Pass Christian to Slidell

Moved Bliss on January 18 and 19. Of course, there were no winds whatsoever on the 18th, our 42 nm leg. Forecast called for winds at 5-10 from the East. No such luck. We put-putted WSW on the 9.9 hp Evinrude. Passed near St. Stanislaus and Our Lady of the Gulf.




After 3 or 4 hours, we approached Clermont Harbor and Silver Slipper Casino. Turned SSW for the GIWW. Still no wind.




GIWW marked "point of no return." If we went much further, we'd be committing to Slidell. There are possible anchorages but no services between the GIWW and Slidell.

42 miles on a 9.9 hp motor pushing a 5,000 or so lb boat seems insane. The makings of a coonass or a redneck joke. One of each on board.

Plenty of food. Places to anchor. A more favorable wind the following day (supposedly). Our best guess-- we have enough gas. If it looks like we're going to run out, we'll anchor and wait for wind. Work schedules flexible, so we can take another day off if need be. Not as much beer as we would like, but conditions tolerable. Go for it!

Dodged the rag-tag navy of oyster boats working out of Pass Christian and then Clermont Harbor. It was fun to watch them work. One thing for sure-- they weren't watching us. Not to worry. Just alter course when they come close. Note to self: find some oysters on the half shell and a beer asap. All those burlap sacks of oysters making me hungry.




Half way through the GIWW to the Rigolets. Still no wind. Put-putting at about 4-4.5 knots. Getting impatient. Twist the throttle. 5.5 knots. Bully!

Waited 1/2 hour for the operator to swing the CSX railroad bridge at the Rigolets. Radioed the operator, and he told us he'd swing as soon as the train passed. Kept calling me "Captain" on the radio. Very cool to be the one they open the bridge for instead of the one waiting on it.



Half way through the Rigolets-- check fuel. Uh oh. We're running out. The price of being impatient?

Called a friend who had lived in the area. He wasn't sure but said to check the marina at Geoghan Bayou. Said they had fuel before Katrina and that they had opened after. Said there was enough water for my 4' keel. He wasn't sure about their status after Katrina, though.

Went into Geoghan Bayou. No gas at the marina. Marina had moved off the canal into a smaller canal. Ran aground. Used a lot of gas getting unstuck. Damn!

Still no wind-- like riding in a bathtub. 1-1/2 hours or so left. Cut back the power to 4 knots and cruised into Lake Ponchartrain, then to Oak Harbor Marina at Slidell on fumes. Moored, took a cab to get dinner, and went to sleep. Found a beer, but no oysters.

This was one of those days I'll remember forever. I had never done anything like this before.