Tuesday, January 22, 2008

January 1-18, 2008 . . . New Orleans to Houston

Bonnie returned to Virginia Beach for work on the 7th, I moved SONATA from behind David's house at Port Louis, to the town dock in Madisonville on the 8th due to the anticipated North winds(North winds blow the water out of Port Louis and make the entrance to shallow for SONATA to depart). And . . . while at Madisonville, January 9th, I was prividged to have a visit from a high school classmate Bob Merrell and his friend Christiane. They came over from Slidell on Bob's BMW bike and we enjoyed lunch and and an afternoon of visiting.


Before departing Madisonville for New Orleans and on to Houston; David, Susan, and grandsons Clayton, Alan and Phillip were over for dinner. It was a joyful dinner Susan had prepared followed by a tearful goodbye.


Friday, January 11th, departure from Madisonville and down the Tchefuncta River . . . on my way across Lake Ponchatrain to the Industrial Canal and Seabrook Marina.


The Causeway Bridge, North Channel, on the way to New Orleans.


New Orleans, Industrial Canal, Seabrook Marina. Bonnie returns on Friday evening and on Saturday the 12th Harvey Orr, joins us for the trip from New Orleans to Houston.


Sunday, January 13th, we are off for Houston and wait our turn to enter the Industrial Canal Lock. The severely damaged 9th Ward is to our Port (left) as we enter the Lock.


On the Mississippi River after leaving the Industrial Canal the French Quarter can (cannot) be seen over behind the tug we are passing. The Quarter is below the levee and all that can be seen is rooftops.


A closer look at the Quarter, the French Market, with St. Louis Catheral in the background in Jackson Square.


Past the downtown area, under the twin Mississippi River bridges, past the cruise ship we proceed up river to the Harvey Canal.


Bonnie again works her skill and places SONATA in the Lock . . . the deck hands, Charlie and Harvey relax on the bow as SONATA changes water level, down from the Mississippi River, to the GIWW (Gulf Intercoastal Waterway West).


The Harvey Canal is packed with shipping/boating industrial works. In this location was the home, the point of orgin, of most of the landing craft used in World War II amphibious warfare.


Along the GIWW on our way to Houma, Louisiana, the sides are lined with cypress trees, knees, all resting in the fall/winter colors of grey and brown.


Arrival in Houma was just at dark so on this westbound trip there are no pictures. An overnight alongside the town dock which was perpendicular to and just a few feet from the GIWW where tugs and barges continued their travel, proved to be interesting. The next morning we were off for Morgan City and moored at their town dock hoping to visit the City for lunch.


Departing Morgan City a picture of the "Charlie Rig" was taken in the sunrise. This is an offshore rig that has been retired, has become a museum, and a training center. The rig is moored in Morgan City which is one of the gateways to the offshore oil platforms.


TABASCO and Avery Island. Just to the North of the GIWW up a bayou is a salt dome known as Avery Island. It is on Avery Island that the Tabasco Plant produces that hot sauce that is found on every table in the country. This scene is the garden grounds of Avery Island were the grandsons of the founder created a bird refuge to save the snowy egrets.


With SONATA resting alongside the boat ramp dock we departed for our tour of the Tabasco Plant. Tabasco Gift Shop personnel were accomodating and kindly picked us up and assisted in making our visit to Tabasco a memorable one.


the Tabasco Country Store where we enjoyed lunch and a review of all the Tabasco products.


Have a pepper.........


Continuing on toward Houston we came to the Bowman Lock. This lock is different from the other locks we have encountered in that this lock does not raise or lower the vessel. The purpose of the lock is to keep the sea water, the salt water, from flowing into the marshes and rice fields. With the rains and the outflow of fresh water the locks were open and we passed right through.


The rain began to cease and God's Promise of a better day came into full view. This weather front later gave Virginia Beach cold weather and a dusting of snow.

No comments:

Post a Comment