Leola Paul
March 31, 2010
Terrebonne to can trash; Cleanest City Contest gears up
April 2, 2010
Take a trip down what some people call “the longest street in the world.” The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) launches its ninth annual Paddle Bayou Lafourche excursion on Thursday, April 8. This four-day, 52-mile backyard trip will allow participants to truly experience the bayou firsthand.
The primary objective of this aquatic venture is to teach people about the importance of the area’s scenic waterways, explained Shelly Sparks, Paddle Bayou Lafourche project manager.
“We started to get local people back on the bayou so they can see what a wonderful resource it really is,” Sparks said. “When the bayou was dammed off of the Mississippi River, there was a sharp decline in people who used the bayou …they don’t see it as a resource that they can use. I think the paddling has done a lot to make people realize that it is valuable and that we need to protect it.”
The cost to partake in the event is $30 per person/per day or $100 for all four days. If you need to rent a canoe, which must be done ahead of time, the cost increases to $50 per day or $175 for the entire trip. According to the BTNEP Web site, the registration fees include canoe rental (if applicable), a continental breakfast each day, lunch every day except for Friday, an evening meal, a T-shirt, car camping facilities, shower and restroom access and a daily shuttle to your vehicle.
Fruit, water and other snacks are provided each day via white baskets dangled from the bayou’s bridges.
Each year an estimated 125 to 150 total participants, with roughly a third of this group traveling for all four days, arrive raring to row.
According to Sparks, this year’s adventure actually begins the day before the official nautical expedition.
“We do have a new addition this year. The Donaldsonville Downtown Development District (DDD), decided they wanted to join forces with us, so they are offering a kick-off event the Wednesday night before the paddling trip,” she explained.
For $10, guests can partake in this affair, which will feature live music, a possible walking tour and a camping facility in Crescent Park, close to the morning’s launch site. Locals are also welcome and people can RSVP with the DDD.
Thursday morning begins at 8 a.m. with a short opening ceremony. The group then sets down in Donaldsonville and they make their way to the home of J.C. and Carol Leblanc for lunch, which is provided by DOW Chemical. The day ends at the Madewood Plantation campsite in Napoleonville.
On Friday, the paddlers launch out of Napoleonville and come ashore at the Jean Lafitte Acadian Cultural Center. From there, they drive to their campsite at Nicholls State University and are treated to dinner and live music before heading off to bed.
Boats set down in Thibodaux on day three and travelers are in for a treat when they stop for lunch at the Plaisance Fruit Stand outside Raceland.
“Virginia and Cleveland Plaisance joined forces with us several years back,” Sparks said. “They have a spread that puts any Thanksgiving dinner to shame. It’s truly amazing what they do. This year they are going to do a boucherie.”
Sadly, Cleveland Plaisance Sr. died in February. This year’s trip is dedicated to his memory. “The family, even through all that they have been through, still want to do the paddling trip. They want to carry on the tradition,” Sparks said.
This southern hospitality can be found throughout the entirety of the journey as residents who live along the bayou welcome the paddling parade. In previous years, locals made welcoming signs, played impromptu Cajun music, threw Mardi Gras beads and even handed out little goodies, such as pralines.
“That is one of the things that people love about this trip … especially ones that aren’t from the area. They say they absolutely love the people here and that is one of the things that keeps them coming back on this trip and to other places in south Louisiana. The people are just one of a kind,” Sparks said.
The last stop of the day is at the United Houma Indian Nation Tribe in Raceland.
“Saturday night we usually stop at the United Houma Nation and they do some type of demonstrative dance,” Sparks explained. “They teach our paddlers about the Houma Nation’s culture and customs along with some of the dancing styles. They also prepare an amazing dinner this evening.”
Dr. Mike and Brenda Dardar Robichaux welcome the weary travelers on the last night of the trip.
The final morning, the crew navigates their way to Lockport Bayouside Park, where the adventure ends with live music and lunch, provided by the town of Lockport.
The Mayor of Lockport, Richard Champagne, is there to greet the paddlers as they come ashore.
“He usually has a microphone and there is a loud system in the park,” Sparks said. “He calls all the paddlers in and introduces himself and gets them to talk in the mic. He’s kind of like a stand up comedian. He’s a lot of fun.”
The adventure ends with a brief closing ceremony and a reminder of the intended lesson of the trip.
“We definitely thank all of our partners and everyone that made the trip possible,” Sparks continued. “We provide [paddlers] with free educational materials about coastal land loss, different restoration strategies, as well as information about the restoration that’s going on in Bayou Lafourche right now.”
A Cajun accordianist entertains participants at last year’s event.
