traffic. We pulled back into the ICW in front of a 6-pack and just as the dredger barges were getting all set up for the day. First up was navigating the Bayou Boeuf
Locks. We had to dance around for about ½ hour while waiting for a ‘jack-up’ to exit the lock. We have seen these special vessels before and just thought of them as pile drivers, but then the lockmaster referred to it as a jack-up. It’s always nice to know the language. Entering ahead of us was a working floating platform, they were told to stay to the port and we were told to pass them on a slow bell then hang out in the middle. Again we did not have tie off which I suppose it easier on everyone with only a 1 ½ foot drop.
As we cruised along just east of the locks we passed by major shipyards, scrap metal yards and dry docks. After a short while we got back to the simple quiet beauty of nature and lots and lots of birds. The plant life is overflowing into the waterways and a couple of times we had to pull some evasive maneuvers to avoid the larger patches of growth floating at us. This is not something we want to get sucked up in any of our intakes.
Our driving day was short and we found one other vessel tied up at the city docks here in Houma on the Bayou Terrebone when we arrived; the same vessel that was anchored in the middle of the channel at Mermentau. The gal came over and introduced herself – Charm & Ron of “Bout time” with another couple aboard and they’re headed to the Kentucky Lake via Mobile, originally from Port Aranasas, Texas. So it looks like we may be crossing paths with them a few more times.
We met Steve Willett who stopped by and asked if we needed anything. Apparently he keeps his trawler back down the ICW, lives nearby and when he sees fellow cruisers pull into the docks he come over to see if they need a ride to the store or anything. Although we did not need anything, it was a wonderful gesture, thank you Steve.Tonight we did our laundry and while waiting we walked around a local cemetery. It’s a nice warm evening for a stroll and cemeteries are always one of my favorite places to stroll, especially here in Louisiana where they bury everyone above ground.
2 comments:
Sue, The jack ups are used to service oil platforms in the bays and gulf. In the gulf where there is deep water, they put down their legs and raise the vessel out of the water. Sometimes, all you see is the bottom of the jack up because they are so far in the air.
Thanks for the education Shawn. Every time I read this I find boating words/phrases I'm not familiar with.
Enjoy reading your updates Sue. Sounds like Tom is truly in his element. Very enjoyable reading. You are very lucky to have these adventures! Missing you...
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