16 Feb 13

Up early and away (the anchor windlass finally worked - hooray!!!) by 08:00 on the 24 mile trip to the Big Easy. We passed under 2 bascule bridges and locked through the Harvey Canal Lock, which lifted us 8 feet up to the Mississippi before noon. Had a blustery cruise down the Big Muddy, past the French Quarter and into the Industrial Canal, where we had to wait 2 hours for our turn to go through the lock, followed by 2 more bascule bridges, and 3 lift bridges. Finally got into Pontchartrain Landing Marina at 15:15; it took 7.25 hours to go 24 miles (good walking pace). Early meal at the marina restaurant with Sam and Pat.

17 Feb 13

Took the shuttle from Pontchartrain Landing into the French Quarter and wandered around aimlessly for a few hours, waiting for Kathi and Jack to arrive from Amarillo to board their Norwegian Cruise liner for a 6-day cruise to Cozumel, etc. Afterward, we finally got into Cafe du Monde and later had dinner at Montrel’s Bistro in the French market end of the French Quarter.

18 Feb 13

Took the shuttle to town again and wasted the whole morning at FedEx trying to download, print, sign and scan some investment documents. Afterward, spent an excellent afternoon at the WW II Museum. Then had dinner at the Irish House - very good food and much less expensive than the Quarter. Best of all, they have a proper Irish “session” on Monday nights, where a bunch of amateur, but very accomplished, musicians - 3 fiddles, 3 or 4 flautists and/or penny whistle players, bodhrams, bones, accordion, squeeze box, mandolin and guitar players - sit around and play old Irish tunes (jigs, hornpipes, etc.) for about 3 hours, for free. Very entertaining. Taxi back to the marina. Laissez les bon temps roulet.  

We have decided to leave the boat in New Orleans for a couple of weeks so we can go back to Houston for a visit and to take care of bidness. We will start heading east again on 4 or 5 Mar 13.

4 Mar 13

Loaded up the car and drove back to New Orleans. Had dinner at a mexican food restaurant and took care of the shopping. Early to bed.