Last Trade has not been out on the water since our Florida trip and we just had to get her out and do something! The weather is starting to get nice and a trip downcoast to Port Aransas before the heat of summer sounded good!
M/V Beachcomber and M/V Last Trade headed out around 8:30 - 9:00 AM for Freeport, our first stop on the trip south to Port A. Leaving Kemah we had some wind and it was kind of "rolly" heading to the ship channel and part of the way down the ICW. The closer we got to Galveston, the wave action and winds calmed down but the current coming in was really strong. It slowed us down to about 5.5 knots and we usually do 7 or 8. When we made the turn into Pelican Cut our speed went back to normal.
Crossing Chocolate Bay we noticed that the Texas portion of the ICW was not being maintained very well. Several markers were off station or missing and shoalling is becoming a big time problem. Tow boats were instructing us to pass on the two because of very shallow water on the one.
Safely docked at Freeport Marina. After several unsuccessful attempts to get into the first slip they wanted us in (farther back in the marina with no wind protection). The strong winds just kept blowing us sideways. We literally went out the fairway sideways. They finally told us to try going to the first dock (G) and come straight in. The wind here was blocked by the drystack. This was a piece of cake!
After we were all settled in, EJ and I threw some food together and we had a nice dinner together on the upper deck of Last Trade. Once dinner was over, it was time to lift Ross and EJ's dinghy for the trip tomorrow through the locks.
The aroma is always so nice passing the bird islands by Harborwalk.
Video below provided by Ross and EJ Heard
Crossing Chocolate Bay we noticed that the Texas portion of the ICW was not being maintained very well. Several markers were off station or missing and shoalling is becoming a big time problem. Tow boats were instructing us to pass on the two because of very shallow water on the one.
Bridge Harbor Marina
Safely docked at Freeport Marina. After several unsuccessful attempts to get into the first slip they wanted us in (farther back in the marina with no wind protection). The strong winds just kept blowing us sideways. We literally went out the fairway sideways. They finally told us to try going to the first dock (G) and come straight in. The wind here was blocked by the drystack. This was a piece of cake!
Ross "walking" Howie!
After we were all settled in, EJ and I threw some food together and we had a nice dinner together on the upper deck of Last Trade. Once dinner was over, it was time to lift Ross and EJ's dinghy for the trip tomorrow through the locks.
Lifting of the dinghy!
Love the pics...glad you are enjoying the water once again!
ReplyDelete