Louisiana Plantation Country & Its Best Lighthouse

Working eastward along the Gulf of Mexico in October 2011, we're in Louisiana now. Above, we have a few like-minded cormorants and an egret, standing watch at the edge of the Sabine River.

One of many tiny gulf coast hamlet views, this one is unique in that no oil rigs are visible.

Since we didn't see any actual gators, here's one of the signs warning of their presence.

Berwick, LA has a charming little waterfront park along the Berwick Bay. This is a flood wall. If you're on this side of it when the flood comes, you're going to get very wet.

One of the coolest lighthouses we've shot in a long time, this is Southwest Reef Light, relocated to Berwick and beautifully restored. The near bridge carries US Rt. 90 to Morgan City and, eventually, to New Orleans.

Steel and sky and bright red paint!

The detail shot I almost didn't take - now one of my very favorite photographs.

Another perspective, because we just couldn't get enough of this scene.

Even the underneath business is cool!

Cupola!

And one black & white 35mm shot, for good measure.

Thanks for cruising with us. Lake Pontchartrain is next!

Running Out Of Texas

Continuing on our frenzied race to shoot Texas' lighthouses and get out before anyone saw us, we stopped at Port Lavaca. This is Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse, which has been relocated to the local seniors center parking lot. It's a cute little light, though. Oh, I've done it now - went and called something in Texas "little." Check out the star on top of the cupola, by the way. Don't you dare forget you're in Texas!

Car. Still not thrilled about being in Texas, but nonetheless acquiesced to having her picture taken with the lighthouse and a glorious Texas flag. You didn't forget we were in Texas, did you? Texas!

In Texas, you are required to obey warning signs, and you are reminded about a quarter-mile before each and every warning sign. So, two things: 1) Does that mean that in all other states, warning signs are merely suggestions? 2) Buy stock in Texas highway sign manufacturers!

Okay - last picture of the car for a while. This is down near Port Arthur, next to the Sabine River. I like the endless desolation beyond the car.

Sabine Pass Lighthouse. Like a rocket, with its supporting brick fins. Needs a bit of restoration work, but it's still really cool. If you look closely, you can see the Coast Guard SUV to the left of the tower. These guys will later stop us on our way onto the swampy lighthouse property, decide that we're harmless, take a long look at our car and say "Yeah, you should be okay in that."

And back to digital...

These guys didn't seem to like where we were, either. They stopped and took a long look at us and our zoom lenses. I'm guessing we were too close to the oil-rig factory.

The pilot boat didn't care. He had work to do.

Couldn't resist shooting this. A picture doesn't begin to do justice to the sheer scale of this kind of construction. Massive stuff. Texas.

Anyone know what this huge claw thing is? 'Cause we don't!

Having braved the swamp in a Camaro, bottoming out more than once and getting marsh grass stuck in her undercarriage, we arrived at the Sabine Pass Lighthouse, on the Louisiana side of the river. It is an incredibly cool site, and actually very spooky, even in daylight. We were repeatedly buzzed by a Coast Guard helicopter, so we figured if we had gotten stuck, help would have been along promptly.

More to come. Thanks for stopping by!