We
were hauling anchor at 730a this morning on a beautiful cool &
sunny day. It was perfect cruising weather. Anchor was almost
up.... I had worked very hard to get lots of mud off of the
chain..... I just had the anchor itself to go. I noticed the boat
engines were either not in sync or one was missing. It was then that
Walter said lower the anchor! What?! He said he had to fix the
engine which had now quit completely. Back to the muddy bottom of
Clam Creek went the anchor. I was still hopeful for an early
get-a-way but Walter could not fix the thing! You know it is serious
when my mechanic/engineer husband can't fix something. We have
Caterpillar engines and it takes a Caterpillar mechanic to work on
them when detail things go wrong. The engine was sucking air into
the fuel injection system through a leaking priming pump. Well, at
least he knew what was wrong! :-0
The
Captain found a company that works on these engines about 30 miles
away... they did have a replacement pump and it is now after 5p and
we are still awaiting the arrival of part and mechanic.
THEN
along came the Coast Guard protecting our coast so well and chasing
us out of our nice little anchorage... we think a tug boat moving a
barge around us probably complained.
The
Guard suggested that the close by marina might let us tie up on the
outside pier while we wait to get the boat fixed. We called them and
they were very gracious to not only let us stay at no charge but came to the dock
to help us tie up as we moved our limping boat on only one engine. But
first the Capt says we have to get the anchor up. Okay, back to the
job I know how to do..... it was almost done when he tells me to stop
washing it off and quickly get the bow line ready for the dock hand
as the boat was drifting... he puts it in gear and suddenly moves
forward... I fall against the forward windows and slide down on the
deck … just thankful I am still on the boat!!! I can tell you it
is hard to give the Captain on the bridge a dirty look while hanging
on for your life on the forward deck! I followed every snapping order after that one
(yeah, I know things must be done quickly but I was already upset to
have not finished one job first!) and soon thanks to this lovely lady
on the dock we were tied securely. Then the man says to his first &
ONLY crew member, “Do you want to finish the anchor or shall I do
it?” Even though I like to finish what I start this is when the
mutiny began! I said I was doing nothing and took a seat on the
comfy sundeck chair.
Then
my afternoon experience of going for a few groceries didn't work out
either. I got the jitney bus which only holds about 10 people in
front of the marina. I got on and asked if he could take me to a
grocery store... he seemed to have no idea of what I was asking but
then after I described food products such as the bread we needed he
said, “Oh yes! I will take you to the Super Market downtown”.
Okay by me and we were off... we ran around to every casino in town
first with the driver wishing good luck to all who departed his bus.
Then he drops me off in what looks like the old part of town...tells
me to walk down this side street and when I get to next corner I will
see SAVE A LOT super market. After I got passed the "hookers"! in the
middle of the block I felt a bit better... on the corner I didn't see
the grocery store as it was hidden behind trees but I did see a
MacDonald's... ahhh something homey looking... I thought I would get
a diet coke and then look for the store. Inside this burger joint
were only 5 tables and two signs on the wall. One said: “This
establishment is on video surveillance and right now the Atlantic
City Police are watching”. The other sign said, “No loitering..
you have 30 min. to eat your purchase and LEAVE!” Not too much
like home after all. I was wishing for Walter...
The
grocery store was just about a block away and I went in there.... not
sure what was going on but there seemed to be no way to get my basket
back to where the food was.... many many people there.. it appeared
that some were bagging their own groceries but how did they get
them?? police were also there WATCHING... I wondered if they were
used to folks stealing the food ….. everyone was busy that I could
ask... I was so discouraged at this point I just left the store and
walked to where I thought I could get a jitney bus back to the
Marina..which as far as they are concerned it was the Golden Nugget
casino. They were suppose to run every few minutes but I waited
about 20 and the first bus that came only had room for one passenger.
I let the young girl carrying a load of her own groceries go in and I
waited for another bus which came after two wrong buses.
I
am happy (even without groceries!) to report that now, at 558p the
wonderful mechanic is here.... hurray! And he has fixed the problem! AND the mutiny is over. There is a slight possibility that we will go all the way into NY
harbor tomorrow...Lots of rain predicted for Friday... some fellow
loopers did it today.. took them 10 hours though..whew. Watch the
satellite. :-)
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| Farley's Marina from our Anchorage Last Night |
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