The spaceship that flies out of the marsh

January 11-13

I came in early evening on Monday, finding a cheap motel outside of Baton Rouge. The drive was uneventful and quite easy. With the next day I was so nervous I accidentally drove the wrong direction down I-10, and couldn't turn around till 12 miles later. If no one is familiar with the part of Louisiana, most of the area is swamp and exits have to be planned in advance, with many signs saying, “No Exit for 'x' miles”. Despite the error I arrived on LSU's campus nearly on time. The area around the campus is really cute and nice. I feel a little naive for expecting it to be beaten up and ghetto. I would later learn that most of the students don't find Baton Rouge to be all that great, but enjoy Layfette much more. It apparently has a good music scene and many festivals.

As per the usual, everyone in the room was quiet, and most of the morning was taken up with paperwork and online training for various things. Once afternoon hit we packed up the vans and cars, heading to Southeast Louisiana. We bought waders and wader boots at a Cabelas and ended the night at a place called LUMCON near Dulac, La. LUMCON (Louisiana University Marine Consortium) is a large marine research center in a very rural fish town, that jumps out of the marsh, “like a giant space-ship”. The state owns the facility, allowing all schools and state organizations to use it. The complex centers around a large tower that looks out across the bayou and marsh. There are about four arms coming from the tower that contain laboratories, dorms, and apartments. This center feel like Jester and contains every student amenity like washer dryer, TV, internet, lounges, and a volleyball court. During the summer, the facility is overrun with college students taking special courses, but in Winter was relatively empty. The only tenants were either faculty members or Entrix, the BP hired organization doing similar projects as us.

The center itself was very fascinating to walk around in, because it's a marine research nerve center. It was very boring because there's not much to do and hardly anywhere to explore. The rural fishing town contains houses on the canals and most of them are empty in the winter. The nearest restaurant is 20 miles north in Dulac. Luckily there were 10 of us, plus any Entrix employees that would gather in the lounge. When we weren't training we were joking in the lounge getting to know each other. All in all nothing to complain about, except the blistering cold. Not having lived in any sort of cold climates I knew quickly I'd have to adapt. While this part of Louisiana should have a similar climate as central Texas, an arctic cold front had just came through and the wind was blowing heavy most of the time we we're there. The high never reached higher than the low 40's and the wind was freezing.

The habitat was really nice with miles of tall marsh grass covering half the horizon. Egret's, Night-herons, and other wading birds cover every exposed wetland. This alone made me really excited. While driving in the vans, you could look out the window and find uncommon species easily. I have been feeling my love for herons and their allies rising as of recent.

As Thursday came, I was told I'd be staying at Lumcon, then was switched at the last minute to Pass-a-Loutre. Thus my fate was sealed. Friday afternoon I left Lumcon, perhaps never to see it again.