New Orleans

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 the day and come into the French Quarter in the afternoon and evening. They also all seem to have dogs as pets. It’s completely legal to carry and drink alcohol in public in the French Quarter. As we passed by the dread-lock encrusted, pot smoking mass on the sidewalk they asked if they could finish our beers. Without a pause Cindy stated they could if we could finish the pot. Very funny because there was no response. We continued walking along ducking into the various bars listening to the many bands playing for tips. Before I knew it I was getting tired of beer and decided to have a mixed drink. I got a “Hand Grenade” the strongest drink in New Orleans they claim. It was good and didn’t seem strong but tasted like the green Sour Patch candy that kids eat. As the night went on and the drink emptied it seemed to get stronger. It really didn’t matter too much because I was used to the taste by then. Anyone who’s ever drank with me knows that hard liquor goes straight to my head and it did. Next thing I knew it I was eating cheap pizza at 1 AM. A time well past Looper Midnight and our normal 10 PM bedtime. I stumbled along as the group walked back to the hotel. Morning came fast as we pre-arranged an early breakfast and touring the next day.

Classic New Orleans

Great Time with Grant and Cindy

More Beer Please

Karen's new boating outfit.

Real Life Drunk Homer.

I read an article today on how to survive a late night on Bourbon Street. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, no shots and eat throughout the night. So we hydrated all day long. I was still a bit under the weather from the previous night.

We went to the National WWII Museum for Veterans Day and listened to the politicians speeches and enjoyed the Marine Corp Band and the Liberty Bells. Cindy stated we walked over 7 miles today. Another night came before I knew it, but I did get a nap. Got to see even more debauchery tonight. I didn’t notice all the strip joints the night before with girls and guys showing their stuff. Bourbon Street reminds me of what the town of Bedford Falls from “It’s A Wonderful Life” would be without George Baily. Nothing but bars, bands and panhandlers. A great place to people watch. Bourbon street is shut down to traffic and the street is flowing with people. Tonight mounted police herded a group of the young dreadlocked panhandlers off the street and yelled that they weren't allowed here any longer. Not sure what happened but the police chased them away. In an Mo-Town music bar Cindy saved Grants life as a shot wielding scantily dressed bar maid grabbed Grants head and was forcibly moving his head and mouth towards her mouth which contained 4 test tube shots of who know what. Cindy put a stop to it quickly before Grant of the bar maid knew what happened. Grant is eternally grateful, I personally would be interested in the results after the shots. Another late night but I’m going to bed better than night #1.

Veterans Day at National WWII Museum

Great Museum. There is a campus of WWII
Museums.

Beautiful Day.

2 Beers and a Deadly Hand Grenade

New Orleans Fire. One Engine No EMS. Busy area

The letter writing begins

Mounted PD waiting to herd Law Breakers.

Day 3 we went to have beignets (New Orleans powdered sugar coated pastry) for breakfast. Very good, I could still be eating them. Then off to New Orleans cemetery #1. This is the oldest cemetery in the city dating back to the late 1700s. They stated that the cemetery house over a thousand but appears to be only about a block in long and wide. Many tombs are in serious disrepair, some with coffins showing. This is the resting place of the famous Voodoo Queen and her tomb has many offering surrounding it. Nicolas Cage also has a tomb here for future use. It’s a white pyramid about 10 to 15 feet high and is really out of place. Tours are given several times a day and last about 2 hours. Karen and I did nothing to stir the dead and found it very sad that much of area is not kept in better condition. At about noon the north wind kicked up and the temperature dropped. It appears that’s the end of the 80’s for a while.

Voodoo Queens Tomb and Offerings

This evening we are joined by Mary Lynn and Greg off of S/V Fracas, more Canadians. Another night of walking trying to find the right band to listen too. We found several but all were very crowded. We finally stumbled into “OZ”. Thought it was a drag show, which it was but it’s also a gay bar. The first 2 acts we saw on stage reminded me of some fireman I worked with dressed in drag. Not a pretty picture. The shows host was a skinny little thing that Karen said was checking me out, not sure about that. Karen said that she wanted a picture to show the kids who their new mom was but didn’t think it was a good idea. As the skinny thing asked for a show of hands who was straight at least we 6 raised our hands and the he-she laughed and made a comment questioning our sexuality.

HOB waiting to see Big K.R.I.T.

Caboose getting in his Maserati

We left New Orleans the next morning in a cold driving rain. We stopped and ate breakfast at the Waffle House. I completed my meal before anyone else even received theirs. The Biloxi Waffle House needs to work on their meal serving. Otherwise the food was good. Upon our arrival at Turner we could see Last Mango up on the hard waiting for a cutlass bearing and a gallon of bottom paint. Last Mango is shining brightly with her new wax job done while we were gone. It was good to be back home and get some much needed rest after 3 1/2 days of drinking and eating out the whole time.

Our Home on the Hard

I didn't get a picture of K.R.I.T. but Karen was
working on her friends here for the after party.

Woke up the next morning to cold a sunshine and 52 degrees inside Last Mango with the heater doing the best it could. The cutlass bearing came in but was the wrong size. Luckily the old one wasn’t too difficult to remove. The paint never came from West Marine so we’ll spend the weekend up on jack stands. Saturday Karen and I went to watch a little Alabama-Mississippi State football at the home of some locals. It was a good time but we couldn’t stay long because we had dinner reservations with Pat and Tim on Bodacious. Tim made a charcoal fire and cooked the pork loins Pat had prepared. The food and company was great and before we knew it was getting late, especially for Loopers.

Evening Meal Time at Turner Marine

Wonderful from all boats

11-16 Today Grant on M/V As the Crow Flies caught a 30 pound Red Drum fishing from his boat and invited a bunch of us for an evening cookout. I made a charcoal fire on the grill and the cooking began. Everyone brought a dish to pass and it was wonderful. As it turns out other cruisers planned a dinner cookout also and there was about 30 people total. Great appetizers, fish and desert. Slept like a baby until 3 AM when the storms rolled through. Lightning and thunder and lots of strong wind straight out of the North. Several tornados hit up North of the bay area but we didn’t move an inch and we’re great.

11-17 The cutlass bearing came in and as it turns out I need to replace the prop shaft also. There was a fair amount of wear on the shaft where it passes through the hull. Talking with the mechanic he stated he’s seen this quite a bit with Island Packets. He believes the shaft wasn’t properly aligned or shimmed from day one. So I removed the shaft and Turner ordered another one which will arrive in a couple of days. We going to stay hunkered down for a few days anyhow due to weather. Lows of 25 degrees the next 2 days. Looks like we’ll spend Thanksgiving here also. The Turner’s throw a Thanksgiving Day dinner each year for the people in the marina. Shortly thereafter we’ll start sailing for warmer Florida. I hope.