Sat Aug. 27 - Started preparations. We also got our normal weekly groceries.
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Got the head sail down, removed the bimini, awnings, & all other covers except the v-birth covers and dodger. |
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Lashed the boom to the deck |
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Lashed down the fore-hatch covers (for Salty's sleeping we left them on) |
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Put out the hurricane lines |
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Lashed the helm cover & taped the instrument covers on |
Sun Aug. 28 - We finished final preparations figuring the winds will be getting up by tonight. Tied the dink to a tree back in the woods after we got all the crossties out (and helped other boats get their lines in order). Also filled all water tanks.
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Cross-tied line to the piling on the other side of the marina |
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Ties going across the marina |
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Lashed down the garbage cans (they still floated away) |
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Put bugout bags in the van (food, files, first aid, water, & bedding) |
Mon Aug. 29 - Watched the track on and off most of the night. Lost power at 3:30 AM, so I lost my link to the track. I had to start watching our wind vanes to check the wind. From our main salon hatch I can see our two vanes but it was easer to check the vane on the boat next to us. Sometime in the morning I went to check the wind and the neighbor's vane was no longer there. About 11:00 AM we saw the wind start clocking to the north, the eye missed us. Life in the boat was mellow and I spent most of the storm outside adjusting lines on all the boats. In the early afternoon Patty wanted to get out of the rocking boat so I took her for a walk. I showed her how to squat with your back to the wind when the gusts came thru and with all the trees snapping off that if she heard a loud snap to start running or I'd be running on her back.
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At the height of the winds, I estimate about 80MPH out of the north. The picture is facing east. |
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The red X is where we are; the blue box is where Patty's Mom's house is. |
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When the wind clocked to the west and started settling down the water started to come in |
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The houseboat at the far end of the entrance channel tried to break away and we had to go out in the storm and save it from bashing anyone else |
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Tue Aug. 30 - With the high water I had to do some swimming to get to some of the lines on boats to adjust them. The wind slowed down so I got the hose out and we were going to use it for cleaning (to save the good water in our tanks) but I had to dive underwater to get it hooked up and turn on the water.
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The garbage-cans floating out to sea |
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This is the same corner of the parking lot that the van was parked |
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There is a finger pier between us and the other boat |
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Our dinks tied in the trees |
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LEFT-Floodwaters almost cresting. RIGHT-Water down to normal levels. |
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Wed Aug. 31 - We got the boat washed off and started trying to save some things floating by. The floating red ant balls were out so you had to watch out for them (and bigger critters too). Found one boat sunk, one boat pulled a piece of sidewalk into the water, a few scratches, and lots of missing awnings and dock boxes.
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All the work paid off, not a scratch. |
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All we had to do is wash off the forest and chase away all the critters |
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Thru Sept. 1 - We tried to get to Patty's Mom's house but couldn't get thru Abita. We saw lots of destruction on the way. Headed out to the observatory to see if it was OK and if they had phones. When we pulled in everyone came out to see if we were OK (we were the last to check in). Used the phones to call my folks in California. Dad was sure glad to here from me. Still couldn't get thru to Patty's Mom.
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Walking on the way up to where we parked the cars |
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Trying to get to the cars |
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About every forth house looks like this |
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Trying to get to get out of the neighborhood, found a route on the forth and last block out |
Fri Sept. 2 - Got thru to Patty's Mon's house, they are fine (Joyce and Bear the dog). We left our bugout 5 gal of water and duffle of food with her and told her we would try to get back with more. When we got back to the marina we started to cleanup. What a mess but at least everything is still standing. Also with the storm gunk and the raw sewage pouring into the marina from the neighborhood the fish started dieing off. I must of scooped and hauled 500lbs of stinky fish in buckets into the woods. A couple of other people helped but some couldn't take the smell so they worked on other cleanup.
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Lots of trees and poles down trying to get to Patty's Mom's house |
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They have cleared the road but you can see how many trees had to be cut |
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Patty's Mom's house came thru without too much damage |
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Just a broken window and some skirting missing |
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The fastest way to loose a sailboat is to leave cloth up |
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Downflooded during the night because of tight lines |
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Took me all afternoon but its floating again |
