Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve. Other than it being cold it doesn’t seem possible that it is Christmas already. Not sure what happened with our Santa Clause boiler guys – I don’t think the heat is working as it was. Had to fire up my little electric heater last night, and even with that my cabin did not get above 57 degrees. Brr!

We have spent our first night on the hook. We anchored at Cluster Island, West Va. Yep! Not in PA any longer. We crossed the state line late yesterday afternoon. We are on the West Va. Side of the river and Ohio is on the other. The river is the state line between the two.

Our departure time was about 12:30 or so, a little later than the anticipated 10:00. The Captain slept in. Lionel finally had to roust him. The plan discussed last evening over our champagne toast was who ever got up first would turn on the coffee; we’d leave at daylight and have breakfast underway, after we go thru the next lock a couple miles away. I volunteered to put on the coffee when I got up – but was declined. (Obviously 5 or 5:30 AM was not a satisfactory time to get coffee going) Let’s see who will be up next, and who will wake who. These guys are a riot!

Casting off yesterday was very emotional for me. I think it was a bit for the guys too, but they were more into the mechanics of getting under way. Mr. Bolea’s sons, Bob and Randy and grandson. Eli came to see the boat a last time and bid us farewell. Randy took photo’s while Bob with Capt. Bob fiddled in the engine room. Gregg and his girl Kristen came by to wish us well; unfortunately he could not join us thru the first two locks as he had planned.

Bob Bolea offered to come thru the first lock, everyone manned their stations, the engines fired up, and Achievement’s chains were cut free. She actually did have chains securing her to the dock. Seems one time the river rose and her lines rose with the water over the pilings (some 20 feet or so) as she slowly and quietly drifted away. The Mr. Bolea got a call from a tug caption to tell him Achievement had gone for a “walk”. They towed her home and secured her tightly with chains. It was a wonderful to see the chains gone. I swear she shuttered in delight! As Capt. Bob turned her about to head for her new home there was a commotion on shore. Gregg and Kristen were shooting off fireworks, waving and hollering farewells, Capt. Bob was proudly at the wheel, Lionel was blowing Achievements wonderfully unique train horn and she was free at last! It was an awesome moment. To think that this boat was conceived in 1956 as Leon Bibber’s dream, he welded her exterior and placed his heart at her core, but sadly never got to realize the dream of the two of them taking a journey together. Lou Bolea did not come to bid her farewell, (I think it would have been too difficult for him) but I know he did so from his window, he too, a man who was captured by her, fell in love with her (warts and all) dreamed of being able to travel with her, but after 25 years had to finally let the dream go. Here we were bringing the dream of two men to life almost 50 years later. I truly believe this boat was always meant to be Bob’s. He is truly the only other person that would really feel and understand her as her creator and her caregiver for all these many years did. I am really humbled to be a small part of this proud boat’s history, especially the part that set her on the water, cruising the river which was her destiny from the beginning. Bob was just the one to make it happen. I believe Mr. Bolea knew that as well, which is why he very reluctantly gave her up to him. What a momentous occasion! Finally! Achievement on her way, leaving behind a town that had grown so accustomed to her being there. Can you picture her in the middle of the river, her neighbors on shore waving, the fanfare of fireworks, and her horn shouting a goodbye and thank you to all those that had worked on her, spoke of her and made up stories about her? - And yes – a final thank you to Lou Bolea who let her go. Yep – I cried.

Well the sky is now getting light and the kids are all nestled in their bunks with visions of the next lock and the adventure in their heads. Guess I’ll have to roust them, or we’ll never get Achievement home. More later!