Louisiana's Lake Martin

Lake Martin is located about 15 miles east of Lafayette and is about 3 miles wide by 10 miles long. This little lake is filled with cypress trees and is teeming with wildlife, including many alligators and wading birds. We first became aware of it in 2004 when we hired a guide, Mr. Norbert LeBlanc, to take us on a tour of the lake. Mr. LeBlanc is quite a character and we had him take us on another tour of the lake in 2006 when Roy and Dianne Lovett were with us. Although we saw Mr. LeBlanc this year, we didn't go on one of his tours. 
Some pictures of the area and the wildlife follow.  First is a 'gator we saw lounging in the bar ditch across the road from the lake.  Next is an owl that Louise saw land in this tree.  I started walking toward it taking pictures and it never did fly!  We also saw numerous turtles sunning themselves on this warm spring morning.  The last shot shows some of the cypress trees in the swamp.  If you get a chance to go that way, this is an opportunity you should not pass up!