The Pier...A Meeting Place For Friends

  It is not uncommon for folks to want to meander down to the pier when they come to visit the Bayou.  It seems as if the pier is, not only my favorite place, but is that of most people.  The water calls and we answer.  There is just something calming hearing the waves, the shorebirds and the silence....yep, the silence.  Being away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world makes the Bayou intriguing yet peaceful.  The pier is a gathering place for friends.

  Not all friends who use the pier are of the people sort.  In fact, there are more critter friends making use of the place than people.  Pelicans, seagulls, terns...all rest there.  Ospreys use the posts as perches as they scan the waters.  Ducks, geese and cormorants have come to visit.  Turtles, otters, rice rats, possums and fox have wandered down the walk.  Lizards and snakes sun themselves on the planks. Any number of critters visit on a daily (or nightly) basis.

  This morning, Mark and I made a hasty trek to the pier then hurried back to the Little Bayou House.  Ahead of a cold front, rain was threatening so staying was out of the question.  If it had just been us, we would not have been worried but the old dog, Mr. PJ, does not move as quickly as he once did.  As soon as we were back inside, I turned to flip the latch on the door when I saw that we had just missed one of our friends.  A half-grown raccoon was ambling up the pier toward the shoreline.  He would stop to sniff each spot where the old dog's feet had patted up the planks. He was alert but seemed calm as he walked. He was in no hurry even after he saw me coming down the pathway toward him.  This little raccoon is often seen near or on the pier.  He is used to my presence and that of the old dog.  

  After a few moments of searching for a bit of breakfast, the little coon slid off the pier and worried a few fiddler crabs before climbing into the nearby oak tree.  Once there, he nibbled a few acorns before choosing the perfect spot to sleep the day away.  This little night critter was ready for a snooze!