Window on the world

The window wall at the Port of New Orleans reflects the Crescent City Connection bridge above and a Carnival Lines Cruise Ship down below. The Port's office sits below the massive bridge over the Mississippi River and in between two of the port's wharves. At the bottom left is a much more mundane for of transportation. And if you click on the picture to enlarge it, you will see behind the blue fence a more popular mode of transportation.

I will have to see if I can find a window somewhere in New Orleans that shows even more modes of transportation in this logistics-rich city.

--steve buser

New Orleans Daily Photo is 1 year old

Before I explain the picture, let me do a little rejoicing. Today is the anniversary of New Orleans Daily Photo. On April 21st of 2007, I started the adventure. Please don't go back and look at those first few days, because I had no clue how to do all of this. It was about a week later that I started letting people know about it -- had to get rid of the rookie jitters first.

Now, the picture. We went up to Norco yesterday to check out the Bonnet Carre' spillway. Because of high waters flowing down the Mississippi River from heavy rains and Spring melting, the water is about as high as anyone cares to see it. The Bonnet Carre' allows water to bypass New Orleans on its way to the Gulf. It lets the water flow into Lake Pontchartrain.

The purpose is not so much to keep the water level low as it is to keep velocity of the flowing water to a manageable level that doesn't erode and weaken the levees.

While were up on the levee, we notice a tanker ship out in the middle of the river with three tugs apparently trying to push the ship toward the opposite side of the river --the west bank . The tugs were huffing and puffing -- you could tell by the smoke billowing from them and from the fact that they were tilted to one side straining.

When we left about a half hour later, there were only two tugs -- one at the bow and one behind the ship -- they appeared to be just holding the ship stationary. I suppose they were waiting for reinforcements because the ship was closer to our side -- the East bank -- than when we first started watching.

Oh, the picture. The levee by the spillway gates was crowded with people there to observe and be part of the event. There were quite a number of fishermen and three or four people with casting nets like these guys. Apparently water isn't the only thing spilling over the gates -- logs, dead cows and a lot of fish that got swept away from their tranquil creeks are just some of them.

Okay, now I have just 364 more posts until my second anniversary.


--steve buser

Pushing past the waves x 2

Waves upon wave
Plying the waves on the Mississippi River as it pushes upstream, this tug boat makes good head way. The early morning sunny waves that strike glancing blows on the river waves, highlighting the journey.

--steve buser


Lagniappe

The last rays of sunshine are still warming the tops of the buildings, but in the tree-shaded jaunts of Central Park, NY, its time for the last few pumps on your skates.
On Pixel Eyed, today

Pass Manchac, the rest of the story

If you have never heard of Pass Manchac, don't feel bad. The area, though, does have a rich history. This fishing camp (note the shrimp boat on the left with its nets hanging on the rigging) sits on the pass which connects Lake Pontchartrain (the large body of water just north of New Orleans) with Lake Maurepas -- a smaller lake.

Lake Maurepas recieves the waters from the Tickfaw River, Amite River and Blind River. It's up these rivers where the real steaming history starts.

Little known is that there was once a well-travelled pass from Lake Pontchartrain, to Lake Maurepas through the Tickfaw to Bayou Manchac to the Mississippi River. The American troops in the War of 1812 sealed that connection (sinking boats there) to keep the British from being able to take the short cut into the Mississippi River.

The area has a rich Acadian (Cajun) heritage. Note to myself : We'll have to talk more about all this is future posts.

But what was I doing there? We all met for a good seafood meal at Middendorf's, a landmark for decades -- I think I had my first meal there back in 1975.

-- steve buser