A Story About A Trip Down The Eastern Intercoastal Canal

A Story About A Trip Down The Eastern Intercoastal Canal

A narrative a few trip down the jap Intercoastal canal by old sailors. There are descriptions of the places visited, whats improper with the Coast Guard on the canal, operating aground many times and getting knocked down on a sand bar within the Atlantic.
I turned on Fox News and noticed Geraldo Rivera get knocked down by a wave breaking over the Galveston Seawall. Hurricane Ike was about to boost havoc on the east coast of Texas. I had no thought how a lot the hurricane would effect my life within the subsequent few months.
I also never dreamed I would be in a situation to send an S..S. to the Coast Guard.

My pal Bob and his wife had labored most weekends for the final three years rebuilding a sailboat moored at the Houston Yacht Club. It seemed much better than a sailboat recent from the factory. It was a labor of affection. Hurricane Ike had no respect for the labor or funding and sunk the ship. So as to add insult to injury' Ike sank another sailboat on prime of it. After the boat was lifted from the water and placed on a stand at the Yacht Membership, Bob and I spent a number of days salvaging whatever we might. That included a brand new diesel engine with only ten hours on it, a number of new winches, and anything else that might be saved. The woodwork that that they had spent so many hours changing or refinishing was misplaced.
Bob and Charlotte searched on the internet till they found an appropriate substitute at a small marina on the Sassafras River that flows into the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Bob flew out to Maryland and made a deal for it. He hired a crew to scrub it up, inside and outside, paint the bottom and put it within the water. I looked great!
Bob requested me if I want to join him on shake down cruise along the East Coast. My wife Pat and I had previously joined him on a trip via the Intercoastal Waterway from Florida to Galveston Bay. That was simply before hurricane Katrina caused so much damage to the Southern Coast.
The trip begins in Crockett, Texas, on Houston County Lake where we reside. My buddy Bob's automotive is packed to the bursting level and we're able to go. In accordance with the GPS, it's 1,464 miles and we intend to make it in two days.
It's a bright, cool, sunny day. Perfect for driving. Our journey takes us by Shreveport, Meridian, Birmingham and Chattanooga. We spent the night time in a Holiday Inn Categorical.
That part of the journey was uneventful.
Day 2
Breakfast at the Inn was good. It included juices, cheese omelet, bacon, fruit, coffee, alternative of candy rolls, and so on… We continued up I-eighty one, which runs between the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway
The trees have been at their peak in vivid crimson and gold. Although there have been black clouds in the sky all day we didn't hit rain until we received into the world of Washington, D.C. I was driving and Bob was in the best seat navigating and reading the GPS to me. It was six lanes each way with bumper-to-bumper site visitors and very limited visibility because of the rain and tire spray. The only factor that could be seen was purple taillights. Bob laid his head again and introduced he was taking a nap. He said he had seen sufficient taillights and was bored. I informed him that relied on where you are sitting. It might be boring in the suitable seat
, however it's white-knuckle time in the left. He took coronary heart and sat as much as help me watch for street indicators and idiots.
The individuals right here undoubtedly don't have the courtesy of midwest or southern drivers. Many were always weaving out and in of visitors. Some did not use their flip signals to vary lanes. When I used my turn alerts I may see why some did not. When I signaled my intentions to alter lanes the automotive behind me sped as much as block me.
I'm positive glad I don't have to stay round right here.
To learn the rest of the story click on /intercoastal
CONCERNING THE WRITER
Dave is an old geezer that likes to fly, sail, motor boat and the internet.