Day 43 Cont'd (Part 2 of our Swamp Cruise)
Like the start of the first part of the Tour, we began with a high speed jaunt for about 5-10 minutes upriver and then we slowed and slowly slid into Maple Slough a little (just barely wide enough for the boat) side channel with overhanging branches and undergrowth.

Captain Mike had to work to keep us  off the brush and not get slapped by outstretched branches.  He explained some of the Flora and insects (like the 3" garden spider we saw) This was an old Cypress swamp that had been harvested about 100 years ago, and they had left a channel winding through the stumps.  They had also replanted much of the forest at that time, but there was much evidence of the original stumps, as Cypress almost never rots.

We quickly  saw some marshmallows floating and this time we knew what that meant and we quickly scanned for gators and almost always found one sunning himself or lurking along the weeds of the banks.

We wound through this swamp until we met a another boat returning from their trip into the swamp. No one could believe we could both fit by each other but the two Captains accomplished it without even touching.

On our return to the main river, we came upon "Big Al".  He was a 10' Alligator in all his glory.  He came out from the bank to greet us and refused a few marshmallows, but was a little more interested in hot dog pieces,  He wasn't about to jump for them like the smaller gators.
Our return to the dock was again only after a high speed run back down the river, and all in all everyone agreed that this was a very enjoyable day and much better than shopping or sightseeing in New Orleans.  I guess that's just the kind of folks we are!