May 20


Well I admit I am a day late on the first Post.  But in all honesty if I had started yesterday I would have started out with a few choice swear words then followed by few more even more coarse words.  You see in Feb I tried to book the stay and service time and they said do not worry.  Then when we got there the said, “Every thing will complete I have complete notes and will get them to the right people.  Then Monday this week no problem the guy will be on the boat today or tomorrow at the latest.  Then Thursday morning, “this afternoon for sure and by the way what work do you need done”.  So I was worried when I checked at 2:00 the service manager asked, “what time are you planning to leave at”.  I was smoking mad by the time I got back to the boat.  Dianne went up at 3:15 when the service managed did not show up to provide a promised update.  


in about 15 minutes she showed up with the service manager.  He said he would try after about 1 hour he gave up.  He had tested new part and it gave a new message and he concluded this was not the problem.  His recommendation was keep going and try a marina with better mechanics.  Dianne does not see this as problem so I guess we continue with the button start.  


So yesterday which was suppose to be a start day was spent retraining the rental car, having a really good breakfast so I would not kill the service department and waiting for some magic to happen and have a mechanic arrive on the boat.  So. I guess I did OK as I did not yell at anyone and no one is dead.  


Just for the record the drive out on the 18 was quite but long we arrived about 11 pm and were in bed at 12 but sleep was hard.  I was upset because I tell nothing was done on the boat,  


OK on with today:

  • Up at 6:30 
  • Breakfast of a bagel and coffee from New coffee maker which worked well.
  • Made extra coffee so I could have cups of hot from New thermos during the drive (I had 3 cups)
  • Out at 8:30 no problems
  • Calm winds and good speed all day better in afternoon with the tide.  3.5 ft of tide here as river gets narrow.  
  • Great scenery all way up nice bluffs and mountains
  • Arrived at Marina which is at best a 5 on a scale of 10 but I did not feel the need to kill anyone here


After arrival they had some questions as to what slip I was to be in the first was too small and dock too rocky for Dianne.  So I had to back up to get to the new spot and that was a little rough but nothing was hit or damaged so I think I did a good job.


Also crossed under the AT trail at Bear Mountain Bridge today.  That is lowest point on the trail as was my lowest point mentally during the whole hike.  


Meet the people on the Nest the only boat I have seen on the trip that is a little smaller than our, 24.5ft.  But as we saw them as working yesterday we could not visit we had them over for beer today.  They came over but as they were both positive for Covid stayed outside and visited with us.  They are not real looper as they are “sampling the best spots on the loop and have therefore done more of the loop than we have.  She is a PHD in microbiology so maybe I we see enough of her she can educated me enough that I can stop guessing at processing temperature.  Great people they also have rode from San Diego to St. Augustine Fl I am impressed.  


Stuff seen today:

  • 4 cruiser
  •   42 fishing boats
  • 3 barges
  • 8 trains
  • 2 train tunnels
  • passed under 6 bridges
  • saw another 2 big ones beside us
  • 7 trees flowing down river trying to sink us
  • West Point 
  • 6 power plants


Heard on the Radio

Boat Radio “Hey barge south of bridge.  I need to pass and would like directions”

Barge: “Cruiser on my stern. Pass on my starboard  so your port is on my side on my starboard side”

Boat Radio “ So you want me to pass on your right and my left”

Barge: Not a sound.  My bet is his possible thoughts were:

  1. How much damage will I do If I hit him.  
  2. Maybe if I sink him the coast guard will say thank you?
  3. I pushing a load of petroleum what are the odds I will survive the fire
  4. Did this guy take any boating course at all.
  5. I could say “yes”, I could say “F*** yes” I could say not “sure it is starboard and Port” what is right and left.
  6. OR “HEY Buddy I am DRIVING HERE” 






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