Making friends. Crew update #4. Almost home (knock on wood).

We went through a lock with another boat close to our size, Big Dog, and then stayed in their wake for the rest of the afternoon, which apparently reduces the energy needed to travel, because they’re splitting the seas for us, so to speak. (Is that really a thing?) We met them over the radio while underway and at the end of the day decided to take them up on their invitation to stay in the Clinton Marina, where they have a slip (a designated space for your boat).

Let me tell you, the decision making part is always an elaborate process – consulting paper and electronic charts, calling places, trying to calculate how long any small leg of the route will take, including the wait times for locks and bridges, contemplating the weather for the possibility of just throwing an anchor in some bay. And also trying to beat the clock, which is the total opposite of “throw the schedule out the window” that I previously mentioned. Enough to drive you meshuggeneh! (That is not a nautical term.)

Two minutes before they turned off, the boss (me!) commanded – follow them in, we’re staying here tonight! It was really windy and docking the boat was difficult, fighting the wind and the current. We arrived 15 minutes after the official hours of operation, but Big Dog set everything up for us and even let us use their personal facility keys and access codes. (This was all Capt. Max doing and I’m gonna have to step out of my comfort zone to learn how to banter and socialize with other water people – boaters, barge captains, lock and harbor masters. Ugh)

Clinton Marina was nice and included a fancy restaurant we were tempted to dine in, as well as a big beached vessel that was turned into a theater after some flood a few dozen years ago.

Next morning (Wednesday) we left early, shivering. For the first time since the beginning of the trip, the AC was turned from cold to warm  inside the cabin. Meh, I prefer sweltering heat and cannot wait to have that in my life year around.

We contemplated staying at a place called Pirate’s Pit Stop, outfitted (according to the book) with everything including nautical and pirate memorabilia, but when we drove by it, we saw that VK was larger than the floating dock and shop. One generally needs something a bit more sturdy when in a 47 foot 50,000-pound tank.

We made it to the town of Guttenberg, IA, and stayed at a municipal marina. At 6:30 am the next morning we were ready to take off bright and early and contacted the lock that was less than a mile north of us. The answer – divers are currently in the lock trying to fix something, which could take until noon! Walk through town, early breakfast, a stop to get Capt. Max some warm clothes (Floridian that he is, he didn’t expect it to be chilly in the summer), and then we got a call from the lock that all was in order by 10am and we could shove off.

Another day of travel (Thursday) brought us into Lawrence Lake Marina, who we were trying to reach all day long without success. Wish we had – it was a quaint little place with tiny house boats and people fishing, not really set up for VK. Our host was apologetic and accommodated us the best he could at no charge.

We traveled all day Friday, frantically trying reach Mississippi Parkside Marina, where we were picking up Captain Tuna, Big Daddy and Sara, who answers to all kinds of inappropriate nicknames that I won’t list here. They were delivered to Wabasha, MN, by Sue and Ron Tracey, Tana’s parents. Thanks for putting up with that bunch, Mom and Dad! Surprisingly, this crew was pretty subdued compared to their usual level of debauchery, that some of you are familiar with.

Half an hour before we got there, another troubleshooting session occurred, figuring out what was causing an unpleasant smell for the last couple of days. A few tense moments later, the problem was identified – a water hose broke, possibly in a few places, spraying a super hot exhaust pipe (creating the smell) and also filling the bilge (bottom of the boat under the floor, that collects all kinds of drips from where it is sucked out with bilge pumps) with water from the water tank (our house water, 250 gallon container that lives under the master queen bed). A temporary fix has been applied.

It is now Saturday morning. This crew is definitely awake now and BD even drove the boat for a hot minute (she almost fainted with all the responsibility!).

We might make it home tonight!

P. S. Totally forgot to mention the delicious corned beef, cabbage & potatoes dinner last night and the yummy “goulash” breakfast tacos this morning by the captain duo. In a day or so we will have to start cooking for ourselves again. Sigh…