It’s New Years Eve Morning. We said goodbye to West Virginia and hello to Kentucky. Ohio is still with us. We are anchored behind Brush Creek Island (Kentucky). What a beautiful spot. It’s very remote and we have no internet or cell phone signal. Best news of all; it is WARM in the cabin. We played cards last night, a game called 31 that Pat and Vic taught us. (Bob and Victor cheated – obviously I lost!) It was so warm that Lionel put on a pair of shorts. We then had a concern that we would not be able to regulate the heat, that it would operate like our oven and we would be found, sometime in the future, having roasted in the galley; but Bob fixed it. It is now a toasty 67 degrees in the Sun Room and very pleasant.
Yesterday was a nice day. Achievement went along with the river currents at about 12 – 13 MPH. (I think that is what the Captain said). It was Patrick’s birthday – good thing his daughter Valerie made a comment on the Blog – or I would not have known. Anyway I made a coffee cake (Yes! Imagine that! I will never be the same after this trip – I am actually cooking and cleaning!) He knew all about it, but I suggested we have the cake in the wheel house while we were underway. When he came up we all hollered “surprise” and sang Happy Birthday to him. Even lit a candle he could blow out. Could he have lived with out it? Yeah! – but is sure was fun.
Yesterday was a nice day. Achievement went along with the river currents at about 12 – 13 MPH. (I think that is what the Captain said). It was Patrick’s birthday – good thing his daughter Valerie made a comment on the Blog – or I would not have known. Anyway I made a coffee cake (Yes! Imagine that! I will never be the same after this trip – I am actually cooking and cleaning!) He knew all about it, but I suggested we have the cake in the wheel house while we were underway. When he came up we all hollered “surprise” and sang Happy Birthday to him. Even lit a candle he could blow out. Could he have lived with out it? Yeah! – but is sure was fun.
Along the river yesterday we saw them loading and/or off loading salt. I missed getting a picture of it. Bob thinks it’s road salt – for snow and ice.
I’m back – we are now underway. About ½ an hour after our target time of 8AM – but we are getting closer. The sunrise this morning was one of the most gorgeous I’ve seen. It was spectacular! Of course you know the saying “red skies in the morning, sailors take warning” – it is now raining.
One of my biggest treats in the morning is watching the guys pull the anchor. Achievement’s windless is a bit cranky; and the combination of her anchor and huge anchor chain and (as happened this AM) boulders – not simply a rock – caught in her flukes it becomes quite a feat. In never fails that the windless will quit, they fix it, then the chain gets hung up, they fix it, then a rock or debris is stuck in the flukes, they fix it, then the anchor is sideways, they fix it, it gets hung up on the bow, they fix it, and finally she is up and we can get on our way. Even with all that, they laugh, tease and congratulate each other for their accomplishments, and the Captain sits in the wheel house at the controls shaking his head. Not sure if it is wonder or dismay. I was thinking this morning that perhaps we should start pulling the anchor the night before. They really are poetry in motion.
I’m back – we are now underway. About ½ an hour after our target time of 8AM – but we are getting closer. The sunrise this morning was one of the most gorgeous I’ve seen. It was spectacular! Of course you know the saying “red skies in the morning, sailors take warning” – it is now raining.
One of my biggest treats in the morning is watching the guys pull the anchor. Achievement’s windless is a bit cranky; and the combination of her anchor and huge anchor chain and (as happened this AM) boulders – not simply a rock – caught in her flukes it becomes quite a feat. In never fails that the windless will quit, they fix it, then the chain gets hung up, they fix it, then a rock or debris is stuck in the flukes, they fix it, then the anchor is sideways, they fix it, it gets hung up on the bow, they fix it, and finally she is up and we can get on our way. Even with all that, they laugh, tease and congratulate each other for their accomplishments, and the Captain sits in the wheel house at the controls shaking his head. Not sure if it is wonder or dismay. I was thinking this morning that perhaps we should start pulling the anchor the night before. They really are poetry in motion.
We should make Cincinnati today. (This time I’m not lying.) Good thing I’m not the navigator! We are planning a stop in Cincinnati. We want to take on water, the Capt. needs a prescription refill and hopefully we will get to do some sightseeing.
Soon as we regain signal I’ll send this off to Cathy to post. Keep your comments coming – the entire crew reads the blog everyday to see what you all are thinking of the trip. It really is a wonderful way to have this experience and feel that all our friends and family are with us. HAPPY NEW YEAR! We Love you! :)
7 comments:
Happy New Year to you all!! So glad the heat stays on and the generator and the boiler, etc. etc. Lionel did you take that sunrise picture? It looks similiar to the one you took off the back of a boat in Korea. Remember that gorgeous one of the storm clouds over the water? That camera you brought back for me doesn't work anymore by the way. Patrick sorry to say this so close to your birthday, but it is over, in the profile picture of you in the wheelhouse with your birthday cake you look just like dad. Love,E
Patrick you did not look like Dad. Elaine is delusional in her old age. Congratulations on the last birthday we can talk about. All of the pictures are terrific, along with blog's recitals it makes you feel like you are on the trip with you guys.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
What a wonderful way to start 2007.
The pictures are great (especially the sunrise). We wish you continued smooth "sailing" ...
Jim and Susan
Happy New Year Guys! We've been following all of your trials and tribulations with sympathy and fustration. With having a few (thousand) boating hours and miles under our belts we know how much work a trip like this can be. Now add to it the untested systems, old equipment, cold weather and you've got for an unbelieveable challenge. We're hoping that the worst is behind you and that now your only job will be getting that 100 miles logged a day. It will be great when you can finally start heading south. Our love and prayers are with you, Carroll and Roberta
Quick Mair - fill that prescription - I know he had to be on drugs!!!!! But couldn't you have all found that out weeks ago? LOL. Have a safe New Year's celebration. Happy B Day Pat. Thanks again for all the pics - and Mair that sunrise was magnificent. Thanks for sharing. Love to everyone. D
Happy New Year to the crew,Ijust got caught up on last 2 days,the blog brings a tear to my eyes how much love people have for Achievement.The hand of God is with you,not to mention the beauty.Thanks for the pics.Ben&I went to the King Mango Strut in Coconut Grove yesterday had a good laugh.Just watching the Rose Parade&logged on to checkon you guys have kept you in my prayers&thoughts,just think of the warming you will enter into the further south you go.Capt take care ,We Love you Buzz&Ben
Happy New Year to all of you. I had to read the new entries eventhough I am dialed up through a cell phone!! Slow..... I could not wait till tomorrow at work. Glad to read all things are in working order. Yes you guys were blessed with Santa Mike. Have a great day! Take care... shalom, Lia
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