Figuring after the success in finding something to show you in Lake Arthur, the rest of the ride would be blah. It was so blah and straight that I took a picture of this turn in the road. It was really a rare occurance. Notice it is at the parish line. Were the Jeff Davis and Cameron surveyors off a little?
  I passed this sign on 14 which said "Refuge", and that was all. Like I said, pickins were getting slim, so down the road I went. Not far.
   There's this big bird running down the road in front of me. Finally it gains lift off speed and climbs only to sputter out. I passed him, but turned around and he was waddling the other way. He was exhausted and
cowled in this bunch of grass. I saw no blood.  If I could have taken him to a doc, I would have. After the picture, he got up and waddled on into the brush and swamp. Good luck buddy.
   No, signs, no occupants, and I'm not going to make up anything, this time..  It's an old house in a beautiful setting. 
The Mermentau River  at the Refuge Headquarters.
The Refuge guys have provided a short walk out into the Mermentau back swamp. Back swamp is the wetland that is located behind a rivers natural levees. The river floods and silt is built up as the waters try to return to the river. Water is left behind the levee and new water cannot get to the river and forms a swamp. Every time I use that phrase I have to do this. If you would read the other articles you would know this already. Sorry, I taught a short while.
Dead tree at the swamp walk.
   Leaving the Refuge's office area, turn left on the first paved road. It is marked by a brown "refuge" sign. It will also have "dead end" marked a little ways down. Take this road. It is beautiful. And not long. There is a viewing platform where the sign below was photographed. It overlooks some ag project that displays what they are talking about. It also has FREE telescopes for viewing birds or whatever.  Your money proudly at work.
   Scene along that road. The irises have been "burnt" by earlier freezes and frost. It's 75F today by last week, 32F.  Louisiana, even our weather is diversified.
    Lacassine, could have spent a day exploring just this bayou. At the town of Lacassine, there is a great campground on the river. Remember. Ok, time to leave, you know the drill, hit "next".