The first real day of cruising



Tchefuncte River Sunrise at Madisonville, LA

Saturday Jan 5 weather looked good enough to make it to Gulfport, so we got up before sunrise (we didn't WAKE UP till much later!).  Took a couple photos of the eastern sky as the sun made its appearance (and then quickly disappeared for the rest of the day).




Historic Tchefuncte River Lighthouse, with a range marker seen as you leave the river. Eeek! Get back on course!

 

Sue (the Admiral) has to watch for crab traps forward, as well as range markers behind.

Our escorts out in the Gulf

Got out into Lake Pontchartrain & had a good ride with 1-2' waves with 15 kt winds.  Into Mississippi Sound, the waves were 2' directly on the bow, which the boat took nicely.  Lots of pitching, but no rolling.  Actually got salt spray on the deck!  It was a cold 58 degrees, cruising at 10 mph into a 15 mph wind, so we had 25 mph of wind over the deck. And then Sue sends me out to the bow to take down the pennant, which is trying to flap itself to death!  Saw several navigation aids missing (well, we saw where they WEREN'T), so we noted them as part of our US Power Squadrons co-operative charting efforts.

Strange things seen on the Gulf ICW.  Three brand new blue tow boats were being pushed by another tow boat.
Talk about keeping your ducks in a line!

Took the short cut into Gulfport & arrived at 1530.  Went to the Small Craft Harbor, which is right next to the commercial docks where the banana boats unload.  Dole brings in all their bananas from South America by container ship, which dock right next to us.  The weather in the Gulf turned out to be better than forecast, but as we look towards tomorrow, the weather looks iffy.  Just have to get up early to see.