Wednesday May 8, 2013

Gulfport Yacht Harbor ICW mile 70+4  to Ponchartrain Landing marina Industrial Harbor Canal, New Orleans ICW mile  35+28
67 miles today
We left the slip at 8:20 after a 15 minute false alarm delay over  a steering issue, all was OK in the end.
It was a beautiful day out on the water, a light breeze and chop on the sound and warm for a change. We proceeded about 30 miles on the MS sound then took the Rigolets (Rigolees) Pass into Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans. There was a 40 min wait for the decrepit CSX railway swingbridge to open, then up to and across the lake to the marina it is new and quite nice., and right along the ICW on the way to the locks which will take us across the MS. River tomorrow.
We had dinner at the marina's BBQ restaurant.
To see our location today click on the link below
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=30.02630,-90.03384&ll=30.02630,-90.03384&ie=UTF8&z=12

some of todays pictures below

Morning reflections

Leaving Gulfport harbor into a calm MS. sound,

 crab trap buoys on the right an incoming tow ahead

Out on the sound three of these guys came buzzing by, FAST

See what they were sporting fore and aft!

After crossing Lake Pontchartrain we came to the Industrial harbor Canal entrance; a highway bridge

then the Railroad Bascule bridge and a floodgate all in one spot to keep Hurricane surge out, and help prevent another Katrina like episode

Gumbo in the Pontchartrain landing Marina, it is pretty shallow in here. I hope the tide doesnt go out much overnight we might have a problem getting out.