When I left Georgian Bay in September the only real plan I had was to escape winter on the great lakes. I’ve accomplished that.
My original vague plan was to stay on the rivers. Go up to the headwaters of the Alabama River, then down the MS to the Red River, then down through Houma and across to Mobile and north from there. Fun travel, though maybe not in the dead of winter. I wasn’t getting a lot of enthusiasm from potential visitors.
Around the same time that I was arranging insurance during my stay in Peoria my friend David suggested that we head for the Bahamas. And my insurance said no difference in premium. I didn’t need much convincing.
So, new plan.
I’m leaving Escapade here for a month or so. The City of New Orleans train runs overnight from here to Chicago, where I’ll retrieve my car and head home for the holidays.
On return I’ll continue down the MS, then on to FL where I’ll meet David and Laura in early Feb.
Mid-Feb to mid-March we’ll hit the Bahamas.
After that I head north, most likely up the east coast.
I’m excited. I’m not a sun seeker, but it’ll be fun to have company, and I know I’ll eat better and get some needed maintenance tasks done. I spent some time in the northern Bahamas in the 1980s. David was with me for part of that, and he and Laura subsequently cruised extensively in the area. They returned to shore with their three infant children. I know they’re looking forward to returning.
The pictures below were taken today in Mud Creek. The manager here owns Bombay Duck, a USN fiberglass tender built in the 1950s. Small version of Escapade. The cruise ship terminal is interesting, accommodating 50 ft of water level fluctuation. We’re about five feet above record low now, and about 45 feet below recent crests.
Boating Adventures 