Today (Monday, Labor Day) was a story of difficulty, kindness, and triumph. We were towed to Bumpus Mills Marina last night by the good folks from Green Turtle Bay, arriving at 9:00 p.m. There was not a soul to be found. We tied up Blue Heaven at the end of a dock, finished the paperwork with the tow guys, and turned in for the night on board without any shore power or supper. Didn't need air conditioning; it was very pleasant. The best money I ever spent was my membership in BoatUS, sort of a AAA for boaters. The big benefit is unlimited free towing when you're disabled. Last night it saved us $1,585.00.
We rose before dawn this morning, hoping to get an early start but suspecting the marina wouldn't open for business until at least 7:00, which was right. When the owner, Wally Horn, showed up, we were ready to crank up the boat and pull around to the gas pump. Apparently, however, our use of the running lights and an interior light during last night's tow had drained the batteries, and the engines wouldn't crank. So we had the borrow a charger and charge the batteries for a while. Then we were able to crank the engines and top off the fuel tanks, and Wally and his wife, Vica, were very helpful and courteous. They have been operating the marina for 24 years and are ready to retire. They even asked if we wanted to buy it, but it's a little out-of-the-way!
By 9:30 we were underway, headed for Clarksville and maybe even Ashland City with luck. A couple of miles up river toward Dover, both engines began to miss and sputter badly. Wally was a great guy, but I'm afraid his fuel is contaminated with water, a common occurrence along the rivers and lakes, we're told. We limped the 12 miles into Dover and tied up at a public boat ramp just below the Highway 79 bridge, walked up the hill into town, and went to the sheriff's office to inquire where me might find some gas-dry/rubbing alcohol. A deputy offered to drive us to a market, and I got my first ride in the back of a squad car.
Armed with our magic elixir, we returned to the Blue Heaven ready to pour the alcohol into the tanks, crank her up, and be on our way. But nooooo; the batteries were dead again. We tried with the help of a couple of folks to boost and start, but it soon became apparent we needed two new marine batteries (on Labor Day, of course.) About that time we met Betty and her friends, who were preparing a picnic in the shelter just up the hill from the boat ramp. She introduced us to Walt, a warm-hearted retiree who insisted on taking us to get the batteries. We wound up having to drive to Paris Landing, where we found one at the marina there and another at a nearby hardware store. Back at the boat ramp, we installed the new batteries and fired up the engines, letting the alcohol disperse the water while we joined our new friends for a picnic lunch. My heart has been warmed, my faith in God strengthened, and my faith in humanity restored by the helpfulness and warm-hearted kindness of the total strangers we have met along this journey. I am resolving to be more alert to others' needs and quicker to jump in and help.
Our new friends pushed us off the Dover ramp at about 2:45, and we began a beautiful cruise up the Cumberland to Clarksville, engines running smoother, making a good 10 miles per hour. En route we saw the stacks of Cumberland City, met a barge tow on a sharp bend in the river, and reached the new public dock in Clarksville at 6:15 p.m. We are now comfortable in the Riverview Inn, and have had our first hot meal in 48 hours--some great pizza at the Blackhorse Pub on Franklin Street. Tomorrow morning we we set out early for Old Hickory Lake. With expected good weather, no delays at the Cheatham and Old Hickory locks, and no mechanical problems, we can make the 90-mile trip to Creekwood Marina in Hendersonville before dark.
We rose before dawn this morning, hoping to get an early start but suspecting the marina wouldn't open for business until at least 7:00, which was right. When the owner, Wally Horn, showed up, we were ready to crank up the boat and pull around to the gas pump. Apparently, however, our use of the running lights and an interior light during last night's tow had drained the batteries, and the engines wouldn't crank. So we had the borrow a charger and charge the batteries for a while. Then we were able to crank the engines and top off the fuel tanks, and Wally and his wife, Vica, were very helpful and courteous. They have been operating the marina for 24 years and are ready to retire. They even asked if we wanted to buy it, but it's a little out-of-the-way!
By 9:30 we were underway, headed for Clarksville and maybe even Ashland City with luck. A couple of miles up river toward Dover, both engines began to miss and sputter badly. Wally was a great guy, but I'm afraid his fuel is contaminated with water, a common occurrence along the rivers and lakes, we're told. We limped the 12 miles into Dover and tied up at a public boat ramp just below the Highway 79 bridge, walked up the hill into town, and went to the sheriff's office to inquire where me might find some gas-dry/rubbing alcohol. A deputy offered to drive us to a market, and I got my first ride in the back of a squad car.
Armed with our magic elixir, we returned to the Blue Heaven ready to pour the alcohol into the tanks, crank her up, and be on our way. But nooooo; the batteries were dead again. We tried with the help of a couple of folks to boost and start, but it soon became apparent we needed two new marine batteries (on Labor Day, of course.) About that time we met Betty and her friends, who were preparing a picnic in the shelter just up the hill from the boat ramp. She introduced us to Walt, a warm-hearted retiree who insisted on taking us to get the batteries. We wound up having to drive to Paris Landing, where we found one at the marina there and another at a nearby hardware store. Back at the boat ramp, we installed the new batteries and fired up the engines, letting the alcohol disperse the water while we joined our new friends for a picnic lunch. My heart has been warmed, my faith in God strengthened, and my faith in humanity restored by the helpfulness and warm-hearted kindness of the total strangers we have met along this journey. I am resolving to be more alert to others' needs and quicker to jump in and help.
Our new friends pushed us off the Dover ramp at about 2:45, and we began a beautiful cruise up the Cumberland to Clarksville, engines running smoother, making a good 10 miles per hour. En route we saw the stacks of Cumberland City, met a barge tow on a sharp bend in the river, and reached the new public dock in Clarksville at 6:15 p.m. We are now comfortable in the Riverview Inn, and have had our first hot meal in 48 hours--some great pizza at the Blackhorse Pub on Franklin Street. Tomorrow morning we we set out early for Old Hickory Lake. With expected good weather, no delays at the Cheatham and Old Hickory locks, and no mechanical problems, we can make the 90-mile trip to Creekwood Marina in Hendersonville before dark.
So glad that you are back on your way home! Your adventures have been fascinating and great learning experiences - both from a practical and spiritual sense! I hope you remembered the advice that Pam Rice and I gave you on your way out of the building - keep your life jacket on! Brenda just commented that it was ironic for you to have had all these challenges after Stacy wrote the lyrics to your birthday song using the theme from Gilligan's Island!
ReplyDeleteSail on! Tomorrow will be trouble free!
ReplyDeletePhil Debenham