The Voyage of the Nellee, trip to New Orleans
S.S. Nellee
August 15, 1961
We set out for our cruise to New Orleans at 3:30 P.M. after being delayed while Granddaddy replaced a gasket or two. Crew for the trip included: W.J. Howard, Captain; J.S. Tiller, First Mate and Navigator; N.H, Tiller, Chief Cook; and cabin crew, Susan Tiller, Jimmy Tiller and Sarah Howard.
We left Grandmommy and Margaret to care for little Steve and John, Jr. By the time we reached Swift's Landing most of the gear had been put away and we were beginning to look more "ship shape" than when we left Boggy Branch. We took on 200 lbs of ice and 100 gallons of gas at Swift's Landing and Granddaddy stopped to tighten the motor where he had replaced the gaskets.
7:30 P.M. Anchored beyond the dauphin Island Bridge for the night in a choppy sea. We're having lots of lightning and wind, but no rain. For supper we ate sandwiches, fruit salad and milk while traveling. During supper we sighted an ocean liner come out of Mobile Bay.
August 16, 1961
We were up at 4:50 A.M. and started on our way soon after. Breakfasted in route. Very sleepy crew this morning although we all slept well. There was a cool breeze most of the night in the Mississippi Sound, but we did quite a bit of rocking and rolling most of the night, and I don't mean dancing.
We sighted the tugboat Jake which we had seen coming through the canal one time on the way to the beach. We also saw the Bud S.
At 8 A.M. we came upon the lighthouse at Round Island and stopped for a swim. We were already very hot and glad to get cooled off. The island by the light house was protected by a rock wall and we all struggled climbing over the moss-covered rocks. The children found shells and we looked inside the abandoned lighthouse. On the return trip across the rocks, Nellie slipped and cut her foot and hand, and Jimmy got a scratch on his ankle.
Around 11:00 A.M. we came to Biloxi and followed up the coastlines a ways. The Buena Vista was still there where Nellie and Jim spent their honeymoon, but a whole new section had been added in front. We anchored a bit beyond the hotel and all had another refreshing swim. Dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy, and apple salad was served soon after.
We anchored at 8:00 P.M. tonight in Lake Pontchartrain. We had our supper while traveling with Daddy and Jim raking turns driving. We began coming in bridges and dredging crews, etc. We may not have done everything just so but we got through in spite of all the horns tooting, etc. Now we know that four toots means you are in trouble at least some of the time. Things are very inconsistent on the water.
August 17, 1961
New Orleans, La.! We woke up at our usual 5:00 A.M. and got under way. Since we were only 10-15 miles from N.O. we began seeing things shortly after breakfast. Everyone was in good spirits as he donned his fanciest shorts. The children had their money ready before breakfast (6:00 A.M.) Everyone set to work scrubbing and cleaning the Nellee so that she would be dressed up too. In the canal we have seen every kind of boat; ferry boat, submarine, amphibian, freighters, barges, tugs, and all sorts of working boats. They had to open two bridges for us, and we're getting used to the tooting and sirens. Switzerland, Germany, South America, Israel, England, Norway, Maracaibo, Green and of course many American freighters. At one of the docks near Canal Street we saw the S. S. President, the sight-seeing boat. Now we are waiting at the intercostal waterways locks. We didn't have to wait long coming through, but we have been here quite a while this time. We found no place to dock on the river so were advised to return to Lake Pontochartrain Yacht Basin. Hope we don't run out of gas.
It was only a half hour before we were through the locks and we located a repair dock on the other side where we docked to get information. The name of the dock was the Canal Marine Shop across the canal from the Galvez Street Wharf. They told us we could tie up here until 6:00 P.M. and could get gas at the shop right next to them. We got all cleaned up again and climbed across two boats to the dock where we called a cab. It was almost 1:00 by the time the taxi dropped us off at the A and G Cafeteria. We had a most delicious meal, and of course, the children took too much food. There were 3 desserts almost untouched, but I think they were satisfied that they had each gotten just what they wanted. And we were all so hungry when we went in !
We left the cafeteria and struck out for the dime stores first to buy the presents for the crew at home. After many lengthy and painstaking decisions, we made the necessary purchases and were off to see the French Quarters. The children enjoyed the Wildlife museum and the Cabildo with the rooms for the First World War, the Civil War, and the Battle of New Orleans, the Napoleon Room, the Steamboat room, and the prison of the pirate, Jean Lafitte. I think the children were more impressed with the artists sitting around painting portraits than anything else. We stopped at Hinky A and P store and bought supplies. In front of the store we hailed a checkered cab and gave instructions for returning to the Nellee. We cast anxious glances across the bridge on the canal hoping our boat was still there safe and sound. She was waiting and we were glad to get aboard, put away supplies, look at our purchases and change to our "boat" clothes. We took on 85 gallons of gasoline (35 cents a gal.) and filled the water tank. Our destination was somewhere in the canal and just before the Mississippi Sounds. It is cloudy and was raining off and on today.
August 18, 1961
We dropped anchor in a little cove at the end of the canal. The whole way we were in and out among the tugboats, and had some difficulty reading all their lights. We envisioned being squashed between two of them, but we dodged them somehow. It was the calmest, coolest night we have spent. We slept a but later and didn't get started until 6 A.M. Jimmy fell asleep at 5:30 the night before supper, and Sarah went to sleep pretty soon after dark. Both slept in their clothes and Jimmy was the last one up in the morning. S ight-seeing really wore them out.
We ran into rough water as soon as we going into the Sound, and we've been hitting "bell-ringers" ever since. The boat is wet all over even though the sun is shining. At 8:30 we were out from Bay St. Louis. I don't think we'll make Boggy Branch tonight. We're hoping to get to calmer water soon. Dramamine was offered around this morning. This is the roughest we've had it, but the Nellee is taking the waves well.
3:00 P.M. Had such rough weather the cook resigned. Everything fell off the shelves - impossible to do anything. The water line pulled loose and we lost all of our water - in the bottom of the boat. At 1:30 we got to Biloxi and got more water and some gas. Then we crossed over to Deer Island and anchored while we ate dinner. First mate Jim washed the dishes , and we're heading back out to the Sound again.
8:15 P.M. Had a nice calm afternoon from Biloxi to Dauphin Island. We had prepared ourselves for the worst, but were pleasantly surprised. The children had a morning swim, but missed the afternoon dip. We were very much afraid we couldn't get to the other side of the Mississippi Sound to anchor for the night and we didn't want to be in that rough water again. So we made no more stops. WE anchored just off Dauphin Island. Everyone took a foot bath in the wash tub and went to bed. Sarah, Susan, and Jimmy gave us a dramatic production in 5 acts before we got to Dauphin Island.
August 19, 1961
We spent a rough night in the Sound. Mostly it was very windy, but the waves rocked and slapped at the boat all night. This morning we had huge waves from the time we got to Dauphin Island Bridge until we crossed Mobile Bay. Breakfast got cooked, but no one could eat it. Everything is on the floor again.
8:20 A.M. We're in Bon Secour Bay now and it is still rough. At least everything is looking familiar now.
10:00 A.M. Passing Frederick's Landing now. Tired crew, but they're all happy to be getting home. Was a might good cruise with lots of memories.
Log Keeper
N.H. Tiller
Crew:
Captain: W. J. Howard
First Mate: J. S. Tiller
Galley Cook: Nellie Tiller
Passengers: Sarah Howard
Susan Tiller
Jimmy Tiller
