>---LAKE BASH on Lake Maurepas, Baton Rouge, La - Sept 12, 2009

Keven R.
I've got your email address. I'll send you the info on the Lake Bash in Sept. in Baton Rouge. I've got more info than we talked about today. I need to put it on the site soon.

If you want just the hotel info for now:

Microtel in Ponchatoula 985-370-7378

Hampton Inn in Hammond 985-419-2188

John M.(not sure of last name) to rent Thunder Bayou-cabins (mobile) 225-802-6290. Call John first.
Thunder Bayou cabins(direct to office) 225-675-3621
Boat slip rental 225-413-5006 mention to John first to see if he has any info.

Boat launches
If you want to be able to use a launch on Lake Bash day, you'd better get there early, say by 1000am latest. I've been at 1100am and their full-no more parking.

Bring water sandals, etc. for the Bash, generally good sandy bottom but you never know when you'll find something sharp, or a few clamshells in certain areas.

If you stay in Pontchatoula or Hammond, you'll launch on the Tickfaw Marina Launch on Hwy 22, or the Public Launch across the river also on Hwy 22, go down the Tickfaw past The Prop Stop and cross the lake from the north end to reach the Bash on the south end of Lake Maurepas. If you stay in the cabins on the Diversion Canal, you'll come out of the Diversion/Blind River, pass the Blind River Bar into the south end of Lake Maurepas closer to the Bash on the southern west side of the Lake. I've never stayed in the Cabins so I can't tell you much about them, except the phone numbers are listed in the other post.

If these two launches would be booked up, you could always go to "Canal Banks" launch 15 or so miles SE down Hwy 22 and the Diversion Canal. You'd come out into the Lake from the Blind River on the South end from here also.

Maps
If you want an incredible map of the area, all the water ways, showing boat launches, restarants and bars on the water, whether each one has gasoline or a launch at that site, go to RiverRatRob.com to order them. It's the one called the 2007 Useful Boaters Map. You've never seen a map like this one, and probably never will elsewhere. Has many GPS coordinates, distances between points, phone numbers, etc. The front side is Lake Maurepas with all the rivers and canals, Diversion Canal, Amite River, Blind River, etc. The back side is Lake Pontchartrain. Invaluable if your not familiar with the area. Tell him Cap'm Kurt from Lake Charles sent you.

If you want just a list of GPS coordinates of all the bars, restaraunts, lauches, with all their phone numbers, this map is called "The Official River Rat Map". I don't know if this one is listed on the site but you can contact Rob Arrington(River Rat Rob) on his website by email, or Rob@riverratrob.com. One side is a simple lake map but the back side has all this information listed in tables. Nice for putting the coordinates in your GPS. It's an older map I believe.

Who's all's going to the Lake Bash this year from the Lake Charles area. And a run to the Prop Stop is always a good time.

I've been asked for some GPS coordinates for the Lake Bash. Here they are:

Canal Banks 225-698-9074 N30 15.052 W90 46.428
boat launch on Diversion Canal


Hilltop launch 225-698-6713 N30 30 15.347 W90 46.933
west of Canal Banks on Diversion Canal(steep launch, but otherwise good)


Thunder Bayou 225-675-3621 N30 13.552 W90 44.374
rental cabins and fuel store


Blind River Bar N30 13.527 W90 39.675
and restaurant

Lake Bash sand bar N30 14.450 W90 34.839


Mouth of Tickfaw river N30 20.407 W90 28.674
on Lake Maurepas


Prop Stop on Tickfaw river N30 21.459 W90 28.938

Sunbuns 985-386-5411 N30 17.597 W90 24.278
(bar/restaurant on east
side of Lake Maurepas)

Rules of the Road(or Lake)

Here's some tips on the Lake Bash(from experience)

Finding your friend's boat:
There are usually a lot of boats(sometimes close to 1000 boats). If you drive your boats to the bash all together - no problem. But if you go separately, and it's not early, say close to noon or later, it may be difficult to find them even if they tell you about where they are. My advice is to have some kind of plan to meet up somewhere just in case your cell phones don't work or you just can't find them. Like going to the front of the stage(barges where the band plays) every hour on the hour until you meet up.

Shoes for the bash:
Water sandals - bring em. Area is generally clean, but one cut can mess up the day. It's sandy with some clamshells on the north side.

Crab traps:
On Lake Maurepas there's lots of em if you cross the lake. Look out for them.

Tying up at the bars:
At the bars on the water the boats tie up to the wharfs facing out, not sideways. If you don't want to bump the back end of your boat rub rail against the pilings, bring a noodle or throw cushion with ropes, whatever fits your boat.

John N, we had hoped to leave Lake Charles at noon Friday, but Angelle(and I believe Rhonda) have school in-service meetings. Required to attend but she will find out next week if she can take off around lunch.

Won't be long now. 14 days and counting.

Wife can get off work by around 1100 on Friday before the Lake Bash. So we should leave around 1200 to 1230.