Transiting the Locks

     Cruising towards New Orleans we turned up the Barataria Waterway.  Beautiful expansive estate homes along the shore were interspersed with dilapidated shacks.  All had boats of one sort or another tied up to their docks or shore front.  I guess it doesn't matter what your earning power,  many people love being by the water.  Of course we slowed our speed so as not to wake the boats as we passed, even though this slowed our progress to New Orleans.  As we approached New Orleans the Barataria waterway split to form the Algiers and Harvey Canal.  We decided to take the Harvey Canal to transit the Harvey Locks into the Mississippi, so that we would be travelling south on the Mississippi instead of fighting the current flowing from the north to get into the Industrial Lock.
     The Harvey canal was ten barges and boats deep on each side with crew boats, casino boats, paddle boats, and ship repair yards.  Fortunately,  we came through on a Sunday so no one was working and the traffic was non existent.
     As well, we were the only boat in the Harvey Lock (by the way, this is mile marker 0 for boats headed west). Beth got what she has been trying to prepare for...."locking through".   The lock master directed us to hold on the south bank until a barge exited, than with a blast from the whistle we followed directions to enter and tie up to the starboard side.  All hands on deck; were ordered back in (by the lock master) to put on life jackets, then back out by me, to handle the bumpers and place one line around a round pipe in a pigeon hole on the side of the lock.  I was told to leave the boat out of gear but the wind was twisting the boat and I didn't want my beautifully re- varnished wooden hand rails to hit the lock wall, sooo..I used the motors to keep the boat off the wall.....sooo... the lock master abruptly informed...guess who?  Beth,  to tell the captain that the pressure from the props could force the doors closed and we might be in there a long time.  With her angelic smile and soft voice she informed him that this was our first time in a lock. He gruffed back, "Yes, I could tell!"
                                                                     
                                      .
     The locks opened and with a blast from the horn, we were spit out into the mighty Mississippi, (I love typing that word!) and mighty it is! We were surprised at the width and the speed (our normal 9 knots increased to 12.5, but what was really impressive was the speed which the large container ships and tankers were coming up the river!  We barely had time to cross over to the east side to get to the entrance to the Industrial Canal because of a rapidly approaching tanker.  We made it but then nose dived into his wake six foot wake...Woo-Hoo!

                                                                            
                                                                 Mississippi River.

     Turning into the Industrial Canal locks, we were told to hold up at a floating dock off to the south side, so we knew it would be a while.  Forty-five minutes later,  "old pros!" entered and took two lines from the dock hand.  This time we dropped 6 feet without incident.

                       Tied up waiting for passage through the Industrial Canal Lock.
                                                                             

     We were in a hurry to get landed before a reported front with wind gusts of up to 50 m.p.h. was to reach us, so I didn't get a close look at all the scenery but what I did take in was markedly less than spectacular. In fact, I can only describe it as an industrial waste land...scrap yards, industrial repair yards and grain elevators. Not a blade of grass to be seen.  However,the good part was no waves or wakes because there was minimal boat traffic.
     Just as we found our docking space, the wind increased. It was quickly getting dark and the dock was not straight since there was a 3 to 4 foot offset where one floating dock was attached to a narrower dock. At first it seemed it would be easy to get landed.  Both Mildred and I felt the wind would push us right onto the dock.....NOT!  I guess it was the way the marina buildings were positioned or maybe the wind changed, but from being initially pushed towards the dock and just as Tom and Beth were about to throw a line around a cleat,  we were pushed off the dock.  When we finally did get a mid cleat spring line to stay it was difficult to back down because of the offset dock......to make a long story short, one and a half hours later we were tied snugly to the dock just in time to be buffeted by the increased winds from the passing cold front.
   Exhausted, we barbecured some steaks, tossed some salad and mashed up the potatoes to help us swallow several cocktails. I say barbecured, because Tom likes his steaks so rare I think they are just cured rather than cooked!  Me, I like them burnt.  My Mother, affectionately called "Nanny" was a poor cook and burnt everything.  Dad use to say she could burn water!  Consequently I grew up to love burnt food.
     Today, we need to clean up the boat, arrange transportation to get Beth to the airport, and us back to Beaumont.  It will be 3 weeks before we can return to get the props changed out and continue our saga.  Thank heaven.  I need to return to work to get a rest.!
    

Houma to New Orleans

     Houma was immediately recognized as being affluent with expansive estates on the north bank when we entered.  A narrow waterway through Houma necessitated us in pulling as close to the bank as we dare go to allow a double wide barge to pass.
       A very amiable dock master, Ray,  met us at the town wharf to show us the way in, tie us up, and hook us up to power. $25.00/night. This dock is a well landscaped park with very friendly people.  Nearby are two gas stations with convenience stores and a Subway restaurant.
        It turns out that Houma is very affluent according to Ray. The economy which was once based on shrimping and crawfish farming has expanded and now is mainly based on the oil industry; and is booming.  Ray says they currently have only 5% unemployment (vs 10% in the rest of the country).  "The only ones here not working are the ones that don't want to work", says Ray.
      He was born here and lives just 2 streets away from the dock, and claims the area is well patroled by police because of the hospital just across the road.
     We washed the salt off the boat, tanked up the water and settled in for left overs from the Regatta restaurant in Lake Arthur. They were even better tasting than when we got them! Thanks again Gregg for the corn grits, oysters, pork roast and the prime rib.  Mildred actually had an oyster sandwich for lunch and the prime rib supplied us with tender sandwiches for lunch.
     No fuel available in Houma but if our calculations are right we should have enough to make it to New Orleans (I just hope we don't run out in the Mississippi!)  It would be nice to keep the boat light for the haul out to have our props redone at our marina in New Orleans.