Atchafalaya

Our trip into Louisiana was like surfing,  sometimes riding just ahead of the rain and sometimes engulfed by it. Nice weather for a duck.  And hopefully great weather for a timber doodle hunter.  Our logic being the little doodlers had to hunker down all day Thursday and will be out and about this morning.
We stopped for licenses and intel at the LDFW office in Opelousas where we met Jason, an avid woodcock hunter. Birds have been plentiful but cyclical this season. Out came the maps with very specific highlighted areas plus obligatory dog and hunting stories.
Steady rain restricted anything but scouting, but we were able to eliminate tens of thousands of acres of swamp and find exactly where we want to start.

Information kiosks also provide shelter from steady rain.

Found a comfy motel by a diner in Livonia and shut down for the evening. 511 miles certainly isn't the longest first day of a hunting trip but rain plus Houston made it enough.

When I can look out the room door and see my wingman, the rig, and Penny's Diner for supper and breakfast, the mojo is working. 

First time enthusiasm for a morning hunt is tempered a bit with trepidation.  A little scared to find out how much agility Kali may have lost. Not concerned about her ability or drive, just with how much her little aging body can keep up.  Suspect I'll be lifting her in and out of the truck the rest of the trip as well as onto the motel beds, but I guess she's earned that after all the miles and adventure.