Our SOWER Projects are completed for now, and we’re headed for some rest & relaxation in Louisiana on our way to Alabama. We couldn’t leave Texas without one more stop at a Buccees for a great Brisket sandwich!
We were able to Zoom a get-to-gether for Mom’s 94th Birthady! It’s great to be able to connect all of us across the nation with a few clicks. Mom is doing so well – still going strong and full of bubbly joy! We’re all thankful for the health God has blessed us with. Looking forward to be together this summer!
WELCOME! Palmetto State Park – Louisiana.
This was a beautiful park/camping area. They have really made a great recreational yet rustic adventure area for families. We loved the natural setting and our great camping site. The Saw Palmetto’s were everywhere nestled amongst the pine trees and lots of Cyprus trees along the many water ways.
This crazy large statue met us at the entrance to the park. Pretty realistic and SO huge! (It should have been a warning of things to come!) But we’re clueless….
Found out that the camp offers canoe rentals, they have three “ponds” small lakes that are connected by a meandering canoe water passage trail though the foliage and tall grass. Let’s do this! We had a great time canoeing for about an hour meeting several others, families in kayaks along the way. It was a great time.
We stopped and took off our life jackets for a picture at the end of one of the waterways. It was a beautiful setting – we took lots of other pictures (which we no longer have!) [Strange to think this could have been the last picture of us].
After about an hour, we stopped at this pavilion to enjoy a picnic lunch that Lorree packed for us. Our canoe was beached at the far side and we ate at a picnic table on the deck. Of course we had to send an update of our adventures to our kids – including several of the pictures you see here (otherwise we wouldn’t have any!)
As we enjoyed our picnic on the deck, what we didn’t see was this sign warning of alligators! We had actually seen a few gators from the “safety” of our canoe – even rowing hard to be where they are so we could take pictures! (They were so cute – they even gave us “the eye”!)
After rowing into a large lake area Dennis saw a great BIG gator slithering into the lake from the shore – we were about this close – as the picture above shows! (internet photo) Lorree didn’t see it yet, so Dennis gallantly lifted his paddle and excitedly pointed toward the gator and said “look, right there!” and then…..
(Not our photo – from the internet)
…we both leaned the same direction and found ourselves in the water with our canoe upside down. It was a SHOCK to realize we were in the lake (with gators!) We were trying to orient ourselves grasping for the canoe and our belongings. Lorree’s sandals and the cooler were floating nearby so Dennis grabbed them as Lorree grabbed the canoe. We were able to flip the canoe over… Dennis remembered from Boy Scouts that it wouldn’t completely sink.
We did not want to swim to the nearest shore knowing the gators were there, so we swam hard across the lake about 300 feet (think football field!) We had just shared with our kids during lunch that Gators can swim 20 mph in the water – and that was on our minds! Lorree had the swamped canoe and had tied it to her life vest in order to swim better. Dennis had all the “floatables” and continued to swim in the rear telling Lorree to keep heading to the shore across the lake. We both decided to swim on our backs kicking our legs – it was much easier. Dennis prayed, “Lord have mercy! Don’t let them bite my legs off!” ! Lorree kept praying “give us strength Lord!” It seemed to take forever!
The name Evangeline comes from the Latin word “evangelium” meaning “gospel”… Good News!”
GOOD NEWS! We are so THANKFUL to our Lord for our “salvation” – just as He close the mouths of the lions for Daniel, He closed the mouths of the alligators for us!
Just as we landed on shore there were four young boys who “happened” to wonder by. They saw us and asked if we needed help. We were totally exhausted but full of adrenaline! They helped us pull the water swamped canoe ashore and then dump it out. After checking our pockets we learned that we lost both of our iPhones and the keys to our pickup. They had a cell phone and called their dad. He came with other men and helped us get our spare keys from our camper and then load the canoe to return it. We were exhausted but thrilled at God’s mercy and grace.
So Thankful for the protection and strength to swim all that way without a bite! Thankful for Life Jackets – seriously…we would not be here if we had not had them on! Thankful for the young boys who God sent to help us – they “just decided to see where this road went” at just the right time! Thankful for the men who helped us sort things out and get our lives back together.
(FYI: We both have a bit of PTSD when we get triggered with lakes and canoes!)
So now we’re on our way to our next adventure. Looking forward to the days ahead with our kiddos in Alabama. In retrospect, were loving nomadic lifestyle – everything has a new perspective. We look to an adventure with God everyday!
