Grand Isle

The J/Kat and I seem to keep finding places that are more remote than anything that I have previously done. If you look at a map of Louisiana you will see what I mean. A non-discriminating look will tell you that you can drive across the bottom of the state through New Orleans and Lake Charles and you will have seen southern Louisiana. A closer inspection will reveal some out of the way places down in what may be the marshes, swamps, or bayous. Grand Isle is out beyond that. As you can see on the map it’s one peninsula west of the Mississippi Delta, passed the last oil rig service area, turn left and “go straight on till morning”, or about 20 more miles. I can’t recall the miles but it must be 60 or 70 and about a 2 hour dead head each way. Most of it was along the LaFourche (I think) canal. Anyway it was some canal. We didn’t stop anywhere along the canal mostly because of the parking; we just wouldn’t fit in most places. So I don’t know much but I think this was mostly a canal that would serve the fishing and fishing related industry. There were lots of what appeared to be fishing, shrimping, or crabbing vessels. My best guess anyway. Then as we got further south and east we were driving on nothing much more than a sandbar. But finally we did get to Grand Isle.

Grand Isle is both a city and state park, and of course we stayed in the state park. Louisiana has pretty nice state parks and this was no exception. It may even have been better than most. So we had all the usual amenities and were only a few hundred feet from the Gulf. The weather was great and we had some good walks on the beach and got a little sun. Yeah and it felt goooood!!!!! We met an Oregonian in passing and a little bit later he (Len) came down to invite us to a barbecue they were having with a few friends. We agreed to come and bring a little dish. When we got there, there was a crowd of 30 or so folks and Len was fixing enough ribs and pork roast for all. We found out that he and his wife had come down after Katrina to help and stayed on a while. Friends and all were very nice folks. I talked to the Postmaster of Grand Isle and she filled me in a little on the community. It’s not as robust as it once was apparently. Not enough to do for the younger generations. It really is pretty much just a retirement community and apparently health care is difficult because of the long drive, so the older folks are moving out and not being replaced as in the past. I also learned the Post Office is just as screwed up here (New Orleans) as it is everywhere. We had some laughs and stories to share. Fun!, but that is too big a subject to cover here.

Grand Isle was good and I’d have to say I’d go back if circumstances were right.