Palafox Marina Pensacola to Bluewater Bay Marina near Niceville, Fl. 53 Miles

Sunday March 8, 2018
We left our slip at Palafox Marina at 9:20 it was breezy and the temp. had gotten down to 47 early this morning. About an hour later we were passing under the Pensacola Beach Bridge, the ICW here runs between the beach islands and the mainland. It is a pretty stretch cruising along Santa Rosa Island, Navarre Beach and Ft Walton. About 2:30 we entered Chocktawhatchee Bay there is always a lot of pleasure boat and jetski / waverunner traffic here, Destin bridge and harbor are at the mouth of the bay to the Gulf of Mexico. We will be heading northeast up to Rocky Bayou, there is a light chop on the bay.
We arrive at Bluewater Bay Marina and tie up at the dock at 3:30. This is a small marina but in a pretty area. They have a good restaurant and also a courtesy car they loan to boaters staying there for trips to the local stores.

Some of the slips at Bluewater Bay the office and restaurant are in the building behind the boats.

Looking out of the marina entrance canal to Rocky Bayou

Lulu's Homeport to Palafox Marina Pensacola

March 28, 2018 Wednesday  Breezy, cool, 32 miles

We left Lulu's at 9 am as usual there was lots of pontoon, speed and fishing boat traffic along this stretch of the ICW. We had no problems and enjoyed the scenery. As we passed by Perdido Key and got closer to Pensacola the Blue Angels flight team were practicing they passed over the boat several times it was a great show, but loud. We have seen them several times from boat or land they always put on a great show and we always enjoy watching them. The wind had picked up a bit and Pensacola bay was choppy but we made it into Palafox Marina by 1:15. At the fuel dock we had the holding (sewage) tank vacuum pumped out. Then we moved over to our assigned slip.
      Palafox is a nice marina with a good restaurant next door and others nearby. We will be here   several days, on Friday we will rent a car. Easter Sunday we will drive to Rosemary Beach to spend a few days with Joshua, Sunshine, and the Grandkids.

On the ICW leaving Lulu's 

The ICW cut at Ft McRee, the entrance to Pensacola Bay from the East blue water and white sand!

The Blue Angels put on a good show, this is one of their several passes over the boat

Sunset from our boat at Palafox Marina

Point Cadet Biloxi to Lulu's Homeport Orange Beach Al

March 25, 2018  Sunday. Cool, clear, light winds  75 miles today

We left Point Cadet Marina at 6:45 AM, the weather looks good for the trip across Mobile Bay which can often be choppy. We cruised along the Intracoastal for a few hours then passed under the Dauphin Island Bridge and into Mobile Bay at 10:20 AM. Conditions were good, 2' waves with a 3 now and then. We slowed down to let an inbound ship in the ship channel cross in front of us, they are so big it seems they are travelling slow but actually are moving much faster than it appears, you don't want to get in front of them to find this out the hard way. Reaching the east side of Mobile Bay we were back in the ICW "ditch" again, cruising on to Lulu's (Jimmy Buffett's sister) place, restaurant, marina and playground. Lulu's restaurant is usually crowded, but, this is Spring Break so now even more so. We got to our slip at 3:30 and checked in then went by the restaurant to see what the wait time for a table at 6 PM would be one hour they said, we went up at 6 and were told 2 and a half hour wait! the place was packed with lots of people waiting in line. Dinner on the boat that night. It is a nice marina with floating docks. 

Leaving Biloxi 

Crossing Mobile Bay, good conditions

East side of Mobile Bay entering ICW ditch

Lulu's Homeport Marina

Gulfport to Biloxi,MS

March 24, 2018 Saturday Gulfport to Point Cadet Marina Biloxi - 16 miles
We left the slip and went to the fuel dock to get some diesel, everything went fine, we took on 70 gallons to fill the tanks. We left the marina at 1:20 it was breezy with 2' chop on the Miss. Sound. It is a short distance to Biloxi, we arrived at the Point Cadet Marina at 3:30 we checked in  and later had dinner Casino Grill restaurant. We want to cross Mobile Bay before the wind picks up tomorrow so we picked up fuel and made the short trip from GPT to Biloxi today to be a bit closer in the morning.

Mississippi Sound with Biloxi hotels and Casinos in sight.

Seabrook Marina to Gulfport Harbor MS.

March 23, 2018 Friday Seabrook to Gulfport, MS Clear, cool , light breeze 70 miles today

We departed Seabrook Marina at 7:30 AM  we had a 25 min wait for the RR bridge to open, a train was shuffling cars. Once through there we entered the ICW, we passed through the huge post Katrina floodgate project, the Rigolets, and on to the Mississippi Sound. There was a light chop there in the morning, it picked up to 1-2 foot chop in the afternoon, very nice conditions. We arrived in Gulfport Harbor about 4 pm. Kevin had given me the name of a mechanic he knew there I called him and asked him to come by and have a look at the belt and pulleys on the engine to see what he thought about the dust. He did and said the pulleys looked in line and that the dust did not seem excessive to him, that it should be OK to run like that, so we will, keeping a close watch on it. 
We had dinner onboard.

Gulfport Harbor, a very nice marina, and town, Gumbo is the first boat on the right.

March 22, 2018  Thursday  Boomtown to Seabrook Marina New Orleans,  15 miles

We departed Boomtown 9:15 AM clear, cool weather, light breeze. We had about a 2 hour wait to enter Harvey lock as there were several tows (tugs with barges) ahead of us. We locked up, the lockmaster said 17' usually it is about 10', and through then entered the Mississippi it was the highest we have ever seen it  and flowing very fast with lots of logs and other wood debris swirling around. It was a rough trip down the approx. 5 miles to the Industrial lock on the east side of the river, once there we had a short, 20 min., wait as a vessel exited the lock. We entered and were lowered into the ICW/ Industrial canal. We moved on to Seabrook Marina a couple of miles east where we docked  for the night. There is a restaurant next door so we walked over for dinner..
     I am finding belt dust from the main, Cummins, engine serpentine belt when there is usually none. I had to replace the belt tensioner the last time we were out in the boat it seems to be operating OK, all gauges are registering normal, this belt drives the water pump so I'm keeping watch on water temp especially. I have spares so changed the belt which shows no sign of wear. 

Entrance to Harvey Lock, closest is a highway bridge, then the RR bridge, up unless train nearby, on the far side is the lock and the Mississippi River. While waiting we were tied to a small barge on the right.

March 21, 2018 Wed.   Houma to Boomtown Casino, 52 miles

  We left our slip at 9 AM, A nice clear day light breeze. I noticed a slight vibration once we got going it wasn't too bad but I worried it might get worse. So I called around and Kevin was able to locate someone who knew of a diver who could take a look at it  as we passed on our way through Larose. On arriving in Larose we pulled over to the ICW bulkhead and tied up, not long after the diver arrived, got suited up and went in for a look. It turned out it was not a plastic bag or rope as I thought but an growth of barnacles on a couple of the prop lobes that were causing the off balance vibration. So, after much scraping and banging the diver surfaced  we paid him and kept on our way now vibration free.
There was not too much traffic on the ICW , it is a slack period for the oil industry.
We arrived at the bulkhead at Boomtown Casino about 6 pm the bulkhead has deteriorated over the years and it took a while to find a good spot, eventually we did and got tied up and had dinner at the casino then back to the boat for the night.
Boomtown is a good spot to overnight it is about only about 5 miles from the Harvey Locks we will have to lock down into the Mississippi river tomorrow morning.

Leaving Tropical Harbor Marina in Houma, La. This canal leads to the Intracoastal Waterway

Sunset over the ICW from the Bulkhead at Boomtown Casino.

 March 20, 2018  Tuesday
We loaded most of our gear onto the boat during the day, then returned home to drop off the car and pick up the last few items for the trip. Kevin L. gave us a lift from home to the boat so we don't have to leave our vehicle at the marina for a long period. Later in the evening Ray and Tena came by for a drink and to toast to a good trip.
 We spent the night on board.

Gumbo in her home slip.

Trip to Gros Place Marina, Four Mile Bayou, Lake Verette, Louisiana Feb 26- 28, 2016

   Friday Feb 26, 2016
We hadn't been out in the boat for a good while so we decided to take a short trip up to Gros Place for the weekend. It is on Four Mile Bayou on the south end of Lake Verette. We left the home slip at 9:30 on a cool clear Friday morning. On the Intracoastal Waterway there was a slight current against us but not enough to cause any problems. We passed by Bay Wallace at 11:45, in Bayou Bouef at the RR Bridge near Amelia we had to wait about 45 min. for an Amtrack train to pass. At 1:55 the bridge opened for us and we continued up the Bayou. At 3:20 we arrived at the Stevenville bridge which opened after a short wait. At 4:45 PM we arrived at Gros Place, in the winter months it is a quiet area but during the summer on weekends it is buzzing with boat traffic there is often a Cajun Band playing BBQ'ing and all sorts of festivities going on. It is sometimes hard to find a place to tie up there in the summer.
Approx 48 miles today

                     Gumbo at Gros Marina Dock

                      Gros Marina in warm weather this area is usually full of Pontoon and Runabout boats
    Note the Spanish Moss on the trees, it is a beautiful place.


Saturday Feb 27, 2016
  Long time friends David and Julie Sagona have a beautiful camp near the marina and had invited us over for lunch there. David picked up about 11 am we had a very nice lunch and time with them and their Family, then David brought us back to the boat about 3 PM. That night the sky was clear and with little "light pollution" in the area the stars were beautiful.

Sunday Feb. 28, 2016
  We got underway at 8 Am Partly cloudy with light breeze, we saw several Bald Eagles along the way.  We had no long waits at either of the bridges so made it back to our slip in Houma at 2 PM.
It was a very nice trip.
Approx. 48 Miles today

 Some of the beautiful Cypress Trees along the way

One of several Bald Eagles we spotted

Thursday May 9, 2013  posted on Friday May 10.

Pontchartrain Landing Marina  ICW mile 5,+3, East of Harvey Lock  to Houma Louisiana Mile 58 WHL
Miles today 66

We left Potchatrain landing about 8 AM, it was cool and calm, still shallow in the marina dock area but we got out without problem. About a mile down the canal the railroad bridge was closed, waiting for a train to pass, we waited about 20 minutes there then continued to the next draw bridge which was under curfew. This means they have certain hours they don't open for marine traffic, usually during the automotive traffic rush hours. In the case of this bridge it is from 6:30 until 8:45 AM and  a similar period during afternoon rush hours.  So, we didn't have a long wait, we continued to the Industrial Canal Lock which will lift us up to the Mississippi River level. When we arrived at the lock we had a maybe 20 minute wait while it lowered a couple of "light boats" (tugs without barges) then called us to enter. We entered followed by a small shrimp boat going to Dulac which is near Houma so they will be with us all day we both travel about the same slow speed 8.5 to 9 mph. We pulled up to the lock wall the lock gates closed and the lock tender lowered ropes for us to hold onto as the water level was raised to lift us up to the river level this takes about 20-25 minutes. The river is very high now because of snow melt and lots of rain up North. Today we went up 11 feet, usually it is about 6'. The lock gates to the river were opened and we pulled out, a tow with two barges was in position to enter and hadn't left much room for us to get out but we managed to slip by.
Next up river  about 5 miles,we were moving very slow about 5-6 mph today because of the fast currentagainst us and lots of debris, logs and branches, from the high water. After about an hour we got to Harvey Lock in Harvey, Louisiana. As usual we had to wait for out turn, about an hour and a half this time. Thenwe were called into the lock and lowered 11 feet to the level of Harvey Canal portion of the ICW, from here all miles are designated WHL or West Harvey Lock. Our plan originally was to spent the night nearby at the Boomtown Casino bulkhead and proceed the 60 miles to Houma tomorrow, but the weather forecast calls for a front with strong thunderstorms to come through the area tonight and linger all day Friday and most of Saturday. Since we finished locking at 12:30 we decided to just carry on to Houma non stop. The rest of the trip was long but uneventful and we reached our slip just before 8 PM Marsha's father met us ther,e we secured the boat in our slip and went home. To come home today was the right decision, the front hit us at home about 3:30 AM with strong thunderstoms, lots of lightning and high winds
So, we were gone 45 days travelled about 750 to 800 miles and burned about 300 gallons of diesel.
It was a good trip, we got to see  and spend time with some of our good friends along the way and met plenty of nice people and see lots of interesting sights.  Gumbo did her part and ran fine the entire time!
This will be the last entry for now, when we make another trip. I'll let you know.

Gumbo is in her slip in Houma
Some of todays pictures below:

Sunrise over the Industrial Canal

North Claiborne Av. Bridge with  Industrial Lock in background

Two light boats exiting the lock, on the left is a small shrimp boat with two guys who are bringing her to Dulac, a shrimping port near Houma

In the lock, the water level has been raised to the river level, the doors will open for us to exit into the river

St. Claude Bridge is raised, we are cleared to the river, this tow waiting to enter hasn't left us much room, we did manage to squeeze by.

Blain Kern's Mardi Gras World on the river docks, this is where many of the Mardi Gras floats are built and stored, it is also a sort of museum with tours. 

 

 

On the ICW, almost to Houma, skies are clouding up. The shrimp boat (Deacon Blues) that transited the locks and river with us is just ahead, he will have about 15 miles to go after we get to Houma

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.

Tuesday  May 7, 2013
Lulu's Homeport Marina ICW mile 155 to Gulfport Municipal Yacht Harbor ICW mile 70 + 4 miles
89 miles today

We got up early and left Lulu's at 6 am to take advantage of the light winds forecast for today. We travelled West on the Alabama Canal the part of the ICW that goes into Mobile Bay from the East it was like glass. We crossed the bay it was a nice ride a very light chop for the crossing and then on to the Mississippi sound where conditions were nice until we were south of Biloxi mid afternoon and the winds picked up to about 15 MPH from the West. The next few hours to Gulfport MS were bumpy but without incident. We entered the Gulfport marina behind two boats from the Houston area. The marina is new replacing the one which was destroyed by a hurricane several years ago. It is very nice and big there must be a couple of hundred slips being new quite a few are empty.
We took the short walk into town for dinner.
The plan is to leave here tomorrow, Wednesday, morning and travel to a marina near the Industrial Lock in New Orleans, Spend the night there and cross the Miss. River Thursday. tomorrow's forecast looks good, so we'll see how it goes.

To see our location at Gulfport Yacht Harbor please click on the link below:
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=30.36329,-89.08707&ll=30.36329,-89.08707&ie=UTF8&z=12

                                       The ICW at sunrise, the bridge is right next to Lulu's

the ICW was like glass out to Mobile Bay

The Dauphin Island Bridge at the west end of Mobile Bay conditions on the bay were very good.

The  water was murky from being churned up by the wind action the last week or so.

                             Westbound tow on the Miss. Sound conditions were still very good

One of the Classics at Lulu's

 

 

 

 

Monday May 6, 2013

The Wharf Marina ICW mile 158 to Lulu's Homeport Marina ICW mile 155
3 miles today.

This morning out friend Ted from Mobile came down to the Wharf to do some work on his boat which is also at the marina. He loaned us his car to go pick up some last minute items from the grocery store. After lunch with Ted we got our boat ready and left the Wharf for Lulu's at 2:15 pm. Lulu is Jimmy Buffett's sister and her restaurant and marina are a landmark around here. It was a short trip, only 3 miles, but after almost a week at the wharf we are ready for a change of scenery. Lulu's is a very nice facility, but a bit distant from anything else, the restaurant is very good, the marina is first class too. We had dinner before the big crowds arrived, it is a busy place usually full at noon and dinner every day.
The plan is to leave here early Tuesday morning to try and get as far across Mobile Bay before the winds pick up, we are hoping for light winds the bay and Mississippi sound can get very uncomfortable when it is windy. We will be heading almost due West all day tomorrow. Gulfport, Mississippi is our planned destination but if we don't get that far we will stop in Biloxi.

To see our location at Lulu's please click on the link below

http://www.findmespot.com/mylocation/?id=Bz1Fe/30.28140N/87.68536W

Some pictures below:

There was a wedding at he marina last night the happy couple left on this boat, It must have been a good party one guy (not the groom)  fell off the dock into the water and there were wine glasses on the dock the next morning.

Reef builders location near the wharf the stone "pyramids" and the ship will wind up as artificial reefs out on the Gulf bottom somewhere off the coast. 

Arriving at Lulu's, this is the restaurant overlooking the ICW. Boaters can tie up at the dock to go in for lunch or get fuel at the dock on the right side.

                       Homeport Marina, Gumbo is on the left with Lulu's restaurant in the background. The floating docks are well laid out and very nice

There are some nice boats at the docks, this is a steel trawler cruiser

A nice sailboat

Friday May 3, 2013
The Wharf Marina

The weather has been terrible rain off and on and lots of wind it looks like we will be here over the weekend. So I'll resume posting Monday when I hope we'll be back on the water.
Please check back Monday.

Wednesday May 1, 2013
Roberts Bayou Anchorage ICW mile 165, to The Wharf Marina mile 155
     11 miles today

The weather front broke up before passing over us so we didn't have any problems ar anchor last night the wind was pretty strong and it did rain some but the anchor held tight. Today is another windy and rainy day so we left Roberts Bayou at 7:30 it was windy and cool we arrived at the Wharf about 9:00 and tied up in our slip. This is a very niche Marina it is part of The Wharf Complex in Orange beach Alabama there are shops and restaurants and many other activities on the development and nearby. The marina is right next to the ICW it has floating docks which are easy to tie to, the facilities are very nice..
Our friends Ted and Mona from Mobile keep their boat at this marina also. They drove down so we had a nice visit and a glass of wine on their boat before driving to a nearby restaurant for lunch with them.  On the way back to the marina we stopped at a Publix grocery store to pick up some things we needed.
The forecast calls for high winds and thunderstorms for the next few days so we may be here till things clear up.
To see out location at The Wharf click on the link below
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=30.29374,-87.63164&ll=30.29374,-87.63164&ie=UTF8&z=12

Some of todays pictures:

Leaving Roberts Bayou the buildings on the beach are

 the Pirates Cove bar and grill where the dogs are.

A grey day on Bay La Launch

Resident Heron at the Wharf

Gumbo at the Wharf the yellow boat in the background is for Dolphin watching tours.

 

Tuesday April 30, 2013
Anchorage at Redfish Point ICW mile 177  to Roberts Bayou ICW mile 165
12 Miles today  Winds 10-15 SE cool and overcast

Today dawned grey, cool, and breezy We pulled the anchor up and were on the way west on Big Lagoon the body of water between Perdido Key and the mainland. There was a very strong current giving us a good push so we gained about a mile in speed. We travelled on the ICW to Roberts Bayou
which is  a small bayou which makes for a good anchorage as it is well protected. At the mouth of the bayou is Pirate's Cove Marina and Restaurant this is a really "rustic" looking place which is very popular on the weekends. They serve burgers which are very good, and a few other simple dishes they also serve LOTS of beer. Seating is outside on rugged plank tables and benches. There are always several dogs hanging around begging food as they wander amongst the tables. No one minds and the dogs are well behaved.
Once we were anchored in the bayou we launched the dinghy and rode over tot the restaurant for lunch.
We have only 10 miles to travel tomorrow friends from Mobile are meeting us at The Wharf Marina on the ICW in Orange beach.
The weather is unsettled wiht a strong front passing through here tonight then windy for the next few days so we'll see how we make out.
To see our location at Roberts Bayou click on the link below

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=30.32634,-87.53806&ll=30.32634,-87.53806&ie=UTF8&z=12

Some of today's pictures below:

Bridge over the ICW at Perdido Key

The strong current was causing swirls behind this channel marker buoy

Roberts Bayou

                                                    Gumbo anchored in Roberts Bayou

View of the bayou over our bow

Pirate's cove and a few of the dogs, there are about 7-8 of them, all big but friendly and gentle

This girl rested her chin on my knee and just stared at my burger.

I had to give her half, who could resist those eyes