to get to our marina and take the chance that we would be doing this after dark----but----with an early start, favorable currents and winds adding to our speed over water, once we neared New Orleans we decided to "go for it".It was quite cold and not too windy when we left the Houma Town Dock at 0620. We stopped to fuel up about three miles down the ICW. After waking up Rudy at the Talen's fuel dock we took on 16 gallons of diesel in preparation for a long day. I had already added 5 gallons from one of the 5 gal. jerry cans we were carrying, in Morgan City, as there was no place to fuel up there or any where between MC and Houma----go figure---one of the busiest oil industry, industrial, commercial areas in the US and no where to buy diesel---refined oil.
The farther we went the more we felt it was a possibility that we could make it to NO a day ahead of schedule. We motored through numerous areas of incredible boat traffic associated with the off shore production facilities---barges, work boats, rigs, boat manufacturing and maintenance yards. And then there were many areas of very impressive natural beauty.
When we arrived at the intersection with the Barataria Waterway (where we had originally planned to turn south and head to a marina for the night) we made our final decision to push on. We grew more excited the closer we got to NO and finally spotted the skyline of the city in early afternoon.
We arived at the Harvey Lock at 3:30 PM. This is a lock, on the Harvey Canal that leads right into the Mississippi River. We were directed directly into the lock and tied up there along with only one "Light Boat" ( a tug without a barge load). The water difference was only about a foot and a half and took no time at all. When the north gate opened we were into the river across from downtown New Orleans. WOW!!! There was only a 1 1/2 knot current flowing downstream but the winds had come up and there was a slight chop. We had 5 miles to go until we exited the river on the north side (the city side) and we were motoring along peacefully and excited when a large tug pulled up next to us and hailed us on the loud hailer and told us we needed to monitor Channel 67 (on our VHF radio)--"traffic" was trying to get ahold of us on that channel. ( Up to this point channel 13 was the channel of choice for traffic on the ICW with contact with bridges on the same channel and channel 14 for locks) The cruising guide we had been following told me to contact "traffic control" on 67 once we exited the Harvey Lock and I had tried several times, without success, to raise them on that channel. I gave up and went back to channel 13. Unbeknownst to me they montor ch 12 in addition to 67 in the river--no longer channel 13---I was monitoring neither, but on the urging of the tug I turned my radios to those two channels. It seems they---1/2 the river traffic ---were trying to communicate to me to get to the city (port) side of the river to get out of the way of an oncoming, very large, tanker. I did!!
Soon we entered ino the staging area for the industrial canal lock that would take us to the channel that would lead to our marina. After waiting for 2 tows and a light boat to exit coming the other way we entered the lock by ourselves. This time there was about a 3 foot water drop. It was only about 4:30 at this time--plenty of time and daylight to get to the marina---Right after the lock was a highway bridge that we hailed and asked to raise so we could pass under--it did and we did. Then about 1/2 mile up the channel was another highway lift bridge that we needeed to raise for us to get under. "Bridge to sailboat----My bridge is stuck and it won't go up, and it won't go down" is what we heard over the radio. Unbelievable---we were within a mile of the marina and we encounter our first serious impediment. We started looking around for a good place to anchor--possibly for the night. Luckily, we were the only boat in this area between the 2 bridges. (There was no thought about reversing course as the only thing behind us was the river) I called the bridge tender back again and asked her if she thought they were going to be able to fix the bridge, and if so, how long it might take. She informed us that "maintenance" was on the way and would be there in a few minutes (remember--this is a Sunday night) and that they "WOULD" fix it. With these confident words we decided to not drop the hook and to just drift around a bit until the bridge was fixed, meanwhile picking out a good place to anchor for the night if her confidence was misplaced. Much to our elation the bridge started up about 20 minutes later. We still had three more bridges to remove from our path and darkness had decended. We trudged on slowly relying completely on our chartplotter and radar and after hailing the wrong bridges a couple of times and fearing that the operators had either gone to sleep or had shut down for the night we finally pulled into Seabrook Marina assisted by Ed of Ed and Mary Lee Shanen of Kentucky--they had sailed down the Mississippi and said it was miserable---. They're sailing their 40 ft Beneteau to their new home in FT Myers, Fla. We had a heck of time docking on the lea side of a dock as the wind had come back up considerably--truly appreciated his help.
The girls were on their way to join us. When we called and told them we were going all the way to NO on Sunday, they jumped in the car and headed our way--got in around 9:30---chatted--and to bed exhausted. What a day!! BUT--We're here and ready to begin the part of the trip we have really been looking forward to--If only the weather would cooperate. We are expecting front after front for a couple of weeks.
Monday, we had breakfast with Gene and MaryLou at a local soul food restaurant with the best grits I've ever tasted--"Old Gentiily Spicy Kitchen" After saying goodbye to Gene nad MaryLou we rented a car for a couple of days, did laundry, stocked up on groceries and went to dinner at a restaurant recommended by Theresa Dormer---Jacques Imo's"-- Incredibly good---The best restaurant I've ever eaten at in New Orleans. Back to the boat and to bed at 9. Tomorow a few boat chores, fill up on fuel and take another look at the weather. It looks like it is going to remain cold for quite a while longer and we need to decide whether to push on or to wait it out.
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