Do you remember the last time you fell in love? I imagine we have all felt it at one time or another,
albeit with a person, song, pet, smell, taste – or a place. Still relatively new to South Louisiana, I fell in love. about a half dozen times visiting during festivals. Lafayette’s food, music, people, community, weather, style; it is all so captivating and boundless. Moving here I had no idea what I was really getting myself into. However, every adventure into the Wild that so aptly communicates what South Louisiana is inspires me to fall in love, again and again and then again.
My husband and I recently paddled the Two O’clock Bayou, a short 45 minutes from our home in
Breaux Bridge. The put-in was just off the highway, very obviously located, with easy parking and a good boat. ramp. There is a small fee (which we didn’t realize before putting in but discovered afterwards), with envelope and a pay station just to the right of the boat ramp. There were a few people loading and unloading when we. arrived, so we embarked on our float to the left. There is a bank with a small drop that we easily glided our. kayaks into.
The first half mile or so we maneuvered a few people with motors that were fishing. After that a few
people would pass by in either direction but, in the style of southern hospitality, once we were noticed they idled and passed slowly so as not to make too many waves. We went around 2.5 miles or so out, and then came back. For anyone who likes to do “loops” rather than an “out and back”, fear not; this place looks different. coming out, and feels like a whole new experience.
It won’t take long to notice that this place is just special. I have secretly loved to ponder ideas of how
nature and the immediate culture influence each other, and Two O’clock Bayou feels like it has definitely
inspired Cajun culture (as an outsider looking in, that is). The trees here look as though they dance with each other, swinging to and froe. It is easy to imagine them embracing, branches reaching around nearby trees, clasping either side, pulling them close as if to tell a secret. Some are even twisted around each other. They hold each other up, like the supportive family-oriented people of Louisiana. Community minded folks of SOLA are not long forgotten when Cypress trees abound, offering their roots to the greater whole of interdependent living.
Cascading Spanish moss decorating the trees lazily reaches out to fondly kiss the bayou as a gentle breeze
passes through and it’s all so, just, mesmerizing. It looks like a fairytale ending. I think I took at least 200
photos because capturing the natural artistry this place possesses feels like a necessity. I didn’t want to forget, and luckily, it’s close enough that we can easily go back.
Leave a Comment