Cruise of the Pintail: A Journal

Summer 1932

Summer 1932 This page intentionally left blank summer 1932 / 7 Tuesday, June 6th: The day dawned bright and clear: a good omen for our projected cruise. Bob and I arose early, ate breakfast, packed the “T” model ford, and we’re off at 8:30 o’clock, after bidding farewell to Bob’s folks. Next we stopped at my house and told my folks goodbye, after which we continued on our way. Just out of Dallas a rear casing came off and wrapped around the axle. Our first car trouble, but we soon had it fixed. Late in the afternoon we arrived in Marshall, Texas where Don Horridge lived. Don was to join us and complete the personnel of the expedition. We drove immediately to his home and found him there. As we were spending the night, he arranged an informal party for us. Wednesday, June 7th: Early this morning we left Marshall, bound for Morgan City, homeport of my boat, the “Pintail”. All day long we traveled through hills and swamps and the farther south we got, the more enchanting became the country. We had watched the hills of pine blend into the moss-smothered swamps. Repairing the old Model T 8 / cruise of the Pintail Tonight we had difficulty in locating a place where we could roll up in our blankets and get some sleep. Soon weariness descended on us to such an extent that we deeply considered stopping by the roadside and sleeping in the ford, but a promising side road appeared in the glimmer of our lights and I hopefully drove down its winding way. It led through a mossy lane to the shore of a lake. A wild party was in progress at the camp on the shore. We turned off the road and pulled into a grassy park full of languidly draped oaks and spent the night, the moon lighting preparations for bed. The Pintail at pier in Morgan City summer 1932 / 9 Thursday, June 8th: As the sun arose over the lake and filtered through the trees we got up and under way. After three miles a bearing burnt out. We limped noisily into Jeanerette, only a few miles, and inquired the price of a new installation. The garage attendant quoted a price of $3.85 which we considered too much so we installed the bearing ourselves for two dollars less. Early in the afternoon we arrived at Morgan City, after crossing the Atchafalaya River on a ferry for 35 cents. We drove immediately to the Norman-Breaux lumber mill where the “Pintail” was in the care of Mr. Felix Breaux. He took us to where the “Pintail” was moored at the wharf. She looked very good to me despite the fact that she was messed up inside, needed paint, and had a dead battery. Nevertheless we soon had the ford battery installed and took a trail spin. The motor purred sweetly; I was satisfied. We loaded all our equipment on board, and leaving the ford at the mill for the time being, cruised down Bayou Boeuf into the Atchafalaya and came to rest at the Gulf gasoline dock, where a shower room was at our disposal. (We will remain here while getting ready for the cruise.) Friday, June 9th: Bought cooking utensils, groceries, rope, paint, and brushes, etc., the first thing this morning. Spent the day scrubbing and painting the boat. Rain in the afternoon halted our work. Had supper in a restaurant and spent the night sprawled on the dock. Mosquitoes worrisome. The Pintail on a trailer 10 / cruise of the Pintail Saturday, June 10th: We put five gallons of gas in the boat this morning, and went up Bayou Boeuf to the mill. Here we painted and worked on the boat most of the day. Returned to Morgan City late in the afternoon and after supper promenaded the town and had some beer on tap. Sunday, June 11th: Today we decided to go up Bayou Ramos to Lake Paloudre but on arriving there, we found the entrance clogged with hyacinth and other water plants. We tried for an hour to wedge the boat through, but failing, we decided to fish instead. The fish weren’t biting so we pulled across the Bayou Boeuf, and going ashore through the swamp to some higher ground, we gathered half a bucket of blackberries . We were well raked by brambles before we...