Ocean Springs, MS - August 31 and September 1

From New Orleans, we headed for Mississippi. We ended up in the Davis Bayou area of Gulf Shores National Seashore just outside of Ocean Springs, MS. The national park campground was quite nice. It had water and electrical hookups, but no sewer. They did have a dump, though.

Our camp site was an end spot, so we had lots of room. A raccoon came by both evenings to see if we had any extra food. The first night he came ambling right up almost to where we were sitting around the fire.

We had a discussion about the difference between the definition of "bayou" and "swamp" (not to mention marsh, wetland, bog, slough, and so forth). We determined that the major differences are that a bayou has open areas and there is some water movement, whereas a swamp does not have as many open areas and the water is typically stagnant.

We explored the area and hiked around the Nature's Way Loop Trail. It is only supposed to be 1/2 mile long, but we got off the track on a side trail for a while. We were hoping to see an alligator and found out where one normally hangs out. We finally saw him our last day there. We also saw frogs, turtles, snakes, and lots of birds and bugs.

Do you see the snake?

 

Sandhill cranes

 

 

We met a nice couple in the motorhome next to us. We were coming back from our hike and waved to them. They waved back and told us to "grab your chairs and a drink and come over and talk to us". Their motorhome was almost identical to ours. They started out 20 years ago doing exactly what we are doing and never stopped. They stay in their motorhome during the summer and in their 60' boat in Belize in the winter.