October 3, 2009

The Launch

Left Brighton, MI at 5:30 AM Saturday Oct, 3, 2003 to start an adventure that had been in the planning phase for over 25 years. My wife Sandy had a blow up double bed that turned the cargo area of the three quarter ton Chevy Van (leant to us by Cousin Jimmy, Thank You!) into comfortable sleeping quarters as we towed Water Mark to the launch site in Louisville, KY . I drove the first shift. Was able to get the feel of the boat and trailer. Quickly and the butterflies went away. Towing a boat is tricky. We averaged about 62 MPH on the trip to Louisville. Stopped at a rest area near Lima, OH and Dan took the second shift. Cost $50 to fuel the van. Made it to Louisville with a half a tank. I took one and a half tanks of fuel to travel 366 miles.

We arrived at Marine Sales and Service in Louisville at exactly 1:00 PM. We were met by Ben Cobb. He told me that the first order of business was to pay for the launch. Once he had my money he told us to unhitch the boat from the Van. He then hooked the trailer to his “launch rig“. The launch rig was a tractor with a modified trailer with a long extension that would allow him to drive the boat down the launch ramp and float off the trailer. Once the boat was in the water. We did not see or her from Ben again. I guess we were on our own stepping the mast.

Winds with gusts exceeding 20 MPH combined with 3 foot waves from the barges made stepping the mast impossible. Dan and Sandy were anxious to return home. After eating lunch on the banks of the Ohio and gazing at the river traffic, they departed for home. They left Louisville about 4PM and arrived back in Brighton about 10PM.

I checked the boat for leaks and made sure the hull was solid drank a beer.

Decided to take a hike. I had to crawl under the gate at the marina because it was locked. Discovered a Ramada Inn next to the gas station where we had purchased fuel earlier. I walked into the Lobby and immediately saw the business services room. Sat down at a computer and sent several emails to letting friends and relatives know that I had safely arrived in Louisville and the next step was to find some help to step the mast.

Sent a email to Ben Fengargarger Commodore of the Cruising Club of Lousiville. Asked him if he would be kind enough to recommend a business that could help.

Returned to the boat by crawling back under the fence. On the trip in I got grease from the gate all over my clean Levis. Once at the boat. I lit a candle and studied the charts. Ben said that his marina was north. I thought that the Ohio River ran east and west so I was slightly disoriented. The compass did not seem to help. I thought that after a good night sleep orienting myself to the river would come together. Drank a beer and crawled into my sleeping bag and had a good rest.