Thru the Locks to Rabbit Island

This is the first time I am trying to update the blog from my phone so no telling what it looks like.
Well, the Harvey Lock, New Orleans and Industrial Lock are behind us now. And it was every bit as stressful as I had anticipated. The Harvey Lock wasn't to bad at all. We drove right up and basically got right in after a short milling around period to allow a westbound tug to exit. It was rather tight quarters manuevering btw some empty barges and we ultimately ended up resting against a wooden dockside. In the lock we used a midship line which we hooked to a small permanent bollard. There are 2 to choose from. Pick the upper if you can reach it since they are raising the water level, otherwise you'll have to move lt up midfilling. The lock dumps you out on the mighty Mississippi. Great sights and photo ops (I'll try to get those downloaded asap). The most obvious Katina evidence comes in the form of newly painted/under constrution ad-ons. We did see a number of partially sunken boats and in the downtown wharf area, some peeled back or missing roofs. There's a large dock area near the French Quarter that's collasped.
Now about that !@:&#;x+& Industrial Lock. It appeared we might get right in: we given instructions to drive right up but then entered about an hour long holding pattern just outside and to the right. Finally we went in behind 2 tows, but not before we grounded on what felt like some rocks. That's just the start. While trying to tie up to the port wall, the tow in front of us was still @ full power which spun us completely around. Mea while a dock attendant is waiting on the wall 20' above you waiting to drop you a line. After our perouette, we got alongside, and he dropped the lines (forget your own-you must use these). Tie 1 to the bow-now run like a rabbit and get the one dropped for the stern. You can't handle them both yourself, so the boss man has to leave the helm and handle the bow. They must not be tied off unless you want to be hanging on the wall like the exhibit you feel you are anyway. Now they lower the water so you must allow the lines to feed out. Really, it wasn't that bad???? Live and learn.
Well, with that behind us, we've got the beer on ice and should be anchoring in about an hour @ Rabrit Island.
And to think we could be at the Fletcher family reunion......