Lake Charles to Houma, LA

We had a long 79 mile run to the Shell Morgan Landing to tie up for the night and then a 56 mile run to Morgan City.  We left Lake Charles in the dark in the early morning with fog.  I sure love my new radar and GPS plotter.  The fog lifted about 9am and and the rest was sit back and take in the scenery.   Soon after we left we went thru our first lock called the Calcasieu Lock.  Basically you drive right thru without stopping. When we passed one of the barges he called us on the radio and said it looks like our dingy was flopping around on the back of the boat.  Jan took the wheel and I went to investigate.  Sure enough the dingy was hanging off the davit on the back.  I had Jan slow down to an idle while I jury rigged a come along to the back of the boat so I could lift it back on to the davit.  What fun!  Our second lock we went thru was called the Leland Bowman Lock.  Another drive thru.  When we got to Shell Moran Landing it was a corrugated steel wall about four feet off the water that can accommodate only a couple of boats. Since we are the only crazy people boating in the winter we had no problem getting a place to stay. We got to listen to the work boat in front of us with his generator running all night and then all the work boats leaving at "O" dark thirty to take the workers to oil platforms throughout the Bayou.   We didn't take pics of this place, I guess we were just too tired and forgot.  In the morning we filled up with fuel at $3.32 per gallon and headed to Morgan City.  We went through our third lock the Bayou Boeuf Lock.  Another drive thru.  We had heard both good and bad about the wall you have to tie up to and weren't sure if we were anxious to find out for ourselves.  Yes, the wall was rustic but we managed to make it through the night without incident except for the occasional rolling from passing boats.  We wish we could have spent more time in some of the cities we stop at, but we really want to get to New Orleans before Christmas.  The main reason we try to tie up is for the power and to let Chloe off to do her duty.  The scenery between Morgan City and Houma was the best so far because of the trees with the moss hanging off.   Not sure if we are going to head to New Orleans tomorrow because of weather but the next day looks good.  We are at nice place here in Houma at the city docks and took a little walk to the bank and store at the Shell station.  If we have to stay here for another day it's not too bad.

Going by Grand Lake

Looks like the Delta

Cable Ferry

Passing on the one.  What you don't see is the tow on the other side going the other way.  I call that a sandwich.

Largest salt mine in LA

Drive thru lock

Morgan City flood wall

At least we had power

Morgan City

This could be yours

Morgan City is all about commercial boating

Looks like this from Morgan City to Houma

Couldn't resist taking this one!

First house you see entering Houma.  Check out the outdoor kitchen on the right

Hello Panacea at the Houma city dock

This one is for you Lu-Lu

I don't know?  This Indian standing in a pool of water holding a fish with no tail

Galveston TX to Lake Charles LA

We were delayed one day in Galveston due to weather, the weather was very windy and with a North wind the water in Galveston Bay literally blows out to the Gulf and leaves a four foot drop at the dock. On the 16th we untied the lines and were off to Lake Charles.  Leaving Galveston we officially entered the ICW (intracoastal waterway).  We decided to anchor out just past Port Arthur so our trip to Lake Charles was a little shorter.  We anchored behind Shell Island and had a very peaceful night.  It really reminded us of the California Delta except for many crab traps.  The only difference is we anchored out in the winter and it got down to the thirty's.  Chloe finally took a leak after 12 hours.  We have really been trying to get her to go up on the bow and she finally gave in and let go but I think she thought she would be in trouble.  We made sure to over praise her.  There will be many anchorages that we will not be able to use the dinghy so hopefully she  is on her way.  We pulled anchor at 7:00am and off we go to Lake Charles, LA.  There was a lot of barge traffic today and I think I over took more than passed me.  They run about 4-5 knots and you need to call them every time you want to pass because they may want you to pass on the right or left (starboard or port).  They go by the one for port and the two for starboard.  A typical call would be from me saying the name of their tow this is Panacea on your stern would you like me to pass on the one or two?  It took a while to pass them with only about 30 feet in between.  So here we are in Lake Charles but not with out incident.  We were boarded by the Coast Guard while under way and in gear.  They dropped two guys off their boat to ours and did a full written inspection.  They were very nice and professional and they do a great job.  We passed except for not having a written disposal of trash plan and then we were off on our way again.  Lake Charles is a really nice town.  We are at a marina that is downtown and only twenty bucks for the night.  We walked over to Luna's for a late lunch and filled out all our Christmas cards then I rode my bike to the post office to drop them off.  Heading out early in the morning to Morgan City, LA which will take two days.  Total nautical miles from Galveston to Lake Charles is 110.

This is a double wide

Passing on the two

Port Arthur

Golf Coarse at Port Arthur

What can I say?

Anchored out

Ditto

Ditto

 

Ditto

Ditto

Bord Du Lac Marina

Lake Charles

Interstate 10 bridge into Lake Charles

Looking from our boat at the city park

Panacea

Chloe walking Jan

L'Auberge Du Lac Casino

House on Lake Charles

Just doing their job....did not tell them to take off their shoes

Galveston

Finally untied the lines and started our trip on the Great Loop.  We left Seabrook and are now in Galveston.  We thought we'd make a small step, only 20 miles, to get back in our routine and have a shorter distance to cover tomorrow.  One thing I really have to pay attention to is all the barge and ship traffic.  Don't ask me why they call a boat pushing a bunch of barges a tow rather than a tug.  The large ship traffic on the West Coast is nothing compared to here.  Tomorrow we will be leaving early for Port Arthur and if all goes well we hope to be in New Orleans on December 23rd. and spend Christmas there.  We were suppose to leave yesterday, but as we were getting ready I noticed the high water bilge pump light was on and found that we had a leak in a broken fitting for the fresh water system in the engine room.  Neither bilge pump was working due to corroded wires and one pump was not working at all. The water in the bilge covered both pumps! Since we turned our leased car in the day before it was a challenge to get the parts I needed.  Thanks to BM Boat Works for the ride to the hardware store and West Marine.  Last night we also met some new folks that live close to Seabrook and invited us to go to dinner with them.  Jack found us by responding to the forum comments I made through the AGLCA (Americas Great Loop Cruisers Assoc.)  Their friends, Ross and Barb, were there from Michigan and they all plan on doing the loop in 2014.  Thanks Jack, Patty, Ross, and Barb, hope to see you along the way.  So here we are in Galveston at the Galveston Yacht Basin moored at a fixed dock.  For all you boaters in California, they don't float in the water like we're used to, but are fingers out from the main dock attached to telephone poles.  They're only about 20 feet long so you have to stern in to get off and on your boat.  Tomorrow Port Arthur, Texas.

Tow or Tug?

Entrance to Galveston

Fixed dock

Seabrook TX

We've been in Seabrook now for almost three weeks.  Lots of things to tell everyone about.  We finally have everything on the boat put back together after some really cold days put us about a week behind in finishing.  We also sent the outboard for our dinghy out for repair.  The bad news is it has a scored piston and needs to be replaced and parts need to be ordered.  The first weekend we were here our friends June and Kelly drove from College Station and spent the night with us.  Sarah and Abigail, there twin English Shepards also joined us and Chloe made sure that they minded there manners.  It was fun spending time with them and hope to see them again along the way.  Captain Larry's Boat Service has been doing a few things for us such as hook up the inverter that I put in while in San Diego and change the oil.  They also were in charge of receiving the boat when it arrived and making sure the radar arch got installed, bottom painted, and hull polished.   Had to pick Captain Larry for obvious reasons.  We had a nice Thanksgiving , but of coarse missed family and friends.  We bought a butterball turkey that was pre-smoked and had to only heat it up in the stove.  Friday after Thanksgiving we, including Chloe, went to Galveston and checked out what's called "The Strand", which is like Old Sacramento with all the shops and touristy stuff.  Then we went to Moody Gardens for the Festival of Lights where you walk thru many different themes of lights and sounds.  Next day was bye bye turkey and get out the Christmas decorations.  I even put lights on the railing around the bow of the boat.  Thursday we had an unexpected visit from our dear friend Mike D.  He was down by Brownsville teaching a class and then flew to Houston rented a car and spent the night with his nephew in Conroe and drove here to visit us for a few hours before he had to go back to Houston and catch his flight to Sacramento.  We had lunch together and got caught up on our home town happenings.  Today the weather is bad again with a North wind of 20 knots and a wind chill outside of 32 degrees with rain.  We thought we were going to  get our outboard motor back today, however we were told more parts were needed.  We have a person coming to inspect our car on Monday so we can turn in our leased car to Ford.   If everything goes as planned we hope to be leaving mid next week.  Our first stop will be in Port Arthur, Texas and next day in Lake Charles, LA.  I hear the wifi along the way is far and few so I will try to post when I can.  Today we went into Houston and stopped at Costco and the biggest Galleria Mall I have ever seen.  Too big and crowded to get through the whole thing.  Hopefully will be writing next time somewhere other than Seabrook.

Looking out the back of the boat

Chloe, Abigail, and Sarah doing quiet time

Kelly, June, and us

Happy Thanksgiving

Galveston Festival of Lights

Our tree

More decorations

Panacea Festival of Lights

Our friend Mikey