this island just never seems to end. Alone for the holidays one of the repeat residents in the marina told me about the mayor’s Christmas party. He says every one on the island is invited and it is free food and drinks for all. So the night arrives and of course I haven no one to go with, showing up alone is always interesting.  I met so many interesting people from the door to the end of the night. The music was amazing, reminds me of the old time be bop music and 12 inch distance dancing my mother used to talk about when she would go to a sock hop. No bumping and grinding, some how the simple things still seem to be the best things in life. I left with sore feet, rubbery legs and a few new friends. I did however find out it is actually an invitation only party that I may have inadvertently crashed, but it was worth it!!!
After getting pretty good at casting off the pier, I decided to try my luck on the beach. Cowboy fisherman john was already there. I hesitantly send my hook out into the water, only to have my misguided dog think we are playing fetch with the bobber. I drop the pole and go running into the surf to man the dog. Petrified he will get hooked, I drag him into shore completely tangled in my fishing line. Finally he is free and I reel in my hook to find I caught a fish. The very first cast in the gulf of Mexico.  I’m hooked on fishing now! Since I have caught many of this little guys, a 3 foot shark, a 48 inch bull red and a crab. Yes a crab on a hook and all with shrimp bait.
First month long stay!!
This is a great place to jump off the beaten path. Being off season, it is very quiet and relaxing. I’m learning to fish. Having the best of a pier and the gulf coast beaches to learn.
First thing I noticed was all three stages of the elderberry tree, flowers and berries and new buds??? Other flowers doing the same. What A cool place!!#!
My Wandering Journey 