NAVIGATIONAL DEVICES ARE NOT INFALLIBLE.

We left Vicksburg, MS using a lap full of navigational devices, one Garmin, two smart phones with Google Maps and a Delorme map on a lap-top computer.  Our aim was to visit the back country between the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers following the blue roads to Krotz Springs, LA.

Pronounce ATCHAFALAYA while thinking of Louisiana's spicy gumbolaya with an "atcha."

Everything began well enough, blue skies and smooth roads. We hummed traveling tunes for the first 70 miles, crossed the Mississippi at Natchez, MS, dropped into Vidalia,LA and headed south on a somewhat bumpy Hwy 131 straight into sugar cane, sorghum and bayou swamps.

What do you do when you come to a fork in the road?  That's right, take it. 

As far as all the electronic maps are concerned, this is uncharted territory and we are taken in circles on a wild, however I must say exciting and scenic, ride.  I'm whistling, "Oh Those Cotton Fields Back Home" but Jackie isn't the least bit amused and wants assurance we'll make it back to civilization by sundown. She keeps muttering something about, "Deliverance."

This is where we came to a dead end, turned around, punched all the off-buttons on the electronics and began our trip "out" to find a road with a darker shade of blue. Common sense and the sun's position trumped the devices.  The trouble was the satellite maps took us to a dead end when we tried to cross the Atchafalaya River.  No Trespassing!  There was a way across the river but if was a ferry and used only by the Atchafalaya Basin - US Army Corps of Engineers.

How may ways can you say, "Deep Fried?"

   Pronounce BOUDIN~~Pinch your nose and say boodan leaving the "n" silent.


As you see, we found our way out (20 more miles of dirt and gravel) and into "civilation," picked up a catfish dinner, drove a boudin's-throw down the road to *Miss Johnny's,* (dry camping) Campground where we were promptly scalped by a greedy, local proprietor. They got it, you want it, you pay---through your pinched nose. 

      Krotz Springs, LA before sundown, thank you.