To Galveston and back

Well right more later. Just got in the Port Lavaca this afternoon. Aug 4, 2012  Total cruising miles on Miss Froggy 1429.

4th of July

Charlie joined us on his boat to sail over to Port O'Connor to watch the fireworks on the 7th. Was a slow sail day as the wind was blowing from the wrong direction as always. We did tack back and forth for about 3 hours going nowhere. Got a lot experience tacking.

We got to what I felt was a good spot to watch the fireworks off POC. The wind had picked up and the wave action was not fun. The CG showed up for a short visit. I asked the a few questions and they left. A little while later a different crew came by asking the same questions with the addition of one. When was the last time you were boarded? I said never and they were welcome to come aboard.  Which the did. I think they really were more interested in who I was because we had gone to NOLA. They did their paper work and left.

The fireworks were nice. Not much sleep as it was very rough until just before daylight when the wind died and the bay went flat. Had a nice smooth motor back to the marina.

41 miles.

1147 on the G PS

LG 800 Net10 phone sucks along with Net10 service. Think I'll send them a bill for the time I've sat on the phone waiting to talk to them and for the days the phone didn't work.

May 19

Flood gates no problem. Nice easy day to Matagorda. Got a slip for the night. Getting closer to home

1052

May 20

Got up early for a early start because its a long way to Port Lavaca. Slow motor all day 4.1 to 4.3 As we entered Matagorda bay the wind started to pick up. I know something was going to happened as the sun was red this morning. Sure enough the closer we got to Port O'Connor the heaver and higher the chop got. The wind was on a broad reach. Hard to handle with the motor popping out of the water. One time we got hit so hard that the motor popped off the hold down latch. I felt that it would be best instead of fighting this all the way into Port Lavaca we should just go to Port O'Connor. Hoping to calmer winds and chop in the morning.

1086 miles

May 21

We left Clarks at 0545 this morning to get a head start on the wind. The bay was nice to us with a light chop.

We turn into our slip with a warm welcome commodity of dock mates. Nice to have the welcome home made us feel good.

We finished with 1106 miles under our belts. Now we know the hard part so the next trip will be easier to get over to Mississippi and points.

Thanks to everyone that have keep up with our adventure.

Got WIFI

May 12

0930 the dealer call and my motor is ready for pick up. Richard gave me a ride to get my motor. Got her installed and fired right up.

Richard was cooking crawfish. Biggest darn thing I'd ever seen. Told Lisa about them and ask the stupid question. Do you want some? Got 2# She ate until her hands hurt and her belly was full. Happy camper she is.

Richard and Peggy are so kind. Don't know what we would have done without their help.

May 13

Got an early start. We made it to Taylor Bayou by 1200. Short day. But that way we will make Stingaree in one day.

Called my sister to wish her a happy mothers day.

Miles 888

May 14

Pulled anchor at 0711 and headed for Stingaree. Quite day except for one tow. His wife must have run off with a sailor. I knew he was behind me and I was giving him all the ditch. I'm in less than 10' of water and here he is 30 yards behind me trying to run me over. This was not my imagination. I got on the radio and asked him what he wanted me to do. No reply but he did move out after he had me in water he couldn't get in. This is twice this has happened. I think the next time its real simple. I'll ask them what they wanted me to do. If I get no answer and they keep coming I'll run myself aground to keep Lisa and Trixie safe. Then I'll get on the radio and inform them that since they are trying to kill us intentionally I will tell them that as they pass I will fill their bridge deck with lead. To me this is self defense.

We saw and spoke to Wayne and Connie just west of the High Island Bridge. Luck them they had sail up. We've had nothing but a head wind.

We got into Stingaree around 1630 tire and hungry. Lisa got a crab po boy and I got fries. Topped off my 3 gal and 6 gal tanks. Leaving me with one gallon of fuel left. In other words 7 gallon out of 19 gal.

This means I used 12 gallons of gas from Morgan City mm 100 to here mm 335 or 235 miles on 12 gallons of fuel. That is a 19.58 mile per gallon. Not to bad averaging 5.5 mph.

We'll head to Offatts bayou tomorrow.

Mile 936

May 15

Left Stingaree at 0711. West on the ICW when the CG came on the radio to inform of the channel closure at the Pelican Island cut. With the cut closed that means going around in the Galveston Channel. I needed to plot a course from the ICW to Galveston Channel. Well I figured a heading of 171 degrees would get us there. No problem NOT Winds were forecast at 5 and light chop. Boy did the weather guy missed it again. Even on Channel 1 on the VHF had is all wrong. We had a beam chop 3 to 5' hitting us to 25 degrees. We had less than 2 mile to contend with but it seemed like forever. Not only the wind and chop but had to worry about ships. None today thank God as I would not have wanted to make a circle in this crap.

Got in the Galveston Channel and it wasn't not much better. Went through the Pelican Island bascule bridge and here is the chop and wind even higher and bigger. Lisa was at her wits end about have way to the railroad bridge. I was fed up with all this mess. Lisa said the dinghy was higher than the boat at time. Got though the railroad bridge to calmer water. We were header to Offatts Bayou. Still had a high wind pushing us around. Took 3 time and I finally gave up and dropped the anchor. Need to move later.

We rowed over to the little boat ramp. Walked up to Target to get a couple of things. Saw a WM and a Home Depot all in a short walk.

Called about the flood gate closure. Can get though on Saturday. Call Harbor Bridge Marina and reserved a transit slip for Friday night. At least we'll get hot showers and ice before we head to Matagorda on Saturday. Might make it home on Sunday.

Only 29 mile today but Lisa said it felt like 129 miles.

965 miles

May 16

Offatts Bayou. Just hanging out.

May17

Offatts Bayou.

This evening a young sailor stopped by for a visit. He is headed to Aranasa Pass. He's single hand all the way from Long Island to here. Center cockpit yawl. Atlas is the boat name. Did a stop over the Bahamas. He's thinking of doing the ICW on down to Port Isabel.

Gave him my copy of Jay's cruising guide from Galveston to Brownsville.

Weather is looking good for the next few days. Wont leave here if the winds are greater than 10. I don't care not going to get hammered again.

May 18

We had a good motor sail over to Freeport. West Bay was almost like glass as we crossed. We left at 0630 to beat any winds that might come up. Had a lot of sailboats pass us as they were headed to the Spring Fling in Freeport.

Got a slip for tonight and much needed showers. First time to have WIFI since we left Peggy's on the Bayou.

I did get on the radio with a big trawler to give him hell for his 8 foot wake. He slowed down until he got almost to us then dropped the hammer. He did reply with I will watch my wake in the future.

We passed the 1000 mile make today at the 390 mm WHL.

Hope to get through the flood gates early to make it on over to Matagorda.

1004 miles

Here we sit

May 11

Called the Tohatsu dealer today. Got the part needed to fix my motor. Didn't know if it will be ready tomorrow or not. Getting real tired of sitting here.

I don't know why anyone in their right mind would want to cruise from Texas to NOLA along the ICW. There isn't a decent marina east of Galveston. What you do find is so far away from anything you need a car instead of a dinghy.  The water in the Mississippi is clearer. You put up with tow after tow for hours on end. Then there is the crabbers and small crewboats that send you a wake that will capsize you if you are not careful.

Is the ICW an adventure Hell no its a damn nightmare. Want your boat beat up just come on down. You don't have to do anything the ICW will do it for you.

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.