For you land bound people (many pictures)

john in la · Jan 4, 2013

Ever ride a ferry??
Here is a trip I made across the Mississippi on the local ferry.

Here is the trip west bound. You can see the dock we are headed for right next to the radio antenna.

Back on the boat headed east bound this time.

We had to wait for some traffic to pass before we could go across.

Now that the traffic is past we are headed across the river.

This is the only way to get across the river this far south. The first bridge across the river is in New Orleans with a clearance of 170ft but some boats still can not get under it so down here they use ferry’s only plus the traffic volume does not justify such a large bridge.

Pulling up to the dock to unload.

I did pass a sugar cane plantation also. As you can see all the tractors have been put away because planting and harvest season is over. Once spring gets here they will be at it again doing cultivating and pest control. Next August will bring another planting and harvest season.

SweetFeet · Jan 4, 2013

John in LA,
All great photos!
My favorites are 2 because of what is seen in the mirror along the right edge - neat effect, and 4 because it is just a great shot of the ship.

Thanks for sharing.

bo1 · Jan 4, 2013

That the ferry from the foot of Canal st across to Algiers?

retired farmer · Jan 4, 2013

Is that cruise ship just anchored there? Do you have to pay to ride the ferry? Don't think you could get me on one. Like to keep my feet on dry land.

DownSouth · Jan 4, 2013

Now those are some awesome pictures John!
I'm curious, do they burn off the sugar cane prior to harvest like they do here at the tip of Texas? It always makes a mess with ash spread everywhere, but it's the most efficient way. As the trucks head north to the mill, you can smell them for a good ways. Sort of like driving through a forest fire!
Been quite some time since I was on a ferry that large. Last ferry I was on is the hand pulled ferry across the Rio Grande. More of a nostalgic thing than necessity as there isn't much of anything on the Mexico side but a dirt road and mesquite brush.

john in la · Jan 4, 2013

No
The Canal st to Algiers; Jackson ave to Gretna and the Chalmette to lower Algiers ferry is much smaller all run bt the bridge personal. I can not get on them with the truck. Plus since those are so close to the bridge it would be much eaiser to just take the bridge across.

The pictures are the Belle Chase to Scarsdale (Braithwaite) ferry about 40 miles south of the bridge in New Orleans.
There is another ferry in Point la hache about 30 miles south of here. These two ferries are run by the parish.

fixerupper · Jan 4, 2013

A couple of years ago we were on a ferry in New Orleans. I don't quite remember where we got on, but it was an interesting ride. Jim

john in la · Jan 4, 2013

That cruise ship is headed south out to the gulf. It anchors in New Orleans to load and unload.
The container ship is header north up river to docks upstream.
The ferry is free going west and cost $1 (50 cents per axle) headed east but predestrians ride free both ways. Same price it cost to cross the bridge in New Orleans.

john in la · Jan 4, 2013

They use to burn the cane first but now they cut it green and burn the residue left in the field after the cane has been harvested.

So we still have the big smoke balls in the sky like the pictures you posted a while back.

DownSouth · Jan 4, 2013

So I guess during harvest a large amount of the leaves are removed, interesting.
Normally after the burn here, the harvest begins almost immediatly. After the harvest is complete, they always end up with a large load of cull. They use an FEL and pile it up and leave it for a while (several weeks at least) and then burn it too. I always figured they leave it to dry it out some so it burns completly.
Funny thing is we can be under a burn ban for months due to drought, but they are allowed to burn the cane. Of course it's a controlled burn and most of the ash is harmless when it lands but not always. Every now and then a grass fire will pop up miles away (always in the down wind fallout area).

john in la · Jan 4, 2013

Here is a short video of how they cut cane in our area now.
sugarcane harvest

retired farmer · Jan 4, 2013

Thanks.

Mike (WA) · Jan 4, 2013

Wife and I lived on an island west of Seattle (Bainbridge Island) when I worked in Seattle. Rode a ferry every day. Wasn't bad, except during Indian gillnet season. Indians could fish salmon in their "traditional fishing grounds", without much restriction. So they'd set their gillnets wherever they wanted to, and somehow, they always wanted to set them right across the ferry lanes. The 35 minute trip took over an hour, as the 300 foot ferry picked its way around the Indian gillnets. Ferry would continually blast its horn, and Indians would respond by flipping us off. Everybody emerged from the experience with a warm and fuzzy feeling about the Indians. Or at least, that was the official line.

DownSouth · Jan 4, 2013

Now that is one "SWEET" (sorry, couldn't resist) video John. Very interesting, and amazing how fast that harvester can move down the row considering how thick cane is when it's unburnt.

JerryS · Jan 4, 2013

The last time I rode the ferry at Belle Chasse was a midnight in the summer of '62. I and a crew of roughnecks were coming back from a 12-hour tour in the Gulf. They wanted to drink; stopped at every bar on the east side. I wanted to get back to the boarding house and sleep. The ferry closed at midnight; we got there at 11:59.

Mark - IN. · Jan 4, 2013

"Ever ride a ferry?"

Umm, no, can't say I ever have. I've always been a straight guy and like women just fine. I don't see that ever changing.

Good luck and have fun, just don't tell me about it.

Mark

37chief · Jan 4, 2013

Rode a ferry from San Diego to North Island Navil air Station a lot of times back in the 60's. Now there is a bridge.Stan

Dick2 · Jan 5, 2013

We took our camper van on the ferry across Lake Michigan one hot summer night - and they wouldn't let us stay in the vehicle! Up on deck it was hot and humid all night; only the kids got some sleep on those hard plastic benches. We swore never to do that again!

keh · Jan 5, 2013

We made a trip to New Orleans once, zigzaged back and forth across the river in the country above New Orleans on the ferrys. Interesting ride. Found a place at Waterproof,LA, where we could drive right down to the river. It was a mile wide there and looked it. Current was moving right along too. Locals said the river is 200 feet deep there. No waterskiing there because of driftwood floating down the river.

KEH

For you land bound people (many pictures)

john in la

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SweetFeet

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bo1

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retired farmer

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DownSouth

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john in la

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fixerupper

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john in la

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john in la

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DownSouth

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john in la

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retired farmer

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Mike (WA)

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DownSouth

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JerryS

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Mark - IN.

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37chief

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Dick2

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keh

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