Day Four, L'Auberge du lac Resort, Lake Charles LA - Thursday, August 11, 2016

Cap'n Herb likes a diesel tank kept topped off, so we spin around for a port tie at the Port Arthur Yacht Club marina's fuel dock.  An old salt named Larry comes to visit as Herb is reading the self serve pump. Larry lives aboard a small tugboat tied nearby, and says he is a construction inspector.   What?  There's no fuel?  So off to Lake Charles to go and hope there's fuel.

Going back across Sabine Lake, we take the exit to the north, which is a shorter way to the Intracoastal Waterway, or ICW.  Here again we steer to keep in the boat road and off any submerged pilings that may lurk below the water.  Goodness Gracious!  There are tons of fish trap buoys here. Thinking about it, shrimp in these waters are caught by dragging a net, so there is lots of good eatin' here.  There are shrimp traps everywhere, everywhere and it takes some careful watching to stay off them.

My friend Pearl thinks of everything.  Realizing we are somewhat confined on the boat, and won't get to shore often for our walks, she brings a tote full of exercise equipment.  Joe secretly points to her and says, "Willie, get the camera."  I hope she does not kill me.  Or starve me.  The gym is open.   Pearl has her green ankle band on and gets a few steps. 

"If it's a barge, it must be the ICW!"  We have cruised barge-free on Sabine Lake, but as we approach the exit from the lake, we see our clue that tells us the ICW is ahead.  

Lots of fishing going on today in the ditch, as we sometimes call the ICW.  Small boats head into pull-outs to fish, but there are many shrimp traps on the edge of the channel.  We see a guy checking his traps, pulling one up to see if he has anything.  Oh, he keeps it aboard, and I see him reach for his ice chest.  So he must like what he sees.

Well, how wonderful!  We have flat calm waters, not that we have bounced much today, but nice to see.

I ask Herb to stage the gym.  He holds the green stretch band beside the arm stretchers.  Pearl had demonstrated the middle one with the hand bars, and says the larger gray one on the right is stronger.  I will start with the blue one.

Along the way Herb asks me to call the marina to make a reservation for the evening and ask if they have fuel.  I speak to Katy, who tells me the price of the slip and puts me on hold, then I lose the call.  I call back and get Elisa, who takes my information and asks for a credit card.  All good.

We anticipated arriving at the L'Auberge du lac Resort's marina at 4:10P, but are a little early.  Wow!  How beautiful, and we knew it would be.

We again need to move one fender to the starboard and spend some time tying and re-tying lines to secure On Your Mark.  Then I walk up the ramp to get some photos.

Something I learn about Pearl today is that she enjoys cooking during cocktail hour, so she gathers all her ingredients for Chicken Spaghetti and begins dinner.  As much as I enjoy my cocktail, the aroma from the galley calls to me and I can't wait for my next meal.  Prep time takes a while, but baking in her oven requires only 30 minutes.  By this time, wine glasses are filled and we sit down to a scrumptious dinner.

Mushrooms -- Yum!

Find On Your Mark....

Willie of Willie's Tug,
   and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
   Thursday, August 11, 2016