Cambria's Capers - The Adventures Continue Aboard M/V Cambria: September 2014

We left Boomtown at the break of day... heading for the Big Easy.....
Meet 'Big Al'.

'Fast Cajun'

All of our duck are in a row

Business is booming along the ICWW with ship and barge building in full swing.

Another Bridge/Bridge Operator Booth

LaPalco Bascule Bridge

As we get closer to the Mississippi we have to make the first lock of the day Harvey Lock.

It is where the number system on the ICWW Starts... at "0"

The transit through the locks went fairly smoothly!

And then we enter the Mighty Missisppi - After dodging a few barges we find our way over to the port side of the river and up close to the Carnival Cruise ship that is getting ready for her next cruise. We were told to give her a wide berth. We look pretty small next to her.

As we make our way down the Mississippi we pass by the
River Walk at the French Quarter

Jackson Square from the Mississippi

After going through the Harvey Locks and going past the French Quarter we leave the Mississippi River and enter the Industrial Locks which connect the ICW to Lake Pontchartrain. There is always a waiting time to go through these locks, but this time we had additional maneuvers to go through. First we circled around waiting for a barge to come through.

After a while the bridge/lock operator instructed us all to come forward and to go tie up at Free Dock which is an area to port behind the short dolphins (Those big round pilings that are used for commercial tie-ups) We all head that way not knowing exactly where we were going and what we would find when we got there. It was really scary trying to fit all of us in that tiny space.. with a strong current especially.

We make our way one by one and raft up as instructed.

Sailboats first with More Good Timin' tying off to the dock and AGoode Ketch rafting up to them

Next the Trawlers file in... Last Trade snugs up to the dock,
We raft up to them and finally La Vie Dansante rafts up to us.

As the barge makes it's way through the locks and heads out there is hardly any room on either side... Ernie and Ron are checking it out. We are amazed how it could even pass through... but it did...
It touched the sides a bit, but it did make it through.

Ron indicates to everyone that there is not a foot to spare....

Ron, Josh and Ernie say it's time to move along.
Let's figure how we are going to get out of this place!

Once the barge clears the locks we have to maneuver our way out of Free Dock and pull around the dolphin and enter the lock as a group. We use a pole to push La Vie Dansante out and away from us so that they could back out and turn around... Then, likewise Josh and Ron use poles and push us off and away from Last Trade... .

The dolphin supports are directly behind us and the current will push us into them if we are not able to get far enough away to make the run past it. We only have bow thrusters so it was great to have them there to push out our stern. Gratefully, we move out and Al is able to back up and turn around without any problem with the assistance of the others. Another great reason to travel with friends.

We head into the locks, tie up and make our way through them with no problem.

After making it through the locks and several more bridges to pull into Pontchartrain Landing. There is a yacht builder, Trinity Industries Yacht just before the marina and here is a sample of one of the yachts that they are building. Nice. In my next lifetime! LOL

We all got settled into our slips at Pontchartrain Landing RV Park and Marina.
We docked our Cambria next to one of the house boats that are for rent. This taken at sunrise.

Picture from our port side down the fairway. There was a beautiful yacht, "Big Decision" parked next to us and AGoode Ketch and Last Trade are docked up further on the dock.

Let's do New Orleans! Every day there is a shuttle that takes guests at the marina and rv park into the French Quarter. At 10 & 4 and picks up to come back at 4 and 8... so we have an easy opportunity to go into town.

First Thing First - Cafe Du Monde

Before!

Begniets served

After!!!

We did make more than one trip the Cafe Du Monde... just saying!

We ate at Desire Oyster Bar

Note: After we left Desire Ernie and I had senior moments... He lost his phone and I lost my glasses... after much sleuthing we found them both and vowed to take more care keeping up with things... let's see how that works out for us!

Great street music. This gal in the umbrella could belt out a tune!

George Rodrigue's gallery was closed but had this posted to the door. We always dropped by his gallery every time we went to New Orleans. Blue Dog is gone....

Selfie Time!

Jerry and Nell Giallanza meet us for dinner as they were travelling through New Orleans

Life around the marina was fun too. Docktails are always in order!

Josh and Barb have this cool plaque on Last Trade. We need to get one for Cambria!

As happens to all of us at one time or another, The Coast Guard boarded La Vie Dansante. They were a nice bunch of guys (and gal) and it was great to talk to them and get the opportunity to tell them how much we appreciate all that they do. They passed inspection :-)

Tee Shirts for the Grand Babies... They are cute, but unfortunately they can't wear them for a while! I bought them way too big~

Little Princess

Jake may get to wear this in Jr. High...

his Momma advised me it was way to big!

Paw Paw is checking out Teya's Tutu

Okay, Everyone knows that cruising is all about discovering new things... Well, this was definitely a new thing... Never have we ever seen an escalator in a grocery store!

Nor have we ever seen a 2-story Target Store... Well Metarie has one. It took as a few minutes to figure out how to get the carts upstairs... that's right, the groceries were on the second floor!

Well, first you send it up and follow it up on the other escalator