Leaving Monroe, Louisiana 6 am

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Monroe, Louisiana

I spent this morning hiking in the beautiful Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, in Monroe, Louisiana.  There were lots of bugs but it was worth it to see all the colorful birds, turtles, wildflowers and trees.  Below is a hummingbird that seems to enjoy posing for me for the thirty minutes or so that I stayed in the area.  The turtle in Black Bayou Lake below was cute because he balanced himself on the log and raised his feet up to dry them.

Pulled Pork and Cole Slaw in Louisiana

Monroe, Louisiana

I drove through Mississippi today and made it to Monroe, Louisiana.  I stopped at the Simmons-Wright Company store which dates back to 1884 and got to talk with owners Gary and Janice Pickett.  They were great about letting me wander around taking photographs. I stopped in Vicksburg and walked around the historic downtown, the courthouse and the Mississippi River waterfront. The photos below are two baldcypress trees (with reflections from a Louisiana bayou wetland and an old flat iron from the Simmons-Wright Company store.

Stopped for the Night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

I'm sorting through some of my shots tonight.  Here are some wildflowers in Virginia. I'm going to post my photos of Jefferson's Monticello soon.

Ominous clouds in the Great Smokie Mountains TN

Visiting Charlottesville, VA

I had a nice visit to Charlottesville, VA.  I saw Jefferson's Monticello, the historic Charlottesville downtown, drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway, hiked in the Shenandoah National Park, had dinner with some friends, saw some jazz at Miller's.  Heading to New Orleans now.