Because its pre Mardi Gras

 Tom and I decided to get out of dodge and headed down Route 11 

(eventually) toward Venice.

We traveled the highways and byways - checking out every nook

and cranny.

 I did practice my drive by photography skills and loved the sky on the

photo above, and the trees.

 We coasted into a marina and found this awesome view. 

The fisherman had a redfish on his line.

 And then we came across shrimpers. For those of you who know me,

know that shrimpers make me swoon.

 Cemeteries make me swoon too.

 So break out the smelling salts.

Again.

The cemeteries crop up here in Luzianna just off the side of roads.

Wherever. To me its really bizarre but only because 

its all above grounds. I have encountered

other cemeteries close to the road, in tiny clusters

that may or may not be on holy ground.

So I'm thinking that because the tombs are above ground

that make it totally eerie.

I'm not seeing any ghosts here either.

Made hubby STOP, block traffic to get this shot.

The clouds should be making you swoon too.

I'm an equal opportunity swooner.

Then we stumbled upon Fort Jackson.

Its located in the Plaquemines Parrish 70 miles outside of New Orleans.

It was recommended by Andrew Jackson after the war of 1812

that a fort on this side of the Mississippi would be prudent. 

 It became a national historic landmark in 1960.

 It was a confederate controlled fort until the union attacked it.

The rebels held out for 12 days until they were defeated

by the union, who went on to capture the town of New Orleans.

 Fort Jackson is on the mighty Mississippi and boats of all sizes run the river.

Caught this gorgeous tug nicely making way.

And yes, tugs make me swoon. Too.

And you'll notice how bizarrely the skies change.

 We also came upon a project by the Army Corp of Engineers

and their effort to tame the Mighty Mississippi. 

It appears the Mississippi has a mind of its own and will take to

flooding lowlands and leaving busy ports high and dry.

 So here's some mat sinking action going on. 

It appears that the mat sinkers live aboard a vessel and the 

bull dozers are anchors that keep said vessel from tossing to and fro

due to lack of docks. 

I'm happy to say that the Army Corp of Engineers do not make me swoon.

Yet.