Avary Island to Houma

     Beth has been somewhat understandably anxious about anchoring out, and has been particularly apprehensive about transiting the locks.  I noticed as we were approaching the Calcacieus locks, she busied herself with getting lines out, placing bumpers in strategic positions and dressing for being on deck, with shoes, sunglasses and hat.  In fact, she has done this for each lock we have approached, no doubt desirous of getting experience while we have old pros on board... (that would be Tom and Mildred--not me!..I refuse to be called OLD!!!) Alas, she has been thwarted. All three locks, Calcasieu, Leland-Bowman and the Bayou Beouf locks have all been open and we have throttled through each one with no difficulty.

                                                        
                                                 Bayou Beouf Locks

                                                                               
     Now, you know something must have happened today, or I wouldn't be writing. 
     We were relieved when the thick fog  lifted by the time we started out. The problem was, it didn't last long. A few miles down the ICW we ran into a fog bank that lasted for 20 miles.  Thankfully we had Radar and every eye watching to pick up the numerous barges in time to get out of their way.   Particularly difficult was crossing the open bays with the wind pushing us and the barges all over.  I did not want to power up because we now had a vibration from the previous days attempt at anchoring but we were able to get over and out of the way in time mainly because of the Radar!

                                                                            
                                 Barge going into the 2 hour fog bank we just came from.

     We decided to push on and try and make Houma 89 miles away so we would be in striking distance of New Orleans on Sunday.
      Wild life seen;  Mildred spotted the first Bald Eagle she has ever seen and a few miles later 5 more; Tom spotted a bobcat; Beth spotted a Heron having a bad hair day;.me....just a post cubra libra face in the mirror.
     Something never seen before----A billboard on the intra-coastal waterway---can you guess for what??........A lawyer!  Is there anyplace on this big blue ball we call planet earth that this species doesn't exist!