Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Marina's Diary...she just keeps writing.

Need to copy day 9 thru day Nov.1 from other laptop

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Day 20 - We, Oct.30
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We made it to NOLA....
It took us twice long to get from LaFettite to New Orleans (6 hours instead of planned 3).
We went through Harvey and Industrial locks, through multiple lift, swing and basconete bridges before we docked at Seabrook
Harbor Marina. Most of the time all those lift and bridge operators were not responsive on VHF (ch.12, 14, 13, 67) and we had
to circle around just before passing under waiting for responce. Even Kevin start loosing his temper!
Finally at the Marina and pulling in the slip 19, but that was not easy either: docks are very low and short. Thanks to other
boaters at the Marina we finally tied our boat safely.
We took a shattle bus leaving from neighbor Marina (Ponchatrain RV and Marina) - just $6.00/person for round trip.
It was nice to walk through French Quarters, see people around, homeless freeks with dogs, hear music on the streets...
Ate fried cajan alligator - cound not figure out what it taste like because it was way too spicy.
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Day 21 - Thu, Oct.31
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Halloween in NOLA! It's a right place for that! First time in 14 years we don't wear any costumes and don't hosting Halloween
party - feels good just participate in the big party around.
Started partying with Juan...
tired...
after 3 am in hotel, need to get some sleep for tomorrow..
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Day 22 - Fri, Nov.1
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Still partying with Juan... partying...very tired

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Day 23 - Sat, Nov.2
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Some casualities:
Yesterday Kevin lost his front tooth again... Now he looks like one of the homeless guys on the streets of NOLA.
Need to find emergency dentist, but there is no such thing exists in NOLA at this point.
So... have to wait for Monday if can get any emergency appointment for Kevin.
Lost half of our monthly budget allowance at Harra's Casino... but we got a free ride on the taxi (driver refused to accept money from Kevin
when I mentioned that Kevin owns me a wedding ring!)
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Day 24 - Sun, Nov. 3
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While leaving hotel we realized that we lost a plunger we bought for the boat, 2 screews, french bagette and our precious caricture
drawing made on by an artist in the Jackson square.
Finally we made it back to the boat after 4 days staying in New Orleans (it's very addictive city)
Juan bravely agreed to stay on our boat overnight.
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Day 25 - Mon, Nov.4
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Big day for Kevin: we found a dentist who installed his tooth back in place!
Now Kevin looks "normal" and we are ready to leave NOLA and move further down toward Mobile.
It's two of us again - Juan flu back to Austin, time to be back to work.
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Dat 26 - Tu, Nov.5
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Still in NOLA - weather is not in our favor, very windy and see is very choppy, forcast for rain.
Decided to efficiently use our time and went to the grocery store - oh boy, do we really eat so much?!
We are already so much over our monthly budget, so..now in November we are already spending allowance for January.
With such rate we probably would need to shorted our traveling plans, or just quit stopping in the big
cities like New Orleans.

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Day 27 - Wed, Nov.6
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Our marina has a track for boaters to take to do some chores, and we gladly used this service today.
We bought a plunger and bolts which we lost while partying in the city last week.
Unfortunatelly, we did not replace our lost caricature - luckily, we have a photo of it on the facebook.
We also had to find a place to fill up one of our propane tanks - spent soo much gas for cooking in one month!

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Day 28 - Thu, Nov.7
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Kevin finally made internet working - connecting through the "Hot spot" via his cell phone.
I was so happy to talk with my parents on Skype, finally!
We made it to the 10 am shuttle bus from RV park and we are back to exploring New Orleans city. Today's trip we
devoted to the Garden District. Very beautiful victorian style houses, a lot of antique and art galleries,
very nice european style cafes and bakeries. Mmmm, those french pastries and perfect coffee!
We walked a lot again, nice!

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Day 29 - Fri, Nov.8
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Well, we are still waiting for weather to improve, so, we went to the New Orleans Zoo.
We saw white alligators! We even did not know that such exist, and no, they are not albinos.
Spent some time at the gorila's dwelling... Kevin, after long examination, admitted that gorillas our ancesstors while
comparing himself to the chief male gorilla. I guess, most of the guys feel like my husband.
While staying in Seabrook Harbor Marina we made some friends, boaters, who are also trying to get to Florida soon.
We all desided to leave at 7am tomorrow.
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Day 30 - Sat, Nov.9
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Of course, our boat was the last to leave marina... as always...
But, weather seems much better today, even though it's still windy.
After 8 hours we made it to Mississippy state - to the Christian Pass Marina. We did not fit in the assigned slip: our boat just
stack between poles - it was too narrow for us. So, we had to move it to another slip and, the docking was horrible. This marina
is not the best (no toilets, no showers, no landry), but it's cheap - just $21.40.
Where 40 cents come from in the price? the marina harbor assistant could not give us a definite answer...
Tonight for the first time from leaving Texas we walked on the perfect sandy beach with the white clean sand!
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Day 31 - Sun, Nov.10
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After 7.5 hours we anchored at the Pettite Boise Island - national park.
Our buddy Bill on catamaran decided to join us there too.
Beautiful clean water and sandy beaches all along, but we were too lazy and tired to put our dinghy down to explore this islans
by foot... too much work.
However, there were other people camping on the beach and they were .. naked.
So far, we have very nice experiences in Mississippy: even it's hard for me to understand what they are saying, seems they are very
friendly; people here like very presize numbers - for example, slip cost is $21.40, the fine for littering is $526.00, etc; and for
for Kevin's delight, people don't mind to be nacked on the beach...
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Day 32 - Mon, Nov.11
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The night at this beatiful island was horrible for us. At about 11 pm the north wind picked up greatly and on our anchorage we
felt like we are flying somewhere. I had to move to Kevin's bad in the back because sleeping on the bow berth was like
SixFlags rollercoaster experience! Probably, if you put some weight on yourself while sleeping (better about 100 lbs),
then you would not experience what austranauts are trained for... We probably should try our old Pfaff sewing machine
(close to 100 lbs) next time.
Kevin did not sleep all night working on our anchor to hold us (seems he succeded, we did not fly away). Also, he got‌ first
hands encounter with the wild nature at night near the anchor which scarred him greatly! Some tired of flying around pelican
decided to sleepover on our boat's bow - where anchor is, and would not even move when Kevin was tying secure lines to the
chain. Then finally this creature left, but came again - creating cocophonous sounds while hitting the life lines (what this bird
blind maybe?).
We both were so happy when sun came out - meanning we finally can leave this "hounted house", even though it's soo beautiful.
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Day 33 - Tu, Nov.12
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Today we crossed the border Alabama and Florida. We made it to the sunny state!
But, not so sunny when we arrived - we got a cold front coming tonight with temperature below freezing and winds 30 mi/hour.
This cold front will stay at least till Saturday, so we decided to be safe and stay at the marina Holiday Harbor, which is
the first marina on florida side on ICW.
The water here is soo clear and clean, finally.

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