Underway!!!

Industrial Canal in New Orleans.  Can't quite get under this
railroad bridge.  I wonder if the bridge tender is awake?

The third time must be the charm, because we finally left to go cruising (for the 3rd time) on Saturday morning April 13.  We got our income taxes paid, used what little money that was left to put fuel into the boat, and departed Seabrook boatyard on the Industrial Canal in New Orleans under clear calm weather.  Another boater whom we met at Seabrook, was traveling with us as far as Mobile Bay, aboard "Knot a Yot".  They had lots of experience cruising the rivers, but wanted a buddy boat to travel Mississippi Sound.

Our buddy boat behind us.  Even with the RR bridge open
there isn't much room to spare.

GIWW has lots of commercial traffic.  Note wind streaks
on water, indicating the wind is over 15 mph.

As we headed east along the canal section of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway, the east wind increased to 15-20 mph, dead on our bow.  I got the uneasy feeling that waves on the open water were going to be higher than forecast (aren't they always?!?)  Once we got there, we found waves 2-3' (with occasional 4'), winds 15-20 mph, lots of whitecaps, and salt spray everywhere.  The only saving grace was that most of it was right on our bow, so the boat pitched all day instead of rolling.  At times, the pitching was bad enough that our ship's bell on the aft deck was ringing itself (it normally only rings at 5:00 PM every day for happy hour!).

"Knot a Yot" slugs it through the 2-3' waves off
Gulfport MS.  The decks need a fresh water washdown!

Finally made it into Biloxi MS for the night after 10 hours of pitching & breathing salt spray.  Admiral Sue (who never lets me drive the boat!) made a perfect landing at the marina, backing the boat into the slip with a 15 mph cross wind.  After securing the boat, we went next door to help our friends aboard "Knot a Yot" celebrate their baptism of fire in crossing the MS Sound for the first time.