The Delivery-Houma to New Orleans

I arrived at the boat yesterday afternoon and had dinner with the previous owner and planned our trip to New Orleans. We would leave at daybreak from the Houma City Marina and planned to make Slidell, LA before dark.

The first part of the trip was fairly calm not to much commercial traffic until we got closer to Harvey, LA.The Harvey Lock was getting ready to open when we reached there. A quick call on the VHF and we were the last ones into the lock. Not much room left with a big tow taking the rest of it.

Through the lock and into the Mississippi River. With the current our usual 8 knot speed was up to almost 13 knots. Cruised under the Mississippi Bridge and Past the French Quarter. Entered the Industrial Canal Lock(we were the only vessel in the lock). Underneath the M&R Railroad Bridge and headed toward Lake Ponchatrain and then on to Slidell. By this time the wind was howling about 25 knots. The lake was rough, brown water coming over the bow. It would have been a beam sea the hole trip to Slidell. This would have been very uncomfortable. I made the decision to abort the crossing and we returned to Seabrook Marina in New Orleans and spend the night.

As soon as we went under the bridge leaving the lake we heard a Mayday call from a boat in trouble on the lake. They were taking on water, a few minutes later the Coast Guard boat went past us into the lake. Hope everyone was ok.

As soon as we tied up the wind laid down and it was a beautiful sunset. Called M&R Railroad bridge to ask what time they where opening. They told us 24 hours a day. Will leave early tomorrow and take the GICW out of Louisiana into the Gulf of Mexico and onto Dauphin Island.