Shakedown Cruise

It has been said that the hardest part of cruising is the actual casting off of the lines from the dock. After years of preparation we finally left Waterford Harbor Marina in Kemah, Texas on March 21,2001.

Most folks take at least one trip for the shakedown, to check that all systems work correctly. We decided that the shakedown could take place as part of our cruising, so we headed for our first overnighter to Lake Charles, LA. Everything worked great and held up well except for me.

After reading an article in Tell-Tales, Bob came to the conclusion that Lake Charles was 18 hours out from Waterford Harbor going outside. After our Bolivar anchorage, we calculated 12 or so hours from there. Allowing extra time for problems and in order to arrive at daybreak we left Bolivar at 3:30 pm. I had dreaded the overnight trip from its conception because I hate fighting sleep. Little did I know that fighting sleep would be much easier than fighting seasickness. I'd never been on the open water in a small boat. We were tossed around in a corkscrew motion all night by the blackest water I've ever seen. There was no moon and it clouded over hiding the stars. Mother Ocean was merciless that night and I have never spent a more miserable one.

Finally daybreak arrived! If you magnified the beauty of this sunrise a thousand times, it would not look as beautiful as it did to me that morning.

Visiting Lake Charles, LA

Lake Charles was a nice stop for us after spending many months working on boat repairs/modifications. They have a very nice Boardwalk that runs the entire side of the lake. Great for long walks when we were there but I wouldn't recommend it for hot or bad weather days as it offers no protection from the elements.

Anchorage

Tied up to seawall. Not bad if you don't mind the many curious people walking along the Boardwalk. One couple even asked if they could go below to see our boat.

Services

Nothing available except for trash cans.

Restaurants

Pujo Street Cafe is two blocks from the front of the Civic Center. It is on the corner of Ryan and Pujo Streets. The food was very good and the price fair. The atmosphere was nice bordering on fine dining. The wine was quite pricey. Would recommend for a nice dinner.

There is a breakfast cafe (Mary Ann's ??) one street north of Pujo and no more than two blocks down.

Montana's Smokehouse is next door to the Best Suites of America that you will see to the north from the seawall. The food is ok and reasonably priced.

Harrah's Casino (less than 1/2 mile from seawall) had two restaurants and was adding another one. We didn't eat at any of them. The dinner buffet was $16.95 per person, higher at the other.

Other

Library: contrary to what they told us at the visitors center, there is a downtown library. It is on Pujo and Bilbo streets; three blocks from the front of the Civic Center. They were closed by the time we found them, but the genealogy section was open. According the the librarian there, the main section does have internet connections available.

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