Friday, April 18, 2008

Swamp in the City


Structure in the Swamp
Originally uploaded by Darrell
This little patch of swamp is in the city limits, believe it or not. A well-traveled highway runs right past it. I've passed by it no less than fifty times in the last year, and I've always wondered about it.
What is that little decaying building? It looks like an outhouse. There's an abundance of wildlife there, too. Birds of all colors and sizes, aquatic life and more than a few reptiles.
Traffic is so fast as it zooms by, I suspect few people take the time to stop and look at everything that's going on. I know I induced a couple of double-takes as I pulled off to the shoulder of the road to squeeze off a few frames.
There's a major body of water just on the other side of a levee which has created this little slice of city swamp, so it's not a surprise that it's full of life. It just seems completely out of place, like a puzzle piece forced into the wrong spot.
I hope people keep zipping by so this little dot of wetlands remains undisturbed. Here are a couple more photos. Turtles in the Swamp
Blackbird in the swamp
You would never know that five feet behind me, cars and 18-wheelers were rumbling by at 50 mph. Maybe that's why nobody else stops. They're not stupid enough to put their lives at risk for a silly picture.

Sphere: Related Content

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Daddy D:
After a few minutes of contemplating this picture and believing it was probably an outhouse, my lovely spouse saw the picture and immediately said, "It looks like a cheap duck blind!". At that point, I then remembered that a former co-worker in the local energy business (accountant) years ago proclaimed to have a rather "unique" duck blind located somewhere on Wallace Lake. Granted, THIS would be a rather unique location for hunting, but it wouldn't surprise me, either. Every November, this fellow takes his entire 4 weeks of vacation duck hunting and advised that he likes to get around the lake in his pirogue. After seeing this picture, why am I thinking his name should've been Amos Moses???

Darrell said...

THis isn't anywhere near Wallace Lake, Doug. I like the mystery of the whole thing. I like to think Amos paddles out there on weekends or something jst to watch the wildlife.
I want to spend some more time ot there, because there's a huge bird that looks like an eagle and I haven't been able to get a decent photo of it.

Unknown said...

Clyde Fant Parkway?

Darrell said...

I didn't intend to start some kind of scavenger hunt. Since Holiday in Dixie is underway, we'll invoke the spirit of the Treasure Hunt.
Can you figure out where this little swamp is?
We know it's not Wallace Lake and we know it's not Clyde Fant.
God guesses, though, because both involve bodies of water.

Unknown said...

You should give us pithy clues to go along with the pics.

Anonymous said...

Shreveport-Blanchard Hwy as you get on the ramp to 220 going to Bossier.

Anonymous said...

Shreveport-Blanchard Hwy as you get on 220 enroute to WK Bossier

MikeR said...

It's on the Shreveport-Blanchard highway (Hilry Huckaby Road?). I've stopped a few times myself.

Anonymous said...

This is great. I was going to look for it for a while and then inquire,
"Where?" Will you give a series of clues?

Darrell said...

Some observant commenters have pinpointed the location.
For the enjoyment of the tens of others who are playing along, I'll hold those comments in limbo for a little while.

Anonymous said...

I know the location! It's on the road I frequently travel to work! I too have been intrigued by the little "outhouse" in the middle of the swamp. Who put it there and how long ago??

Darrell said...

There are plenty of clues here. We know it's near a body of water, not Wallace Lake and not the Red River. We know it's in the city limits. That narrows things down.
I will tell you that my place of employment has five major facilities in Shreveport-Bossier. I pass the swamp when traveling between two of them.
How's that for a hint?
I will say again...I'm holding several comments from correspondents who have identified the location.

Anonymous said...

It looks like the Blanchard Rd. behind cross lake but I've never noticed the outhouse. I'll have to look next time I make a call up toward SU-S.

Anonymous said...

Isn't that right off of Knight street? If so, I had a buddy get run out of there one year when he was training his dog to duck hunt...forcing the dog to sit still while all of the ducks fly overhead. It's also a place that DU has stepped in and set up a bunch of duck haven areas...

Then again...maybe I'm nowhere near the spot.

Darrell said...

You are correct, sir. It's not even close to Knight Street.

Unknown said...

Bossier Parkway?

Darrell said...

This in in the Shreveport city limits.

Anonymous said...

No self-respecting bass fisherman or duck hunter could ever pass this even once without thinking to themselves, “I just wonder…”

Regarding the outhouse, I have no idea but have always wondered myself.

Darrell said...

The more I think about it, the building might me some kind of clever ruse. There's something going on in there, but the people who built the outhouse want people to BELIEVE it's an outhouse so they don't go in there.
It's surrounded by swamp and diguised as a smelly toilet. There's a hidden secret.

Anonymous said...

Hi D, This is your old pal Traci. That "outhouse" you're wondering about is very close to MY house. What Keith and I believe it to be is an old outhouse shaped duck blind to hunt ducks. As you can see, it hasn't been used for that purpose, or any purpose for that matter, for quite some time.