Updated 3-06-09  Most recent is at the bottom; please scroll down) 

People say I am not a "real" river rat because my main mode of traveling is a "water cycle."  {Jet ski}.  Well, if I make a trillion dollars off the Lake Verret map, I found the boat of my dreams.  I stumbled across it near The Intracoastal Waterway outside Morgan City.

  I was going to stop and ask if it was for sale, but they started yelling at us.  I guess us out there circling around on jet skis, consuming adult beverages, they thought we might be terrorists.

 I got up early to prepare for the long day down on Belle River.  Found an uninvited guest stumbling around in my yard during the wee hours of the morning.  (true story)

   I don't know how long he had been this predicament.  The can was on tight, but we got it off.  (He was really pissed).  {He's O.K.}.

Had a celebrity guest go ride and help me with my map.  Brian Brignac (drummer, Hip Boot Joe)

There's no way that this can be what it looks like, is it?

(Musicians, you just can't take them anywhere!)

Brian invited one of Pierre Part's native sons, Tony Daigle.  Brian and Tony rode a little over 80 miles mapping that day.  We had a blast and plan on doing it again.

I like how they mark their legal idle zones.  Very noticeable and very cool. 

I will be putting up photos of all the cool party places down on Belle River and surrounding waterways.  One is the Spunky Monkey.

Other photos coming soon:  Attakapas Landing, Gros Marina, The Hook Up, Scully's, Old Lake Club, and more.

10-20-08

While at Gros Marina (on Four Mile Bayou) I saw this boat with this peculiar engine on it.  I guess it will
get you in those hard to get at places!

A close-up of this unusual contraption!

As promised, a few of the other cool places around Lake Verret and surrounding waterways

This is Lake View Inn at Attakapas Landing on Lake Verret

This is Old Lake Club (also on Lake Verret) down Shell Beach Road.  It got hit pretty bad by
the recent hurricanes.  (Used to be called Chilli's).  Closed for now, but I am told they are
coming back!

This is The Mosquito Bar.

This is The Mosquito Bar (up close) 

Good people at all these places.  I encourage you to check all of them out, if you decide to go explore
this cool area.  If you are not real familiar with these waterways, I suggest you wait for the map.  
Our new map and a GPS makes getting around easy.  (Yes, we have added a latitude and longitude
grid, along with distances to the map).

Just a hint of what is on the way:

Gros Marina, Scully's, The Hook Up, and the Belle of New Orleans Riverboat Casino will be coming soon!
Also, tug boats and huge barges on the Intracoastal Waterway.  (They have started recognizing me and my jet ski and know what
I am doing (making a map).  Cool Captains!.  More boats with "unique propulsion systems" used to get around in the spillway.
(Told you I was having fun with this new map!)

Thanks for checking us out!  More to come.

Updated Oct 26, 2008

  We went out again this past Wednesday.  Making a map takes long hours and grueling hard work, as these photos will demonstrate.

This first photo is Tony and Brian trying to take a break and relax for a few minutes.

We were at the locks and had the guy on duty totally confused as to to who we were and
what we were doing.

The Belle of New Orleans Riverboat Casino at Amelia.

Earlier, I talked a bout a boat that I had found and considering purchasing.
 We went back looking for a "For Sale" sign and maybe a telephone number and price.
(It wasn't there, but lots of people were wondering who we were and what we were doing).

Even had a helicopter flying over and checking us out.

A cool shot of the bridges at Morgan City

This is some wide water and some big boats.  (Working boats).  They don't take kindly to a lot of horseplay.

Brian about to play "chicken" with a tug boat  (not really).

If the deal falls through on my other boat, I found this one that I think the babes will love!
(Check out the huge jet turbines used for propulsion!)

Definitely will not see this one cruising Diversion Canal!

I am getting to know a few people down around Lake Verret.  I have heard a lot of nice stories about T-Mans.
It is closed now (T-Man passed away a couple of years ago), but I couldn't help put go check it out and get a picture.

How cool is this?  "His and Hers" camp on the river!  At first I thought it was some outer space alien stuff.
(I had indulged in a few adult beverages at the time).

This particular outing had a terrible ending.  Two of our three jet skis broke down (one below Morgan City and the other
near Lake Palourde).  We were way late getting home. 

   Brian, called his lovely young lady friend {Julie} and she made some calls and we were rescued by some
cool people from Bayou Louis.  There's nothing like fine dining at Gator's Point (with good friends) in the wee hours
of the morning (after being rescued from the Intracoastal Canal).

(A lovely couple, don't you think?)

(File photo:  Brian sitting in with Trent and Fly By Nite at Weedy's.)

11-2-08  We are down (two out of three jet skis), but not out.  This coming week, me and my best friend, Darryl
(bears a striking resemblance to Hank Hill (from King of the Hill) will we out on Tuesday. 
Kevin Guitreau (Swamp Pop Cafe') and me will be exploring and wondering around on Wednesday.
Jungle Jim will be tending to my down jet ski and Tony is in the process of getting his fixed, too.

Also, just got the word today.  My big time detective brother, Jay, has just bought 4 lots on the Chickasawhay River
near my hometown of Quitman, MS.  I will be spending some time up there with him in the warmer part of 2009.
(This is the river that was a boundary for my grandparents 100 acre farm and where I grew up).  Jay bought all that just
a bit north of our old place.  Very, very cool.  Aint got nothing to do with making the new map, but what the hell?  I felt like
telling you about it anyway!

11-7-08

   Me and my friend Darryl put in right at 95 miles on Tuesday of this week  (Nov. 4th).  It was planned that
Kevin Guitreau (Swamp Pop Cafe') was supposed to go ride the next day.  He was so excited about going, he
forgot about plans for his daughter's birthday.  Obviously he couldn't make it, but we are making plans for next week!

  They have been working for weeks on the bridge at The Spunky Monkey.

  Pushing a house boat on Bay Natchez.

Cool Looking Boat

At long last, Gros Marina on 4 Mile Bayou.  A happening place on weekends!  (Live music)

Still seeing lots of big barges every time I go.

This is Darryl.  I told you he looks like Hank Hill (King of the Hill)!

My water cycle:  "No Goodbyes - No Regrets" and Jonathan's autograph on it.

  Jet skis:  obviously, they are not meant for everybody.  I don't know who this guy is,
I just felt like including it to show you some of the weird stuff people send me. 

Updated 3-06-09

  Sorry it has been been so long updating this section.  I have been busy with the graphics on
the map and selling advertising spots.  I like this section and have fun with it.  More photos to come, so
come back and visit again!

I was very curious about directions, distance, and map accuracy.  We did some testing and ran from
Sportsman's Landing down Bayou Corne to Lake Verret.

  Cool place that Dennis Landry has.  The folks from Gator Trax were out. 
We didn't see them, but they have one cool truck.

  I like this on the back of their truck.  Religious people and I like that.

  "To God be The Glory."  Amen

Got some areas where people can row their ride.  Met a nice guy in a kayak.

(Not enough room to haul all the beer we drink, so this just wouldn't do for me).

We went in Jessie's Go-Devil with the surface drive.

Handsome lad, don't you think?

Soon, we plan to go run it on the Chickasawhay River in up-state Mississippi.
(My brother, Jay, bought 4 lots on the river in my hometown of Quitman, MS.)

I still say they have it going on when it comes to Idle / No Wake Zones.  I like the way
they have them posted.

Much better than itty bitty signs on poles, post, trees, and bulkheads.

Seagulls?  Seagulls?  Where the hell are we?  Pierre Part, of course.

Made friends with a fearless duck at The Spunky monkey.

And another of my buddy...

Jessie fed him chocolate ice cream.  The damn duck loved it!!!!!

No map of the area is complete without a photo of "Virgin Island" and Mary.
There is a cool story about this island that I will share later on.

Another photo (close-up).  Used on the map.

The sign explaining the island and the statute.

Of course, there are some places recreational boater's shouldn't go.

What the hell?  We went there anyway!  You can do that kind of thing in a Go-Devil.

Had a great day.  (Thanks, Jessie, for all the help).  Now when you look at all those
mileage measurements on the map, you know where they can from!

Thanks for visiting and checking us out.

      .

P.S.  The hardest map I ever made was The Lake Pontchartrain Map.  I had super-high expectations for that one.  Sadly, it has been my least selling map.

I had tons of fun making The False River / Old River Map.  For sure, this one is at least a tie, if not even more fun.  I had a blast and met some cool people and
made a lot of new friends.  A sincere thank you to all involved.

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