Well it has been foever since last we updated what's happening. What is happening now is we left Kemah yesterday (Tuesday). There were no intentions of staying that long. We were ready last week. All provisioned, car back to the nieces, etc. etc. etc. waiting on a weathere window. Then got a wild hair. You know we drug anchor and had some issues. Yes it was a storm, but a good properly sized anchor should hold in a storm. So with a little idle time, we did some research, checked with some friends and decided to upgrade our anchoring system. Got the secondary anchor Thursday and main anchor last Friday. Then had friends over on Friday, Sat and Sun and the weather was crappy on Monday and we pulled out at 0800 Tuesday.
Wow, it is loads of fun in the Houston Ship Channel, especially with a bit of North Wind. But that is what it is all about. Spent the night anchored in Teacup (next to the Galveston Yacht Club). what a rocky night. Lots of boat traffic but slept well and the anchor held great. Left Teacup at 0700. Managed to cross the HSC with out getting run over and then the fun started. There were two chemical barges entering the ICW just before us and with the current and traffic we followed one for awhile until we all had to hold in place while a barge was stuck ACROSS the ICW. Another tow put his barges on the bank and went and helped the one across the ICW. We idled in the lee and along side of the tow/barge we were following and when the tow/barge cleared the ICW it was time to go again for about 10 of us. All orderly and very helpful of each other.
Our next little adventure occured when we were fixing to go under a bridge that was followed by a SHARP turn. Under the bridge was a tow/barge getting a crew change. We slowed down and chated with them and we started by and then noticed that there was a tow coming towards us on the other side of the turn (thank goodness for AIS). We called the tow and found out he was 900 ft. First choice was for us to idle or go back west and let him make the turn but we were two close to the bridge to idle and the crew changing tow had us blocked and had just started his movement. So, between the Captain of the tow we were meeting and the great skill (yea right) of the captain of Sandpiper we made the turn and all was well.
Recommendation to ALL - get AIS if you are going to go on the ICW It was and will be a great help. It could save your bacon. Without it i have no idea what would have happened. We have the receive only version and it seems to be all we need to keep out of the way of traffic and to allow them to move thru narrow/high current areas without any danger to us.
And for all you who don't like tow drivers, we have found the vast majority of them to be VERRY VERRY helpful. We owe a lot to acouple of them already.
And this is a great anchorage but be in before dusk. Lots and Lots of sketters.
Tomorrow on to Lake Charles. Will spend a couple of days there, then to anchorage in a river. Am trying to time it so we go through NO Locks on Sun which is the reacommendation of most.
Hey, it is fun and is just begininng.
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