Up date

April 29

Well after a wonderful week in NOLA it was time for us to head home. We cast off at 0800 and in the Industrial canal we headed. We got to the first bridge and as usual we had a hard time getting the Almonaster bridge to open. Took 4 radio calls and 30 minutes before he open the bridge. He will only open if you say Almonaster Blvd Railroad bridge. Made it through the rest of the bridges no problem. When we got to Industrial Lock we tied to a light boat. First time for everything. Crossing the Mississippi was not fun. We had 6 foot rollers until we turned into Algiers canal. Our wait at the lock was about half an hour. The lock master load a tow, crewboat and a light boat in the lock. Then it was our turn. Everything with smooth.

Got over to Crown Point and everything turned to crap. Hundreds of runabouts running up and down the ICW. Bunch of nuts out. Most of them drunk.

We found an anchorage in 4.3' of water at 1702hrs after 42 miles. I don't think we did to bad considering the bridge, locks and the Mississippi river.

590 miles

April 30

Uneventful day to Houma. Rolled into the city park/marina. Paid my $25.00 to tie up for the night. Three trips to the store. Gas, Ice and Subway sandwiches. No one felt like cooking.

I was sitting in the cockpit when a gentleman came up wearing a leather Kelt and full beard. He was retired army and lived in the PNW and owner of a Flicka. We had a nice visit. He sure liked Miss Froggy.

May 1

First of a new month. After another restless night we headed for Morgan City and the little park at the 100 mile marker. Got tied up around 4 and kicked back for a quite evening.

662 Miles

May 2

Lisa contacted Steph about where there is a walk in clinic in Morgan City. Bless her heart she came over from Houma to help Lisa find a doctor. We meet her at the City dock. As soon as we pulled up some film crew ask if we would agree to a short video for La. Tourism. So we ended up in a video that will come out in June on YouTube.

Found a walk in clinic and got Lisa all fixed up. Said a thank you's to Steph and headed back to the little park. I could see the rain coming so Lisa helped me into my slicker. What a down pour. Had to turn on the nav lights.

After we got tied up I saw what looked like a pump out. Sure enough there is a brand new one not yet totally installed with about 10 docks with water and elec. Bad thing about it is there is no way we could tie up and get off the boat. The dock is about 10 feet off the water.

Got more rain during the night.

669 miles

May 3

Left out around 0715 for our next anchorage. Figured on the same spot to anchor as before up the bayou to Avery Island.

Got a little rain to day but nothing to put my slicker on for. Remembered about Port of West St. Mary to let Trixie have her potty walk. She had a good run. Don't remember if I said before but this place is full of Vietnamese crabbing. Someday there wont be any crabs to catch or even eat.

We say to gators in an arguments. Pretty good size.

Got into out anchorage about 1730. Lisa made cornbread in our BakePacker. Sure turned out really good. Good investment on the BakePacker.

It was nice being able to cruise along on just the start position on the motor at 5 to 5.3 all day.

721 Miles today

May 4

Woke up at 0130 to find all the water gone from our anchorage. Couldn't get the boat to rock. Nothing to do but go back to bed. Woke again at 0600 to find a strong current and all the water and then some back in. Got moving around 0715 headed to Shell Morgan in Intarcoastal City.

Lisa told me that during the night a tow woke her up. As she was looking out a gator swam by.

Beautiful sunrise on a foggy morning but the darn camera wouldn't work. This camera just does what it wants.

Got into Shell Morgan at mid morning with plans on staying the night. We both needed shower and a good inside boat clean.

In the future we'll fuel up but I don't think we'll stay again. To much traffic on the ICW and this little boat is taking a beating.

Called Charlie J to let him know where we were at. Last time here we had no phone service but internet. This time we have phone service and no internet.

Charlie said I should get in touch with everyone and have a get together. That would be really nice but I hate to ask anyone to drive out of their way to come see up. Maybe next time we will get over to CYC for a weekend. Who know what the future holds.

Changed the oil in the outboard I'll have to keep better track on the hours. One hour for every 5 miles.

737 miles

May 5

Wanted out of Shell Morgan. Tired of the noise and wakes.

Got to Leeland Bowman lock and waited hour and half to lock through. Most of the day went good. Stopped at Florence Canal to let Trixie do a potty break at the little boat dock. Wrong 1.7 of water. Next stop Talen fuel stop. Had pure hell. Wind slammed us into on of the pylons. Then trying to get out of there in 2 feet of water the motor started running like crap and would die. Got blown into 1.7 feet of water again. This time had to get the dinghy and a long dock line to one of the big cleats to pull me backwards out of the shallow water. Changed fuel tanks thinking that I might have bad fuel from Shell Morgan. Motor running good again.

Do not stop at Talen's for a doggy break. Problems both times. 190 MM

Tried a new anchorages. Nope to shallow. Ran back into the ICW when the deep sounder showed 3 feet. Wasn't going to take any chances.

Got to our old anchorage at the 205 WHLMM and dropped a hook in 5 feet of water. Had a relaxing evening getting sung to by a bull frog.

785 miles.

May 6

Quite day today. Made it through 2 pontoon bridges and one lock. Got over to the Calcasieu Park by mid afternoon for Trixie potty break and get ice. 8 lb bag 2 bucks. People are sure proud of frozen water.

Anchored in the same spot as we did on the way east. Up the Calcasieu river.

We'll leave early and head for Peggy's on the Bayou for tomorrow night. Maybe I can get this online then.

826 Miles

May 7

Had a nice quite day on the ICW only a couple of tows. Turn up cow bayou to Peggy's. As I was turning into the dock l went to put it in reverse and nothing happened. I didn't realize that it was still in forward. No way to stop so we hit the dock. Miss Froggy is still alright. No way to shift the motor out of forward.

Took the motor off and call a friend that is an outboard mech. We talked for awhile.

The owner here at Peggy's said that there is a outboard mech. Just up the road.

863 miles

May 8

Took the motor to the mech to get it fixed. He called me to tell me the motor is still in warranty. Now to find a way to get the motor to the dealer in Orange.