From May 16-18 2016 failed trip

May 18, 2016

We were heading out for a long trip along the northern Gulf of Mexico on our Lagoon 37 TPI catamaran.  But something happened and disappointment set in!  First the weather had been unkind; so, we had put off our leaving for another day.  Then we encountered the problem that actually sent us back ashore.

The day of departure we left from our marina on Pontchartrain Lake (New Orleans).  A grey day but nothing menacing on the horizon.  We passed through the Hwy. 11 bascule bridge, passed under the I-10 bridge, as also under the Hwy. 90 bridge into the Rigolets.  That's about the time we started getting excited:  we could see the railroad bridge that gives us passage to the Gulf of Mexico and adventures to be had.

Our port engine started losing power.  So, Mike got in the water to check whether a line from a crab trap (yeah, have got to keep an eye on crab traps that are all over the waters of south Louisiana) or other had wound itself onto the propeller.  Nope.  Black smoke and other signs ushered us back to our marina, hobbling on one motor.

Mike is presently fixing the mixing elbow and so forth.  Time to reassess what, where, how of boating.  Aventura has given us four years of marvelous adventures, as did Talisman before her, and even Sassy Lady, our first sailboat.  (See archives).

More to come....

Sunday 5-15-16

It's been 1 1/2 yrs. since we last sailed Aventura out into the Gulf of Mexico!  Not by choice.  My beloved mother fell ill and passed away.  Then the estate settlement issues, etc., etc.  A sad time for sure.

But now the sirens are calling.  Mike has installed a new set of solar panels.  We have the foldable bikes, kayaks and snorkeling gear.  Food and beverages in the pantry and a sense of urgency to explore once more the northern Gulf and its many nooks and crannies!

We'll try to reach some part of the western coast of the Florida peninsular this time.  From New Orleans, our home port.  Can we? Six weeks should be enough to work the weather and other variables.  Any number of possible stops from New Orleans heading East.

The Mississippi Barrier Islands:  Cat, Ship, Horn and Petit Bois.
Marinas along the Mississippi coast:  Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, and Biloxi.

Dauphin Is., Alabama.  Along the Alabama Canal (ICW inland): Wolf River, Ingram Bayou, Big Lagoon.

Palafox Marina, Pensacola, Florida -- a must.

Destin Harbor, Florida Panhandle.  Also:  St. Andrews Bay, Panama City, Port St. Joe, ICW from Port St. Joe to Apalachicola, inland and pristine, and Carrabelle.  That's as far as we've gotten.

Looking towards new horizons on Florida's western coast:  Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, Tampa region.....

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