Big Nasty

So, it turns out when you’re a fifth-generation fisherman and shrimper in Louisiana there’s a fair chance you’ve nicknamed an alligator or two.  Ronnie was our guide today on an airboat trip around the swamp, and he had a particular 12-foot-long gator all picked out to show us.  He called that one “Big Nasty.”  There were others, including “Little Nasty,” but I digress.  

Where to begin- okay- today, we got on a shuttle just after 10:30 that took us to a swampy area.  Once there, we all donned plastic rain ponchos and took a seat on an airboat.  Our guide was Captain Ronny, and he sounded like he should be an airboat operator.  He said his family had been living in the area and working in the fishing and shrimping business for five generations.  We raced through the water on Ronny’s airboat to a spot where he knew we could see some alligators.  Then, he cruised to another stop, then another- until we had seen a whole lot of gators.  Ronny said Alligators respond to vibrations in the water, so when he tapped a long stick against the surface of the water, the gators came.  He would use marshmallows to entice the prehistoric animals toward his position by either floating them in the water or popping one on the end of a stick like he was about to roast it on a campfire.  It was raining the whole time we were on the boat, and for that, we were all glad for the ponchos.  They did a reasonably good job, but we’re all still drying out from the adventure.  

The whole thing was amazing.  The rain, the gators, the fifth-generation fisherman- everything balled up together to make this one of the strangest experiences I think any of us have had on a vacation.  I don’t really know what else to say, but it was so flippin’ cool.  Tick another item of my to-do list. That was certainly unique.  

Oh, and in case you’re keeping track, today was the day that Cas and I finally broke out the magic ponchos.  These are the rain ponchos we have taken on every trip we’ve gone on.  In fact, I took them on my 40th birthday trip with my dad the summer Cas and I first started dating.  Those ponchos are older than my marriage.  And they’ve been around the world.  I kind of wanted some sort of ceremony when we finally used them today, and as it turns out, they got a baptism by swamp water and rain.  I guess that did the trick.  

Anyhow, when everyone is dry, we will reassemble and head to our next destination- I think what’s on deck is a visit to the Sazerac house, where we’ll get a tour and a bit of a tasting.  Nothing to top off an airboat trip through a gator-filled swamp like a little booze.  

In the meantime, here we are with the ponchos, Ronny in the background and a little bit of rain. 

Photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/chay3CBSmG5aSwXr6