3/17/06 – Like yesterday we thought it would be better to get an early start, now knowing what we were facing. In some respect made it better, but also intimidating. We passed through the Freeport Shipping Canal without incident and plowed on. It wasn’t long before we began fighting
a strong current and began seeing lots of ‘large’ debris in the canal. We had to ‘do the dance’ while waiting for a few tugs to exit the Flood Gates; maneuver themselves to their barges and found ourselves lightly grounded a few times on soft mud. Once the Lock Master told us it was clear to proceed we started, but stopped suddenly with a lurch! (I hate that feeling) Yup, we’d bottomed out smack dab in the middle of the boat. While the tug operators watched on, Tom rocked us back and forth, back and forth until we finally worked ourselves free. We immediately proceeded to the middle of the canal; deeper wider water, cautiously moved through the Flood Gates, crossed the Brazos River and out. (Nothing ever seems easy any more). Being Saturday there are many pleasure crafts and the ever present speedy little fishers out. All sorts of folks line the banks; it is a pleasure to watch individuals and entire families out for a day of fishing and play. It’s actually a nice sunny day, and the winds have subsided, a wee bit. When we pulled into Matagorda Harbor a nice young man, David, helped pull us
in and tie us off (even though the wind are keeping us nice and tight along the dock). Across the little harbor there was an old wooden boat. Turns out it’s a touring vessel, a ‘historically correct replica of a 15th century caravel’. After a nice yummy dinner at the Waterfront, a casual seafood restaurant, we strolled around the docks and found ourselves buying tickets to tour “Nina”. We met Captain Kyle and crew member Michael and talked of many things, sailing ships, cabbages and kings. We invited them down to tour Refugio later that evening, which they did.
a strong current and began seeing lots of ‘large’ debris in the canal. We had to ‘do the dance’ while waiting for a few tugs to exit the Flood Gates; maneuver themselves to their barges and found ourselves lightly grounded a few times on soft mud. Once the Lock Master told us it was clear to proceed we started, but stopped suddenly with a lurch! (I hate that feeling) Yup, we’d bottomed out smack dab in the middle of the boat. While the tug operators watched on, Tom rocked us back and forth, back and forth until we finally worked ourselves free. We immediately proceeded to the middle of the canal; deeper wider water, cautiously moved through the Flood Gates, crossed the Brazos River and out. (Nothing ever seems easy any more). Being Saturday there are many pleasure crafts and the ever present speedy little fishers out. All sorts of folks line the banks; it is a pleasure to watch individuals and entire families out for a day of fishing and play. It’s actually a nice sunny day, and the winds have subsided, a wee bit. When we pulled into Matagorda Harbor a nice young man, David, helped pull us
in and tie us off (even though the wind are keeping us nice and tight along the dock). Across the little harbor there was an old wooden boat. Turns out it’s a touring vessel, a ‘historically correct replica of a 15th century caravel’. After a nice yummy dinner at the Waterfront, a casual seafood restaurant, we strolled around the docks and found ourselves buying tickets to tour “Nina”. We met Captain Kyle and crew member Michael and talked of many things, sailing ships, cabbages and kings. We invited them down to tour Refugio later that evening, which they did.
No comments:
Post a Comment