Gods country

We have made it through the bride and heading out today through Morgan City we will be on the hook for the next few nights.  Right now we are traveling down ICW in marsh areas, it is very pretty still water slight breeze.  There are lots of little cannels off the ICW you could easily get lost going off path.

Wow a billboard never would have thought that would be here.

Waiting on a lift

We came up to the Bayou Delarge Bascule bridge ask for a lift they do not due lifts from 6:45 to 8:30am so we have to wait an hour.   Making breakfast taco’s to eat while we drifted around. 

Plane ride anyone?

Woke up at 6 this morning the Downtown marina has no fuel so we are looking up next place to refuel on our path.  While getting stuff ready to depart a water plane pulled into the marina area then heading back out along the ICW.  

Houma bound

While heading down the ICW we came across a herd of horses that were in a wooden area drinking water.  There are no homes or fences around any of the land so not sure if they are wild or belong to someone.   

On our way into Houma we went through the Bayou Blue pontoon bridge this is a road on a barge with cables they swing open like a door to let you by.  As we were coming into Houma area we could see a few homes and a herd of cattle swimming; something else to watch out for on the ICW.  This part of the waterway took the brunt of Katrina you can still see the some damage and construction still going on to repair buildings and homes.  

One of the many new homes built up along the waterway.

At a local park there was a flocked of buzzards eating something large in the water could not get close enough to see if it was a fish or not.   

We docked at the Downtown marina for the night this is a park area with benches, play yard lots of shade trees they made this to accommodate transient boat travelers along the ICW.  No shower or bathrooms they do have running water and electrical.  They even have a local bus stop at the marina.  We were within walking distance to a few gas stations and a laundry mat so we were able to get the laundry done and restock our bread and cokes.  When we got back to the marina we order pizza.  There were another sailboat and a catamaran that also tied up for the night.  They were both coming from Texas and meet up with each other at Sabine pass and have stayed together since they are heading to Florida.  Gil talked with them and exchange information places to stay & things along the water way we have both found.   We had a great 4^th, missed seeing fireworks through they are banned in this parish.  Gil was up and down a few times otherwise we slept pretty well.  Looking forward to tomorrow it is suppose to be a very scenic route.

Cedar trees and spanish moss

Our 5:30am wakeup call from same security guard letting us know we were still to close.  We explained to him last night approval from the supervisor he laughed and said he was not right he would have to tell him so.  We told him we would get ready and head out in the next 30 mins.  He was a nice guy he felt bad waking us up both times.   Started the engine heard a squealing noise, alternator belt was loose tighten that up gave the Perkins a quart of oil and we were off by 6:15am it was a hot muggy windless day.  Headed down the Crown Point and Lafitte named after Jean Lafitte of pirate fame.  We saw quite a few homes , an air boat ride company with 6 boats ready to go.  We entered the Barataria waterway came across a couple of gators swimming along. The waterway is lined with cedar tress draped spanish moss hanging down almost to the top of the large elephant ear plants growing into the water.  We have seen many waterfowl living in this area.  
Hydrangeas are so thick in some areas you have to zig zag around them, had a couple get stuck on the prop did a quick reverse to get them off.  Engine was starting to run a little hot.  We traveled into Larose where we crossed Lafourche “pronounced  LAH-FOOSH”  we passed several large ship yards and was surprised at the size of the ships in the yards.  Our plan is to stay in Houma tonight, do some laundry and update our route to see when we will make it home.

Locking Through

Locking through,Traveled down the intercostal waterway along the Rigolets came upon what looks like a wall with a door, must be something for hurricanes or salt and fresh water intrusions.   

 We entered the industrial canal just as a storm wall was starting up lighting was putting on a pretty good show, winds picking up.  We went under the Florida ave.  Bascule bridge immediately after that we passed through Sebert “Claireborne Ave” lift bridge approached the lock contacted the lock master on VHF 14 had to provide boat name, length, draft and beam.   He then instructed us to tie up on the starboard side behind the Barge.  We were then told to hold as the barge opted to wait out the storm before going through the lock he backed out of the lock.  We were starting to get a light rain, we were then told to tie up just behind the light boat.  We later found out a light boat is a tug by itself.  The lock master tossed us down 2 lines; tied off and lifted about 6 feet to the height of the Mississippi river.  As the doors opened we passed under the St Claude bascule bridge.   As we exited the lock the lighting and rain was starting to pick up.  We closed up the isinglass as we finished getting the last one on the storm then turned to the north west of us.   From here we entered the Mississippi river just east of New Orleans.  We went 5 miles upriver where we had a full view of downtown New Orleans, French Quarter at Jackson square.  We saw the New Orleans ferry, cruise ship and an old paddle boat.  We closed up the isinglass as we started to get a light rain, the storm then turned to the north west of us.  

Arrived at the Harvey lock and hailed the lock master on VHF with no reply multiple times.  When he did finally answer he told us we were in a restricted area and needed to move 200 yards down river.  Told him I was sorry he said don’t let it happen again pretty sure he was a little upset with us.   We waited down river for 2 ½ hours in time out as barges were unloading from the east on the intercoastal.  Finally another light barge heading west approached the lock after another 30 mins we were called to load in the locks behind him.   We dropped nine feet when the doors opened we went under a small lift bridge controlled by the lock which started to close as we were going under.  A quick u turn and a sorry from the operator and we were on our way again.  We approached the Harvey canal twin bridges, then the Lapalco Blvd bascule bridge.  I was amazed to see the cars running around the closed gate to get across the bridge before it opened so we had to wait for them.  The operator was kind enough to call the local tugs and see if they knew of a safe area for us to anchor out due to our time out it was getting dark and we would not make our destination Boom town casino allows boats to tie up allow the levy.  We called and were told where to tie up.  Around 11pm we woke to the sound of the security guard knocking on the boat.  We had to move the costal guard regulation would not allow us to be that close to the casino boat.  Moved the boat had the supervisor come out and check to make sure we were good upon his approval we headed back to bed.

Rigolets Marina

At the gas dock in Biloxi when it opened topped off fuel on the water again by 7am.  Headed west north of Deerr island and south to the west bound intercostal waterway.

We were able to sail most of today wide open water way not much land.  Sailing today was not like lake sailing we set the sails and went for hours with out adjusting lines.  Not much to see in the open water passage other than a few interesting tugs.  Like the one below reminds me of the little engine that could we was working his tail off for a knot and half of speed.  Turns out it was a dredging machine we ended up seeing him later along the route.

We planned on staying at the Rigolets went through our first swing bridge to get to the marina.  Called ahead to make sure they could accommodate us draft, elec etc said they could.

Turns out this marina was shallow, but they had the nicest people that work there.  We were dragging mud getting into the slip at near high tide.  .  They were trying to figure out another spot for us since we were already in we opted to just stay.  Went to hook up electric only had 50 amp power by our slip.  We located a west marine after them helping us try other options Stan from the marina drove us to the west marine so we did not have to get a cab.  After getting everything set up we sat in the office for about 45 mins talking.  Did you know shrimp boat leave at 4:30 to 5 in the morning?  We got up expecting we would be stuck till noon waiting for the tide to go high enough.  We were floating and sticking 6 to 8 inches of keel in the mud, we fueled up and did a heck maneuver to get out of the slip.  We had 3 foot clearnace on left and a fishing boat tied 1 boat length behind us on starboard (prop walk direction).  We tied to port mid cleat pivited out of slip like we knew what we were doing.

Around 9am approached Rigolets swing  bridge, called on VHF 13 for opening & waited for another boat and barge to exit with us.  Heading back into intercoastal heady towards the lock at Mississippi river should be exciting.

The marina owner told us about this house, they are filming a GI Joe movie here next week.