From our on the scene reporter:
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Just getting light enough I can see my keyboard and the action outside. First
logbook entry for 9/1/08 is: 0530. Captain's up; coffee's on. Davis weather
station shows winds of around 15 kts though as I look up at the tree tops it's
much higher there and the clouds are moving briskly from the NE. Scattered
showers. Nothing heavy yet. Barometer reads 28.44. All day yesterday, it
pumped as it dropped slowly but at 2300 last nigh it made a straight plunge
and continues to do so.
Water's up a little but not much. Took a benchmark depth reading of 13.6'.
Present wind's keeping Lake Ponchartrain relatively steady but as the wind
clocks and increases, we look to see it make a fairly quick rise.
I know, I know, I know; we should have already potty-trained the Cowboy but we
didn't and he isn't. Guess I should strap on my .357 and head for his pooh
ground--the only high ground around-- and get his business over with before
the torrential rain and high winds set in. I'm going to let it get a little
lighter outside so I can keep an eye out for alligators. The Cowboy would try
to stand them off, little devil.
Don't know if I described our situation but the trees to the NE of us are
about 100 yards away and form a great shield. As the wind clocks to the east
and increases we pick up the greatest fetch- maybe 250 yards. Think that'll be
the bumpiest ride. Nexrad showing belts of yellow rain- not too bad. Ship's
radar beam is almost useless because of the trees but we do see the odd cell
when they get close. No TSTM's yet. From the Nexrad it appears the eye is
currently south of Timbalier Bay-- about 80 miles from us-- but that distance
will shrink as it draws abeam.
0757: Well, as a sage individual once said, "If you've got to swallow a frog
today, it's best to do it first thing in the morning." Neither the Cowboy nor
the Captain had a big frog appetite this morning but I sensed a window of
opportunity and rassled him into the dink. Hit every snag and anchor line on
the way over to his high ground. Never have I EVER seen him do a 1 and a 2 in
shorter time, about 8' from the dink. Both of us got back soaked to the bone
and I took that moment, while already soaked, to snug up the lines which had
stretched over night.
Teri had the water hot and the shower felt GOOD. Since my retirement, I've let
my hair grow into a presentable pony tail. It's not so much a comb-over as a
stretch over. This part of the narrative will not be of interest to men but
ladies, we've gone mission-critical on hair conditioner. That's the last time
I shampoo till we get back; darn near impossible to brush. Thought I hadn't
got the soap off my body until I realized we had filled the tanks with RO
water now. Makes wonderful ice cubes as well.
Oh, and the water at the Cowboy's "drop zone" was up about 2 feet so I have my
bench mark.
Winds clocked to about 075 and it's up to 25 measured at 20' above the
waterline. The storm should be at its closest proximity to us in 2-3 hours.
Tree tops're just a swinging although there's no sense of motion on the boat
other than an occasional tap against the fenders. Glass at 29.39 and trending
down much faster.
Thawing out some venison country sausage we made during Fay. Sausage and
biscuits. Yumm.
Let me get this out while we still have email capabilities.
Regards,
Larry and Teri
M/V Cigano, 47' Prairie Sundeck Cruiser
Lying: 64 Cypress Road
********* Covington, LA
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