Our destination was the Lake Arthur Yacht Club, about 10 miles North of the ICW on the Mermentau River. Our TMCA friends, Frank and Sue LeGrand had made a special recommendation that we look up Dicky and Dixie Byler, members of LAYC.  They had cruised with the Bylers last Fall and they had also visited the LAYC.

Remember the rudder alarms?  Well I was still getting them as we went to Lake Arthur. I called ahead to Dixie Byler and asked if there was a boat mechanic in the area. She said, "Not really, but we all work on our own boats... someone will surely help. Dicky is down at the Club. I will tell him you called."

The word got out within the club that we were coming in about two hours. Wow, what a reception!

We were greeted by the LAYC Commodore, Bennett LaPointe, in his sailboat at the South end of Lake Arthur, "Hey there motorboat, are you headed for Lake Arthur Yacht Club?"

We cut back to idle so as not to wake our greeter. "Yes, we are looking for Dickey and Dixie Byler," I called back, "Do you know them?"

"You bet.. Dickey is waiting for you... See that sail at the other end of the lake? That's where the yacht club is."

We found our way across the lake and Dicky vectored us to the Candy Cane PVC Marker near the harbor entrance. He came out and helped us tie up.

I explained my rudder alarm problem and how I found that my Starboard rudder mount was loose. All four fastener bolts were loose. I could not tighten any of them, and one didn't even have a nut. Could he find me someone to help? I showed him the loose bolt that had no nut.

"Looks pretty common... Stainless steel..., " he said, "I'll drive you into town, the NAPA Auto Parts may have that bolt."

Off we went... 15 minutes and  $8 later we had  four new bolts, nuts and washers. In another half an hour Dicky had the rudder mount secured.

It was the start of a whirlwind weekend visit. First Happy Hour at the clubhouse, then a fabulous dinner at Nott's Corner Restaurant. On Bennie's recommendation we all had Fried Crawfish and Crawfish Ettoufee.
The Crawfish were large, plentiful, perfectly prepared and best of all, already peeled. Definately a must stop. Rating ****$$+ (that means half way between $$ and $$$).
 

Next day, a Saturday, was a club work day.  We were invited to attend the Barbequed Chicken Feast that Bennett had prepared for the work crew.  The club dues are $20 a month and all members are expected to share the maintenance chores.  They were repairing the piers, painting the clubhouse, and replacing a water shutoff valve box.

Marion and I toured the grounds The scene is very beautiful. A pond behind the clubhouse has cypress, Canadian Geese  and wild Iris. It was surrounded by homes on stilts.

 

I pitched in on the dock repair, and around 4:00 we took the whole crew on a cruise up the Mermentau River. More spectacular scenery... Cypress to the river edge. We went up river for an hour and then came back. We passed by the famous Sporting Club. It  was being restored and was scheduled to reopen  on April 1.

 

Dr Curt Swan at work with a shovel. The famous LAYC single mans boat.

When you visit LAYC be sure and visit on a Friday and plan to spend two nights. That way you  will meet the members.  They are a wonderful and hospitable bunch.