manchac trip

When my husband said he had to make a trip to an equipment dealer in Kenner--on the western edge of New Orleans-- I jumped at the chance to ride along because most of the trip is through the Manchac Swamp. There is always a chance I might see bald eagles or ospreys. The damage done to the swamp still shocks me--fallen trees, thin vegetation and a wetland that is disappearing before my eyes. What used to seem a deep impenetrable wilderness is becoming more and more open swamp as the salt water intrusion causes the anchoring vegetation to die, and the trees topple in frequent and stronger hurricanes.
One of our favorite places to stop for a meal is Middendorf's . It is perched on the edge of the pass where water from Lake Pontchartrain meets with that of Lake Maurepas. Fried catfish is the specialty, but shrimp, crawfish, blue crabs and other gulf seafoods are all prepared here. Probably not a gourmet's delight, but hard to beat for local color and flavor. Though I usually pass on fried food, I always eat the fried catfish whenever we stop here.