Halloween in Houma, Louisiana

The Bayou Boeuf Locks just east of Morgan City require us to circle around for 40 mins before we can head through. Once on the other side, the vegetation changes to cypress swamp making it more interesting to watch the miles go by. A bald eagle is sighted in a tree on the north bank and Monarch butterflies flit about the boats. All along the GIWW, we are seeing cranes, herons, pelicans, terns and gulls.

As the days pass, Tom and Chris (especially) are growing concerned that passing boats do not think the two of them are an item. Now, you have to keep in mind the name of the vessel they are on ("Magic Reunion") to see where there might be some reason for the paranoia. When a passing tug Captain asks Tom if we are heading to New Orleans. Tom replies, "We're headed to Florida to catch our women". And just what kind of bait (snare, trap or lure) do you use, I wonder?!?

Within 2 miles of reaching the Houma City Dock, we have a bridge raise to pass under and then spend 1 hour and 45 mins circling off to the side near a smaller bridge in an intersection while three 6-pack tows (tugs pushing 3 barges, 2 deep) heading west clear the narrow canal here and wait for the bridge. One tug Captain comments on how it's been a very long time since he's seen this intersection so congested. And aren't we glad to have not missed it!

Houma's Municipal Dock on Bayou Terrebone is right between the twin bridges. It is also a small park. We keep to the intracoastal end of the wall to tie-up as it gets shallow quickly. This is the first place we've found with a pump-out station, but the hose is too short to reach the port side the "Star", and we do not have the room to turn around, so we wait for another stop with a pump-out.

In keeping with it being Halloween night, the boats are docked directly across from the morgue. After we return from dining at Bilello's, we are entertained by the trick-or-treaters parading by, the motorcycle cops cruising the neighborhood, and 3 cop cruisers pulling up across the bayou to look for someone who might be swimming/floating in the waterway. The guys stay up late drinking rum to give Troy a send off as he departs tomorrow to head back to Houston.

Intracoastal City to the Morgan City Dock

Since all the maintenance issues are resolved, the days are becoming routine passages on the waterway, talking on the VHF and passing tows. The "Star" has the intracoastal "brown moustache or smile" above the waterline on the bow. If we had waxed the boat before departure, she would have been protected from this indignity. Now, we have another project!

Tom and Chris went into brownie withdrawal this afternoon, so a underway replenishment mission was conducted. As Bobby slowly motored up the port side of "Magic Reunion", Jenny passed a full container of brownies to Chris, receiving an unwashed, brownie crumbed container in return.

With their energy and strength restored, Tom and Chris are able to lead us into the Morgan City Dock to starboard just past the RR bridge. Another wall to tie up to, this one is in front of a large flood wall (with Morgan City in big letters) at the historic district. Nice area of town with a terrific marine hardware store. We all head to Rita Mae's for dinner and it's another delicious meal.

Mermantau River to Intracoastal City

A gorgeous sunrise as we head on our way today. Each vessel goes aground at different points as we proceed out of the river and find the way back into the intracoastal waterway.

Chris gives a tug Captain a lesson on the proper flying of flags over the VHF when the Captain questions the Texas state flag up forward flying higher than the US flag on the backstay.

After refueling at the Shell Morgan Landing, we tie up to the wall immediately opposite the fuel dock. Tom starts up the generator and turns on the AC. Suddenly, the generator begins bobbing down. Immediately the problem is verbally escalated into a major compound issue with much discussion on when and how all the required maintenance on the generator /fuel system will take place. Okay guys, let's keep it simple and start with step 1. Ah yes, the water intake value was diverted for the washdown, let's just switch this back and voila, the AC works.

This area was flooded with about 12' of water from Hurricane Rita. The small store is now just a sandwich shop, with wonderful Po'Boys. Most businesses are closed and the volunteer fire station is a ruin.

Anyway, it's our first night tied up to a dock, so we all walk around a bit, including Burt (the cat), and make use of the shower facilities.

Shell Island to the Mermentau River

First thing this morning, we turn on the VHF radio and are serenaded in Vietnamese by a shrimper (possibly a Buddhist prayer) as the sun rises. Okay, that was different.

As we leave Texas and motor into Louisiana, there is an definite increase of mosquitoes and Cajun accents amongst the tug Captains, along with changing vegetation. We also pass under the first bridge and through the first locks.

Entering into the Mermentau River to anchor and raft up in the oxbow, we see a doe swimming to one of the small islands. This is a lovely anchorage further appreciated while watching the almost full moon rise and the accompanying stars. Burt (the cat) is not as appreciative of the lovely environment. He can see the land, but can't seem to find the side of either boat that has the finger pier to get to the land.

Taylor Outfall Bayou to Shell Island

We pull up the anchor early and follow "Magic Reunion" into to GIWW only to have the engine die, again. Bobby heads back into the engine room, while Troy and Jenny do the hip tow tie-up with Tom's boat, again. As we slowly pass Port Arthur, TX, tugs with barges in tow and oil tankers are passing us and sucking water out from under us. Even though Bobby is changing fuel filters and bleeding the system, repeated tries do not restart the engine.

Early afternoon, we anchor at Shell Island rafted up to "Magic Reunion" and still keep going over the fuel system. Finally, the decision is made to try adding fuel to the auxillary tank we've been running off of, Bobby fiddles around with the tank selector valves, and finally the engine starts! Sometimes when you think you've filled a tank, because it foams up with fuel at the mouth, it's actually only foaming due to fuel back up when filling up a little too fast. A successful switch over to the main fuel tank, so we are ready to go for tomorrow. Lesson learned: start with the basics, the fix is usually simple.

Getting Underway

As hard as it is to depart from family and friends, we are away from the dock by 0840, out the Kemah Channel and into the Houston Ship Channel, doing 8 knots with the current (taking the memories of great times with us). Yeehah! Only 450 miles to go to Pensacola, Florida.

Bobby finally makes it past Redfish Island and into uncharted waters. It's official - Jim Kenworthy of S/V Dream Away witnessed the event with a call on the VHF radio.

A turn to port at Bolivar Roads puts us at the entrance of the GIWW with a dolphin escort. Latter in the afternoon, Tom attempts to dock at Steve's Landing and goes aground in the mud 10' from the dock. Okay, let's try the next stop, Stingaree's Landing. Nope, in the mud, twice, and not even that far out of the channel. Now, we are in for a long day of motoring until we get to Taylor Outfall Bayou to anchor for the night. "Star's" engine dies on the way, Bobby heads below to the engine room while Troy and Jenny do an immediate hip tow tie-up with "Magic Reunion" to continue on our way with tugs towing barges approaching from the east and west. The cause is a sludged up fuel filter on the engine (not changed after the fuel tanks were cleaned of sludge).

End of the day reward is the Harvest Moon, full and orange, rising from the horizon shortly after dark.

Preparing to Depart Watergate Yachting Center, Clear Lake, Texas

With the intent to keep our adventures with a little "a" (vice a big "A", or the kind of excitement we can live without), we decide to head east enroute to the Florida on our way to the Caribbean via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW), instead of heading offshore for 3-4 days to Biloxi, MS. Unceasing north winds in the Gulf of Mexico of 25-30 knot winds, building waves, and directly beating into the wind on the last day to Biloxi all sound like things to avoid.

Our buddy boat is the S/V Magic Reunion (Tom and Sandy Campbell). Tom, with Chris Blair, will crew her while Sandy and Robin Blair overland the car to Florida. Troy Jones of S/V Different Drummer will crew on the "Star" for a portion of this trip.

Yesterday, the manly men refuel both vessels. First up is "Magic Reunion". All aboard and off they head for the fuel dock...with the dinghy dock in tow (no one untied it from the boat)! Not so bad for the egos, as they noticed it tagging along after passing only a few slips. Next is the "Star". Bobby backs out of the slip just fine. But, oh, what's this?...just don't seem to be making any headway considering the respective engine RPMs. Maybe we're plowing a new channel? No...oops, forgot to engage the clutch button for the gear shift lever. Now we're moving!