ICW Adventure East and South

B

Bill and Brenda Russell

New member
In January 2007 my twin brother Ed and I plan to launch at Shreveport, LA on the Red River. The three weeks adventure following the ICW will take us from Shreveport, LA Morgan City, New Orleans, Carrabelle, Steinhatchee, Crystal River, Tarpon Springs, Fort Myers, Lake Okeechobee, Stuart, and on to Key West My son Dr. Bill and Brenda will pick us up somewhere along this route.

Ed is a retired chemist and now a landlord who cruised with me on a Mississippi River Adventure traveling 1,100 miles in fourteen days. Those miles were difficult because of fuel in availability.

Brenda, my first mate will remain landlocked because it is a mile to far. She will post our location periodical on the C-Brats site encouraging members to post helpful information to keep us out of harms way and just maybe some experienced member may want to join us along the way.

The Adventures of Bill and Ed aboard "Falcon".

Bill and Brenda Russell
 
Bill, stop in and see us here in Apalachicola! You are welcome to use my slip in the Marina if you like . It sounds like a great adventure .
Marc
 
I once put in at Vicksburg thinking I would do the Mississippi... it looked like a mud flow with trees and junk popping up around me....I had thought about going down, but decided against it due to the lack of fuel along the way.... I am impressed that you did it... I went to the Army Corps. of Engineers building there and bought the map book....Wow, what a bargin.... $25 for a huge book of charts....
Instead I trailered on to Biloxi and stayed there....and enjoyed the Gulf Islands.... wonder what is remaining of those ?? If that fort is still there..
Neat Place.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Bill – I will be looking forward to you and your brothers reports and photos of the cruise. I am across the country and will probably never get there, but never-the-less like to dream.
________
Dave dlt.gif
 
Bill-

Good luck on your adventurous travels! Hope you and your brother Ed have a great time and can be joined by Brenda along the way. We'll be waiting for news here on the C-Brats website.

It was great corresponding with you on the boarding ladder project last year, and then meeting you and Brenda at the Boat Show and C-Brat Convention in Seattle.

Getting folks to come to the get-togethers is a great way to extend our friendships and fun!

Good Luck!!!


Joe.
 
Hey guys,
Sounds like a really great adventure. We will be traveling along the West Coast of Florida from mid-January till the end of February. Hope to see you along the way and share some adventure stories. I did the Stuart to Key West to Ft. Myers route last winter in a sailboat. Because of our draft and mast height, we went outside at the Lake Worth Inlet and didn't come back in until Biscayne Channel. Then outside again at Angle Fish Creek all the way to Key West. With the C-Dory's draft you can stay inside and north of the Keys for as long as you want. The Skipper Bob books provide great info on the route, marinas and anchorages... they are a must have. Have fun and let us know how you're doing.
 
Bill --
You might want to take a look at some of the pages on the Halcyon Days website that pertain to your route to 'see' some of the alternative cruises along your route. Enjoy your trip and we look forward to your tale.
 
Day 1--Sunday, December 31, 2006--Mile 0--2:55 PM
N32° 30.918 W093° 44.512

We launched at Shreveport, LA on the Red River.
Light wind, 55° sunny

Bill and Ed are spending the night on the C-Dory "Falcon" tied off in Shreveport, LA. Tomorrow they are off down the Red River headed southeast towards Alexandria, LA.

The Adventures of Bill and Ed aboard The C-Dory "Falcon".

Bill and Brenda Russell
 
Bill: I sure hope you had your wits about you and brought along a picture of that wonderful smile you lovely bride shines out for all to enjoy. Will be tracking you closely on this...and who knows... Brigner and I have not made a road trip since I have moved to TN.... so we may pop up somewhere enroute... that little 18Angler tows way easy... and his 25 is way comfortoable, and we both just kinda go where the tides take us...

And... I think I had to have just traveled some of the same waters on the Norwegian Sun.... We used New Orleans port....which had much east/west travel on/about the coastal areas...but all was after dark...and return trip was in a storm with much lightening...and wind blown rain early moring hours making the deck experience less than perfect... But... we may have crossed paths... I am simply not sure of our route...or the exact ICW markings.

Brenda: we will keep him and his brother in our prayers...cause I have no idea who the adult supervision is on this wonderful journey...

Byrdman
 
Be sure and come on up Perdido Bay and spend a day or two at
"Camp Thataway". The truck is available for touring--etc if you wish.

Bob and Marie.
 
Day 2-Monday, January 1, 2007--Mile 69--4:00 PM
N31° 53.349 W093° 12.171

South of Lock # 4 tied off on a sandbar on the Red River.
No wind, 55°,sunny

Tomorrow we plan to continue south to Colfax LA. (where there are showers) and on to Alexandria, LA.

Bill says anyone who wants to join them come on.

The Adventures of Bill and Ed aboard The C-Dory "Falcon".

Bill and Brenda Russell
 
Day 5--Thursday January 4,2007--Mile 119--
N31° 31.522 W092° 43.504
Tied off at boat ramp in Colfax, LA. Have been here since Tuesday due to weather.

Hope things will be so we can launch tomorrow and head south to Alexandria, LA.


The Adventures of Bill and Ed aboard The C-Dory "Falcon".

Bill and Brenda Russell
 
Day 6-Friday, January 5, 2007--Mile 195--5:15 PM
N31° 16.558 W091° 56.677

Finally got away from Colfax, LA. about 7:00 AM.
We got fuel and supplies in Alexandria, LA.

We are tied off to a willow branch on the Red River as sandbars are not visible because of high water.

The Adventures of Bill and Ed aboard The C-Dory "Falcon".

Bill and Brenda Russell
 
Hang in there Bill. When it starts like this...it should get better. Praying for some better weather for you and your Brother. Tracking you on a little map. Be safe.

Byrdman
 
Day 7--Saturday January 6,2007--Mile 289--
N30° 21.760 W091° 38.352

Had a little excitement Friday night tied off to the willow branch. A drift log hit side of boat during night.

Anchored south of I 20 bridge on a sandbar on the Atchapachia River heading to Morgan City, LA tomorrow.

The Adventures of Bill and Ed aboard The C-Dory "Falcon".

Bill and Brenda Russell
 
Great timing Bill! Most of us hit those logs when we are goind down stream at speed....with not so good results at times. But, that more than likely made you jump an inch or two...and, if your brother is near your size...that would have been fun to be a fly on the wall and watch... Two big ol scrapping men jumping cause a drift log bumped them a bit...but inside...I bet it was loud. I recall the sound of a big ol metal nun bouy one night going down river on the Alabama in my 16' Crusier...about 18 knots. Airborne!!! And loud. No major damage...other than to a pair of clean shorts.

Stay safe.

Byrdman
 
Day 8-Sunday, January 7, 2007--Mile 387
N29° 35.935 W090° 42.706

Ran into a few showers this morning.

We are anchored to a very nice park dock in Houma, LA. for the night. Not to far from New Orleans, LA. We expect to make it to New Orleans, LA. sometime in the morning.

The Adventures of Bill and Ed aboard The C-Dory "Falcon".

Bill and Brenda Russell
 
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