_94A9636 The Mississippi is a hard-working and mighty river. With its muscular current and heedless rushing, it stays fresh even as it carries with it the red clay earth of its banks, the oozy brown mud of its shores, and every conceivable man-made contaminate. To find a small bend in the river where it seems to take a rest a with a gentle meandering flow is lovely. No ships or barges to heave forward or other vessels to drag forth, the river at this bend  pauses for a lazy stretch under the brilliant winter sun.

_94A0651

Driving the 24 mile span of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge to New Orleans--the longest bridge over water in the world--can be disorienting. Unable to see either the beginning or the end of the bridge or any edges to the water beneath it for a long stretch of time, l felt as if I were driving out to the middle of a vast sea. Without any breaks in the horizon, or any difference in the hue of water and sky, I also felt suspended in space....but happily so, and fully enchanted.

_94A7940 - Version 2 The blues may be some of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

_94A7948 _94A7949                                                                                                   Motorboats spawn water art.

_94A6710 _94A6709 Turquoise wave and white foam melting on a hot afternoon on the beach is lovely.

_94A6495 Sea fingers slide up on the beach, beckoning.

_94A6635 The soft clean blue of sky and the gentle clean white of cloud is worth the early rise.

_94A6603 - Version 2 How I love the gentle plish plash of rain on water. Each droplet encircling and expanding in its own universe, clustering or colliding with others before dissolving.