Day 12

Brave the R.E.D. Friday! 
 
We were HONORED to have Morgan City High School Army JROTC present colors for our “flag retirement” program. 

Lieutenant Colonel Cory Williams has done a fantastic job with these young adults.  We cannot wait to see what they have in store for us in 2019.
 
Our flag retirement was a success.  We had so many flags donated for our presentation.

Then it was off to the Greenwood Gator Farm.  We took a trip through the back swamps of Houma with Tim “The Gator Man.”  We learned the history of the Louisiana swamps.

We learned ALL about alligators.  They mate in May, build their nest in June, lay eggs in July and hatch in August.  The mother lays 30-80 eggs and guards them for 9-10 weeks until they hatch.  The nest can be 10 ft. in diameter and 4 ft. deep.  She will use the same nest year after year, UNLESS the “egg harvester” takes too many eggs….  See that “stick” the lady is holding in the photo below?  That is the only means of defense the “egg harvester” has against a mother alligator when he approaches her nest to “steal” some of the eggs.  Maybe I should say “borrow” as the alligator farm releases a certain percentage of their alligators into the wild when they are big enough to fend for themselves.

Because alligator embryos attach to the top of eggs, they will die if eggs are accidentally turned over.  So can you imagine what that “egg harvester” has to do to make sure he does not accidently turn the eggs over? He also has to make sure it is a fertilized egg (yes, there is a way to tell) because he is charged by the landowner for every egg he takes.  ALL while still making sure mama doesn’t get him!!!!
 
On the farm, the temperature of the incubating egg will determine the sex of the alligator.  A temperature of 90 degrees will yield 95% males “bulls.”  Below 90 degrees will yield 95% females “cows.” 
 
Louisiana has the highest wild alligator population in the U.S. approaching 2 million with an additional 250,000 on alligator farms.  WHO KNEW!?

We were also able to hold and meet a live alligator face to face!

If they find any “handicapped” alligators, or should I say “challenged” alligators, they keep them in the pond on the grounds to live out their life.

Lunch and dancing on the farm, yes you know music is the Rivoli Rallies way.  And no, they did not serve alligator…. 

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There is always time for a photo op.

We spent the afternoon at the Wedell-Williams Aviation Museum.   The collection highlights the legacy of Louisiana aviation pioneers Jimmie Wedell and Harry P. Williams, who formed an air service together in 1928 in Patterson, LA.  Both men became nationally prominent during the Golden Age of Aviation.  Although both Wedell and Williams perished in plane crashes, their legacy lives on in the memorabilia and planes on display in this collection.

State-of-the-art displays include numerous aircraft, such as the famous Miss Patterson #44 and the Gilmore #121. Also on display are Wedell-Williams’ 1930s air racing trophies and memorabilia.  The David J. Felterman Theater features an exciting air racing film that visually transports you to the heart of the 1932 Cleveland National Air Races.
 
The Cypress Sawmill Collection documents the history of the cypress lumber industry in Louisiana.  Lumbering became the state’s first significant manufacturing industry.  As a result, cypress lumber harvested and milled in Louisiana was shipped in mass quantities throughout the U.S.

Patterson was once home to the largest cypress sawmill in the world, owned by Frank B. Williams. In 1997, the Louisiana State Legislature designated Patterson as the cypress capital of Louisiana.  The exhibit features a variety of artifacts, photographs and film that tell the story of this important regional industry. 
 
We enjoyed dinner at a local favorite, Morgan’s Restaurant. 

Laid-back Cajun buffet dishing up familiar fare like gumbo & po’ boys

Check out that bread pudding!  Remember, you can’t have too much bread pudding in Southern Louisiana.