Grand Isle is about a 2 1/2 hours south of New Orleans. The first hour of the ride was nothing special, but that all ends just south of Raceland. From Raceland, Highway 1 follows the west side of the waterway as it flows southward to the Gulf of Mexico at Grand Isle.
The narrow waterway passes through several small quaint looking fishing villages on its route southward. All along the way there are fishing and shrimp boats as well as some small barges rolling lazily down the river. Along the way, there are several lift bridges tying to the east bank. The east bank is more rural in appearance with farmland and upscale homes. My suggestion is to take the west side down and return via the east side to gather the total picture.
The approach Grand Isle is across a beautiful 3 - 4 mile expanse of causeway bridge that completes the journey. The causeway, itself, is a bit of anomaly unlike any bridge I have ever seen; it makes a sharp 90 degree bend to the left, makes a broad sweeping turn to the right and finishes with another, and final, 90 degree bend to right. It is beautiful, though (to this admittedly untrained eye) an inexplicable work of bridge building.
Grand Isle is a state of Louisiana, and indeed, national treasure. It is (to my knowledge) the site of the only beaches in the state of Louisiana - and they are truly beautiful. For me they brought back memories of the beaches of the Cape of Hatteras.
Once again, Grand Isle, like the Venice area is a testimony of man's resolute determination overcome, in spite of all obstacles. Despite having been virtually leveled by hurricane Katrina - after a scant five years - it is for the unknowing observer to even know that there was ever any hurricane.
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