MOTOR YACHT LORELEI

Panama Canal Cruise

Excitement is building!! Only one more day until the “great departure”. The beginning of the adventure of a lifetime.

Friday, October 24. It began like any other day had, since the end of July, with a long list of things that had to be accomplished for Lorelei. Courtney, our niece, arrived at 11:00 to take care of Michael and Madison. The mad dash was on to mark everything off all three of my lists before we set sail tomorrow. Things had to be notarized and mailed, bought, and packed. Fred picked the Captains up at 7:30 pm and took them to the boat in Muskogee. Captain Bob made it to Tulsa, but his luggage did not.

Saturday, October 25. Before anything else, the lid to the bed of the truck had to be put back on. The bottom of Fred’s shoes were wet, and when he was standing on the tailgate pushing the lid on the last little bit, his feet slipped. He smashed his face into the lid and slid right off the end of the truck. His mouth was bleeding. I just knew he needed stitches. WE DIDN’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!! One of his teeth had punctured his lip and it seemed like it went all the way through. OUCH!! When the bleeding stopped, we continued on with loading the truck. The bed of the truck was stuffed to the top. We had a few things to get that the Captains requested for the boat and a few errands of our own, on top of having to pick up the missing suitcase. Needless to say, we arrived later than we had planned. Late in the afternoon, we went out on the river for a couple of hours. We ate dinner out and prepared for an early departure on Sunday.

Sunday, October 26, 8:00. We had been awake for about an hour listening to activity on the boat. Then, I heard one Captain say something that meant they were ready to take off! We hadn’t paid the marina! Fred quickly dressed and got our bill paid just in time to shove off. After we were a short distance away, I realized we still had the dock key. Sorry Wayne!

The plan was to go 100 miles before stopping at the marina in Van Buren Arkansas, where we would spend the night. The first lock was at Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. I had my camera ready to record this event. I pushed the button and nothing happened. The camera was out of memory! That’s OK, I’ll just use the new video camera. I couldn’t figure out how to use it! I would just have to wait for the next lock.

I have taken video of an entire locking procedure, and several other things that I thought were interesting. Fred doesn’t have enough time to figure out how to link to the videos, so we will make a disk and bring them to your school, if that’s ok. I will start taking pictures instead because I know how to insert them without help. SORRY! Here are a few pictures taken at several different locks in Oklahoma and Arkansas. At three or four locks, we had to wait for a tug and its load to “lock-up” or “lock-down”. The tug boat had to put some of the barges in the lock and tie some up on the wall before the lock. Then the tug rode down with the first load of barges, tied them off on the other side and rode back up to get the rest of the barges. One time we thought we could lock-down with the second load of barges. The Captains asked permission on the radio, but no one would answer, which means don’t bother asking. An entire day of traveling was wasted because we had to wait our turn.

The first picture is after we have gone down ≈ 18’, as you can see by the darkness on the walls (that is wet cement). The next picture is of the gates in front of us opening for us to leave.

When we were 3 or 4 miles out from the Emerald Cove Marina in Van Buren, Arkansas, there was a boat that told us by radio they were going to lead us to the place we needed to park for the night. This marina is almost right under a bridge. The Captain had to maneuver between the bridge piling and the dock of the marina! A really tight fit! All of a sudden, the wind blew really strong and we smashed into the bridge piling. In my mind’s eye, the boat was going to have a big hole in the port side by the aft deck. After we got docked, I was so thankful to see that there was no real damage. Just some scuffs on the rub rail and about a foot of fiberglass. I must have a really good imagination. Ruth at Emerald Cove took Captain Bob, Michael and me to Wal-Mart. The people here are so nice. Michael said he didn’t know if he would want to leave in the morning. Hopefully, he will decide to come with us.

Monday, October 27, 8:30. Good news! Michael came with us. Today was pretty uneventful. We went through two more locks and waited on a sailboat to lock-up. There was a rock quarry that loads its rocks on barges.

There is a nuclear power plant at Russellville, Arkansas. I don’t have pictures, but it will be on the video CD.

We arrived at Russellville Marina around 5:30, so we decided to eat out. The marina advertises that the Holiday Inn will pick up and take you to their restaurant. A few hours later, we finally were stuffing 6 people in a taxi with a driver and driver’s husband. It was a tight squeeze but it was fun. We ended up at Cracker Barrel. The taxi driver has two close relatives in Iraq that would appreciate your prayers. The marina is back in a cove and is only 7 feet deep in places. The area that we have to turn around in is not big enough, so the Captain said he is going to have to back out. Maybe the wind won’t be blowing when we leave.

Tuesday, October 28, 8:00. We went through three locks today. The last one was Toad Suck Ferry Lock. Where did that name come from? Our destination is Little Rock Yacht Club Marina. We arrived in time to call for taxis to take us to a Chinese buffet (Captain John’s request). We then walked to Wal-Mart and Sam’s across the street.

Michael and Madison at the marina.

Uncle Vernon with Michael and Madison

Wednesday, October 29, 9:00. I made a video of the fog on the water as we were leaving the marina. The fog goes up in tornado shapes. Mr. Pack, will you and your students please research it, if you don’t already know what causes the tornados? You can let me know when I bring the video to your school.

There were four locks on the agenda for today. Locks #7, #6, #5, and #4.

On the Arkansas River, we are burning approximately 10 gallons of fuel per hour at 1500 rpm and averaging ≈ .8 miles per gallon.

Our destination for today is the entrance of a little arm of the river that has an island but is too shallow for even the Zodiac to get around. Fred took the kids and I to the island. While he was getting Uncle Vernon, Michael and Madison picked up shells. We had lots of fun exploring what looked to be an island on the map but had been recently mowed. We didn’t go back far enough to see how a tractor got on the island. I say we had lots of fun but the mosquitoes were too thick and too big to have too much fun. Next time we will bring the bug spray.

Fred grilled chicken and buffalo burgers on the boat for dinner.

Thursday, October 30, 7:15. Today we completed all 16 locks and went over a submersed dam with a lock beside it for the barges. This was at the end of the Arkansas River. The scenery immediately changed when we entered the Mississippi River. There are miles and miles of sand beaches and rock slab beaches, and tons of barges (ha ha). The current is so fast (between 2 – 3 knots) and the bottom is so uneven (a jagged pattern on the depth sounder), that they create places in the water that look like whirlpools. Not only do they look pretty cool, we can feel them as we pass over. The waves behind a tug boat that has 3 screws (propellers) are amazing!

Around 3:30 we turned off the river and went up an arm for about five miles to the Greenville Yacht Club Marina where we spent the night. In this arm, there were lots of barges. Some were being filled, some were being fixed, and some were just moving. There was a restaurant on shore and while we were eating, the Captains washed Lorelei and made her look so beautiful. She had been dirty since right after the Bonvoyage party. That was a really great surprise.

There are 3 people working on this barge

This is a Coast Guard boat that has the red and green channel markers onboard. Apparently, this boat maintains the channel markers.

Friday, October 31, 7:00. First thing when Michael woke up, he shouted “it’s Halloween!” I thought I could get away with not buying costumes this year because we would be on the boat. I WAS WRONG! Michael had just put a caster back on the vanity stool for me so he decided to be a carpenter for Halloween. He had some pants that would do for carpenter pants and a shirt and hat that look like work clothes. Madison dressed up as a princess in her princess nightgown. Captain John thought of a way to make a scepter, and her crown was sort of a group effort. What great last-minute costumes! They went trick-or-treating at Uncle Vernon’s quarters. When he opened his door, his face was covered with blood! Pretty scary, but fun! Michael said this was the best Halloween ever! Thanks Lorelei Crew for a memorable Halloween.

Tonight we anchored ≈ 100 yards or so out of the channel. The current was still swirling around us but the anchor held. Because it was dark, when barges passed, it looked like they were going to run right over us. For those of you who know what a worrier I can be, you can imagine how hard it was to convince me that we were safe. Captain Bob had enough patience to calm my fears! Everyone slept peacefully with only the stars and a new moon as our nightlight in the constantly rocking safety of Lorelei.

Saturday, November 1, 7:30. Today was a pretty uneventful day. We did make our scheduled fuel stop at John W. Stone. It turned out to be a barge filled with fuel that was barely above water. The worker told us that the tug boats can hold 30,000 to 60,000 gallons of fuel, wow! We held 790 gallons, hardly a drop from the barge. At 15 knots we are burning approximately 18 gallons per hour.

The scenery during today did not change. There were lots of barges, and industry along the river. In some places, there was water rushing from the shore somewhere into the river. In the background there was always some industry. Makes me wonder what chemicals are also rushing into the river.

This is the second day we did not set foot on land. We anchored on the side of the river, in front of a barge train that was at a loading area. Tonight, Fred grilled all the seafood we had in the freezer and some hotdogs for Michael, Uncle Vernon, and himself. The perfect ending to another day in the “adventure of a lifetime.”

Sunday, November 2, 6:10. Today we hit New Orleans which is only 60 miles further down the Mississippi. The river banks are lined with barges and large cargo ships. On the other side of downtown New Orleans is the Algiers Lock on the Industrial Canal, where we waited about an hour for a tug to go to the other side and a different tug to come up from the other side. This lock is done by the same manufacturer, using the same design in miniature as the Panama Canal. There are no floating tie downs. You have to use rope from above to tie off to the wall. The lock only drops 18”. It is mostly to keep the current of the river out of the area on the other side of the lock which is the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. At about 2:00, we arrived at Seabrook Harbor Marina, where we fueled and parked in slip #7. Richard Gray met us at the marina after flying in from Tulsa. We called for two taxi’s, but only one showed up. I had our driver go get Fred’s group. After getting some marine supplies from West Marine, we called for another taxi. Captain John took the supplies to the boat, picked up Captain Bob, and we all met at ACME Oyster House in the French Quarters.

After dinner, Fred, Richard, the kids, and I walked to Riverwalk just in time for the stores to be closing.

Michael and Madison bought some souvenirs.

Monday, November 3, 6:15. What a way to start the morning! We have seen several pods of dolphins on the intracoastal waterway. Sorry, I wasn’t fast enough with the camera.!

There are lots of shrimp and crab boats coming and going.

Part of the salt water marsh

The balls to the left of center are from crab pots

Coast Guard Boat answering a distressed vessel call (we heard it on the radio)

As we are entering the Intracoastal Waterway in Alabama, a pod of dolphins played under our bow, jumping and twisting. We got some video, but the camera is too slow, sorry. I will try again when the opportunity arises.

Dolphin playing in our wake

Dolphin in our wake

We stayed at Home Port Marina in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The restaurant there is owned by Jimmy Buffet’s sister, Lucille. It was the nicest place we have stayed and it was also the most fun so far.

Home Port Marina

Captain Bob, Captain John, Michael and Madison

Brent Burns

We asked directions to a Target or Wal-Mart and were told it was a mile or less. Our plan was to walk there and call a cab when we were finished. The walk turned out to be about 2.5 miles on a busy highway. When we got there, we found out that several people had recently been killed walking from the same marina. We did our shopping, called a taxi and made it safely back to the boat.

Tuesday, November 4, 7:00. Today was not very fun. Everyone was quiet for most of the day. The waves were 3–5 feet with a short time between them. Michael got really sick and refused to take medicine for about two hours. When he did, he was fine. Madison took medicine before she threw up. That was the smart way. I was doing fine until Captain Bob asked me to check for water on the portholes downstairs, and I had to get a wet washcloth for Michael, and I had to do something else downstairs, all at the same time. That was way too long to be without a horizon in that kind of waves. So, I took medicine before I got sick.

It was exciting to enter Florida, with its sugar-white sand beaches.

Madison and I could live here!!

Panama City Marina

We stayed at Panama City Marina in Florida. Dinner was at “The Place”. Our waitress offered to take us to Target when her shift was finished. Even though it was a really nice gesture, and we appreciated it, we called a taxi.

Wednesday, November 5, 8:00. Only 50 miles to go today, to reach our destination of Apalachicola. We arrived about 2:30 at the Scipio Creek Marina. The captains changed the oil and an o-ring somewhere and hosed down the boat. Fred grilled hamburgers. The kids watched some fishermen clean tons of grouper and red snapper. They would throw the skin in the water and the seagulls would try to pick it up before it sank. The activity attracted a small alligator. There is a tropical storm brewing near Cuba, right in our path. They are talking about docking Lorelei at Ft. Meyers, FL, Friday and return on Wednesday.

Thursday, November 6, 6:10. Today, we go to Clearwater, FL, about 160 miles. Most of the day, we were about 51 miles off shore. There was no visible land, just a few large cargo ships. We saw a sea turtle and lots of dolphins along the way. We arrived about 6:30.

Frenchy’s Salt Water Café was the place for dinner. They even had choices Michael would eat!

We bought some souvenirs, walked on the beach for a while and checked out Pier 60 which was just closing.

A bird on the beach

Definitions of Nautical Terms We've Learned