Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 09:22:52 -0600
Reply-To: Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Chase <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
Subject: RoadHaus - Louisiana Raccoons / The rest of the story
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Volks,
Sorry ..... Long story!
Yesterday I sent a short report to a few friends about a run in I had
with a few Louisiana Raccoons.
See "First Raccoon Report" at the bottom of this page.
Turns out there's more to the story.
- - -
Although I thought my "Raccoon" Adventure was done for the day, it was
not to be.
First I was politely educated by my friend Stan Wilder.
Turns out the critters are not Raccoons at all.
The were "NUTRIA" or what is more commonly referred to as "Louisiana
Swamp Rats".
Here's a picture:
http://www.roadhaus.com/images/nutria.jpg
Here's some info:
http://www.nationaltrappers.com/nutria.html
Anyway .... Around mid-night ... The fun began again.
The creatures began crawling out of the Abyss of the Louisiana Swamp and
tried to overtake the Roadhaus.
OK .... You may find this one hard to believe, but it's true.
After the early episode with the dog food (stored in one of those tough
rubber waterproof duffel bags) I threw the bag on top of the Van for the
night.
Out of harms way I foolishly thought.
The creatures split into squads of three or four and took turns
assaulting the Van. They somehow managed to scale the exterior and made
their way to the roof.
Once on the summit they proceed to rummage thru everything in the
luggage rack, including of course ... The dog food duffle bag.
Also I might add ... They seemed to have a particular fondness for a
gallon of VW Phosphate Free Antifreeze.
Sounds of scratching, clawing and objects being tossed about pierced the
damp night air.
Try and sleep thru that.
Grapping my 4'long Mag Flashlight, I throw the side door open, and hit
the ground in full USMC Combat stance.
Ready to swing the flashlight to and fro and fight for the dominance of
the swamp.
Sweeping the beam onto the roof I see dark vague shapes disappear into
the darkness. I hear scurrying down the far side of the van.
Running to that perimeter ....... I hear the nearby dense vegetation
rustling with activity.
And then ... This is the scary part.
You might want to chase the children away for this one.
Sweepinjg the flashlight beam in that direction,
I see eyes staring back. But this time it's not 1/2 dozen sets of eyes.
No sir .... I counted at least 12 or 14 sets of piercing, eerie eyes of
what I assume was a growing Army of NUTRIA.
Fearing that I was outnumbered I tumble back into the safety of the
RoadHaus.
BTW ... Bullet the Watch Dog ... Never showed a bit of curiosity or
interest in the event.
She watched the whole ordeal from the warmth and comfort of her LL Bean
Down and Fleece covered bed.
To put an end to this tale .....
The rest of the night was a similar repeat permorance.
They would return, I'd work up enough courage to finally rush out and
confront what turned out to be ever growing sets of glowing night eyes.
Finally, after literally no sleep I feared that they had gathered enough
numbers to cart the Van away ....
I became convinced that there true plan was to take us deep into their
territory.
The Abyss of their Louisiana Swamp.
I hurried threw everything into the Van and at around 4:30 am escaped
back to the paved byways of rural LA.
Now this morning in a calmer mood, I'm trying to sort thru lessons
learned and figure out what I might be different next time.
Here's what I came up with.
http://www.lacoast.gov/watermarks/2000b-06/3recipe/
- - -
First Raccoon Report
Sitting in the Van a few minutes ago, Bullet (Dog) starts going crazy.
Figure she has to go Potty.
I let her out, seconds later I hear a small yelp and here she comes at a
run ... back in the Van.
I figure it was a loose dog.
Jump out with flashlight in hand ..... from the thick brush 6 different
sets of eyes stare back.
Holly sh_____ I Gasp.
After the pulse rate returns to normal I investigate a little further.
I hate it when curiosity overcomes fear.
Turns out the eyes belong to raccoons who where dragging the dog food
bag into the swamps of Louisiana.
Not on your life I shout ...... Jumping into the muck I wrestle the
prize away.
OK .... so my shouting actually scared the devils further into the
depths of the abyss.
But the other version makes a better story.
The new replacement bag ...... now has new teeth marks and chew holes.
Cool.
The original taken several times by Coyotes of the Southwest and Wild
Dogs of Mexico.
But each time I got it back.
That is until I left it on top of the van when I pulled out of camp one
day.
Never to be seen again.
- - -
The real voyage of discovery
consists not in seeking new landscapes,
But in having new eyes.
~ Marcel Proust
Larry Chase
Email: RoadGuy@RoadHaus.com
Web: WWW.RoadHaus.com
Cell: 408.202.1217
What: North American Road Trip
How: RoadHaus - 1990 White VW Westfalia Syncro
Today: On the road to Florida