Cajun Manna – Dec. 17, 2012
It was a windy day on the mountain as five Traildogs began the final days of finishing work on the mountainous seventh section. We are working just north of the massive tornado blow-down area of May 2011. Tens of thousands of trees were ripped, torn, twisted and destroyed along the northern portion of Brady Mountain Rd. Finding a usable route for the trail was a real challenge, but thanks to the tenacity of U.S. Forest Service personnel, we successfully have threaded the trail between tornado damage and private property. Job well done!
The wind today blew in another treat as we working. Suddenly, the air was filled a distant aroma that could only be described as manna from Louisiana, when up the mountain an apparition bearing a foil covered pan of smoking hot Cajun Sausage Bread appeared. Georgia Cavanaugh, Cajun Cook Supreme, brought the Traildog volunteers and the Progressive Trail Design machine team three smoking hot loaves of her famous spicy Cajun sausage bread for a hot lunch on Big Bear Mountain.
Once this manna bearer was spotted, tools were quickly tossed aside, packs grabbed, and all thoughts of work evaporated. Gathering at a fallen lunch log as our dinner table, we set upon the rich spicy bread like a pack of … well, starving Traildogs. It is impossible to describe how easy this warm bread laced with sweet sausage drippings slides down into a ravenous trail worker. Warm bread on a cold windy mountain has got to be one of the Mountain Dragon’s gifts for opening up the beauty of this deep forest to thousands of folks who will tread or ride this new trail.
Wednesday at 9:00 am on Brady Mountain Road will be our last work day this year, so join us, and maybe we can complete all the finish work.
Thanks,
Jerry