The Honey Island Swamp

Bernie took the afternoon off and joined me on the trip to the Honey Island Swamp.  Honey Island is a track of bottomland timber lying between the East Pearl and West Pearl Rivers and is about 15 miles long and 7 miles wide at its widest.

We entered on the West Pearl River and never went but a little more than a mile from the point of our departure - we didn't have too - there was plenty to see right where we were.

Our guide for trip was the amiable "Captain Jack"; about 6 feet tall and built like a linebacker, he very much looked the part of the rugged outdoorsman that he no doubt was.  A veteran Honey Island guide for more than 12 years, he clearly enjoyed his forte.

Our boat was a canopied scow-like boat that provided comfortable seating for the twelve of us that were making the journey.  It afforded ample opportunity to move around and get the best possible photograph without having to infringe on other passengers.

As traveled along the swampy embanks of the river, the moss laden bald cypress trees provided setting unlike any I had ever experienced first hand.  I had, of course, seen numerous pictures of swamps before, but you can't beat the real thing.

We had barely left the encampment and entered into one of the bayous when we encountered "El Guapo" - a monstrous 15 foot alligator who was lying on the bank leisurely sunning himself in a very alligator like manner.

El Guapo's size and strength made him the master of his own territory, and Captain Jack explained that he would chase-off any, would be intruder, in order to protect his harem of five mates.

Captain Jack began giving his "alligator call" in an attempt to lure El Guapo off the bank, but to no avail - El Guapo was not so easily disturbed.  The Captain, however, had been there before and like a good "boy scout" came prepared.  With a well placed hot dog, he finally lured El Guapo off the bank to side of our craft.  Having gained El Guapo's undivided attention, he continued to drop hot dogs into El Guapo's gaping mouth.  Obviously, this was a game that he could play all day!

Much of our trip was to be more of an excursion along the West Pearl than it was exploration deep into the swamps bayous.  Early on in the trip, Captain Jack explained, mournfully, that all of the wildlife would be scared away by another boater that had "snuck" in front of us, and he therefore had to quickly develop an alternative plan.  His success at doing so was a testament to his guiding experience.

We were not able to a great variety of wildlife, but did see a number of Great Blue Herons and Azaleas draped along the river bank.  It was interesting to see the houses where true to life "river-rats" made their (mostly weekend) abodes.  With no roads leading these retreats, for these homes, the only access was the river.  These houses contrasted starkly with the "million dollar" homes on the opposite bank of the river; homes that were, however, readily accessible by the nearby roadways.