Red Skies in the Morning!

January 4 – Thursday I went on deck to watch the sun come up. The sky was covered with what looked like swirls of cotton candy or pink frosting tipping the clouds. The sun was an array of gold, purple, red and pink. The geese were honking and crows were cawing. What a great day be alive and experiencing this! However – even though I did not say it – I did think it - Red Skies in the Morning……….

Victor and Lionel were next up and about. Lionel fixed breakfast; sort of an egg pie, using the left over rice pilaf from dinner.Then time to get “two ton” up. She jammed, they worked, her flukes were hooked up on the bow, they worked, finally she was up, but not quite straight. The decision was made to leave her alone and get underway. Off we go.

Two minutes later, we lost steering again. Hydraulic belt broke. The Captain with his usual expertise got us to the side of the river again, but oops! The anchor that was left alone had her shank twisted in the pipe and was stuck. Could not get her loose. We had a tug coming down river behind us and were drifting backwards with the current. After loosing a boat pole (damn thing was supposed to float – not that we could have retrieved it anyway) Lionel finally used a pipe and sledgehammer to bang her out. Secure at last!

I am sure the Capt. will give the technical terms for what took place in repair – that is all magic and a bit over my head. In all the excitement, Lionel dropped his glasses in the anchor well. He had to climb down and retrieve them. Never a dull moment! We were underway again at the crack of 12:30PM. I guess what they say about Red Skies in the morning is not just a saying!

We made Louisville without any further mishaps, attempted to get fuel and tie up for the night at Wooten’s Marine Service. They refused us – only service commercial vessels. After a call for help to a restaurant on the river - The Captains Quarters, the bartender Dan (speaking to Ray) directed us to Heathers a few miles back, actually in Prospect, KY. The Capt. made a U-turn and we were on our way. Shortly after we tied up, Mr. Dan the owner of Heathers and Ray Medley (he was the one to called Mr. Dan for us) came down to the dock to meet and help. Another River Angel comes to the rescue. What great people!

Just after taking on fuel, Mercedes (generator) quit. The guys once again were in the engine room working away – dinner was put on hold for several hours. Finally got her up and running about the time Ray stopped back by to check on us. He invited us for a trip into town for a drink. We jumped at the chance. We partied until the wee hours; stopped at Ray’s liquor store on the way back to replenish our supply of anti-freeze, then to his house for several bags of ice from his icemaker!

Although the rest of the crew is still snuggled in their bunks, I bet they won’t feel a whole lot better than I do; but it was all worth it. We met some terrific people at Cunningham’s, a small restaurant and bar on Harrods Creek.

Just heard a tapping on the hull, lo and behold it was Randall who works for Mr. Dan here to help us finish fueling. Achievement has a hearty appetite; she took on 350 gallons last night and is still hungry this morning.

It’s foggy out, but Randall told me it would burn off by 11 or so. Not sure if the Capt. will leave – though I think there may be enough visibility to do so. Only 2000 miles more to go – wonder what today will bring?