Sailing Last Mango

11-23    As a new cruiser I’m going to make a make a statement. You know you’ve been in on place too long when you can give a stranger directions to the nearest shopping center using the names of the streets. You know you’ve been in on place too long when you can enter the TV channels without needing to surf through them. Greg from Fracas doing his best Captain Morgan imitation In our final days here at Turner Marine I have to say I’ve enjoyed my stay. The staff has been friendly and very helpful with my many questions about work being performed, wildlife and general knowledge. We’ve had a good amount of work here on Last Mango and so far so good. I have no doubt that Roger and his crew are doing a great job and would recommend them to anyone traveling in the area. Other locals we’ve met have been great also willing to share their knowledge and time explaining it to us. Southern Hospitality again? I don’t know but it’s a pleasure to be a stranger he...

11-20   Last Evening I was asked by a friend back home if I were doing the trip again would I go down the river again or take the Great Lakes out to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a good question because I have thought the same thing for years. I have to admit that I’ve heard horror stories from people who have gone both ways. We have met people who’ve gotten stuck in a broken down Erie Canal and had to have their boat lifted and trucked to the Atlantic. More horror stories than you can imagine about the river system and after doing it I would say that there mostly unfounded. Almost everything looks different in Hindsight What I can say is that the river system at times can be challenging (mostly the Illinois and Mississippi), beautiful and boring. A note to make is that both the Illinois and Mississippi were very flooded when we traveled them . The Illinois River was exciting at first, but just like driving through Illinois north to south it gets very long and boring v...

11-10     Karen and I arrived in New Orleans with Cindy and Grant from M/V As The Crow Flies. We checked into French Market Inn and started exploring the city. The weather was sunny and 75 degrees. The first thing I noticed was all the activity, people everywhere action at every corner. The second thing I noticed was the smells of the city. Everything from horse manure to last nights vomit still hiding away in the cracks of the sidewalk. Street performers put on a show for us and about 60 others. According to Cindy and Grant they were on America’s Got Talent. I have to admit they were entertaining to watch and everyone had a great time. Street performer jumping over bystanders Shots in the barbers chair  As the day went on we ate a late lunch and found ourselves on most of the streets in the french quarter. I’m somewhat amazed by the number of young pan-handlers on the street. From our observations they spend time down by the Mississippi River during...

Early Morning Fog 11-2       Monday morning we left our last anchorage on the river system and yesterday we finished our last lock. About 1/2 mile above the lock we spied (with the help of our Canadian friends) a Razorback swimming across the river, Karen was able to get a quick picture of it. It’s been cool down here. While anchored in the Tensaw River we actually awoke to ice on the boat. To me it’s hard to believe that the alligators can live in this weather, however the water is close to 70 degrees. Our trip from the Tensaw to Mobile was uneventful. After the past 2 months on the rivers I knew it was rural but I didn’t realize how rural. Approaching Mobile we noticed the distant rumble to jets. This sound seemed so foreign now. When back in Elgin low flying jets passed over our house constantly. After the rural rivers the Port of Mobile shipping area was incredible. It made the Cal-Sag look like childs play. Cool Morning on the Tensaw River ...