Great Loop Day 008 Sept 5, 2016, Mickey goes swimming for the first time in his 9 lives
Decker's Landing to Port Huron, Michigan.
“The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths, it has its pearls too.” ― Vincent van Gogh.
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Day 8 Monday. Memorial Day Sept. 5, 2016. Happy Labor Day in the US, Over on my right side the Canadians are celebrating also and wishing them a Happy Labour Day!
My first full week on the Loop and ready to hit the water running. Got up really early before the sun woke up. I don't do that often, don't need to, I'm retired!
Fixed a good breakfast and cleaned up the dishes. Mickey got his food and now sitting out in the cockpit in the early morning light. He's been a good boy so far but still hasn't learned to tie a bowline or cleat off a dock line. I figure he just might be a slow learner and he’ll have plenty of time to learn.
At the moment he doesn't have his leash tied to his chest harness. He'll be OK. He's watching something intensely in the air just behind the transom. I can't make it out. Now I see it, a dragonfly and a big one at that! I turned away for a second and from the corner of my right eye I see a furball lunging in the air. I turn to focus my eyes out of the companionway and Mickey is gone! I hear a soft muffled splash just behind the boat. I rush out and see Mickey's head bobbing out of the water. He still has that stupid "I'm OK" expression on his face as he turned to head toward shore about 20 feet among some large water lily pads. I'll catch him when he gets to shore but wait. He's turning around and heading for the boat doing his version of a doggy paddle with his front and I presume his back paws. His head was completely out of the water but his body was submerged and his head remains completely dry! I'm in the cockpit as I reach over to grab his harness as he swims by.
Damn! I missed him and he is heading out to the river. Once he gets in that current it’s goodbye, Mickey. I jump as fast as I can onto the dock at the front of the boat and yell out his name, "MICKEY!" He turns toward me and paddles to the dock.
“A little closer, Mickey! Come on, you can do it!”
I reach for his harness with my right arm. Got him!
I pull him and his harness out of the water and Mickey immediately attaches himself like some hungry alien from outer space and digs all his front and back claws deeply into the flesh in my right forearm. And there is no way Mickey is going to let go! I carry him locked onto my arm to the cockpit while I ignore the heavy flow of blood running down. I am trying to pry him off one claw at a time. Mickey's heavy breathing subsides and I get one front paw with his claws off my arm and start to work on the other paw. He sees the cockpit floor and then releases his back legs to land on his feet on the floor. He turns to make a quick jump inside the cabin and I stop him. "Oh No, you don't!" While holding him at a safe distance I grab a towel laying on the cushions and wrap him up to get him dried before he gets everything wet below.
Now I can attend to my wounds.
This was Mickey's first swimming lesson! And he knows how to do it. Just need to refine that paddle technique a bit and develop a sense of direction. You are learning to be a real sailor cat, the hard way!
Well, Mickey gets way down low in the cabin and he's fine and I have some deep bloody holes in my arm to clean and dress.
Today you would find Mickey and me in the little town of Port Huron on the Black River nestled in at the River Street Marina. Nice place, almost like a yacht club. Two lift bridges to go under that open every half hour. Unfortunately for me, most marinas on the river are a powerboat haven. Very few sailboats and those were in the 32-foot+ range. But I can see why with the only water to float your boat is this river; narrow and with a strong current all for your personal frustrations.
Most of the powerboats are of the high-performance type. No doubt, most of them have been built long before mufflers were invented. And low to the water to pass under these bridges without having to call the bridge tender for a lift. The river is quite active with boaters of all ages taking scenic cruises up and down the Black River. This marina has free WiFi and a free laundry room back in the storage area. And you well know, free is free.
Looking back on today's travel was both great and not so great but first the good stuff. I got to see Dianne and her new husband aboard the motor vessel, What it Takes IV!, who just happened to be in the area boating to Port Huron for the afternoon (Just saying Dianne is not one but THE nicest nurse ever to work at University Hospital). I can't tell you how nice it is to see a familiar face. If only for a brief fly-by aboard her new husband's yacht. Must be a nice life. However, I get this feeling I don't think that guy likes me. I hope I'm wrong but still can't shake off that feeling. Dianne and I have been texting each other trying to find a place to meet on the river. They are going to Port Huron for lunch if only I can get the Sea Marie to hurry up.
Then this happens...
Some three hours below Port Huron, a single-engine inboard powerboat about 24 to 26 feet in length with a single person at the wheel flying a small Canadian flag on his bow blew by very close on my starboard going downriver. Passed by at a tremendous speed sending a huge volume of wake water right at me. Instinctively, I grabbed the tiller put the autopilot on standby, and maneuvered my boat in position to take the wave at a 45-degree angle. The wave sent my little sailboat bow up high in the air and landed hard in the trough behind it and where the next wave got under me and sent my stern skyward with such force it tilted my 110 lbs outboard forward sending the lower unit with the prop out of the water. Then back down with an incredible force, I thought my transom would be torn off the back of the boat. As the waves settled and my breathing returned to normal I noticed the engine did not sound right. I was at full throttle going 3mph against the strong current. Earlier I was hovering around 4 mph.
Then there was this noticeable vibration in the motor and transmitting it to the entire boat. Checking all the hardware on the motor mount didn't show any structural or mechanical damage as I slowly limp under the draw bridges.
Just in time to see Dianne and her husband leaving the Black River.
Little fish in a big pond!
I'm checking with the dealer tomorrow to see what Joe suggests regarding the outboard motor. So til the morrow fair winds and a gentle sea.
Comments from 2016::
Dan Sheridan Wow! You are really having an adventure. I'm sorry about the high-speed Canadians.
Mary Jo Cartledgehayes You's had more exciting adventures in seven days than most people have in six months.
Nancy Horvath How rude of those Canadians. I hated when boaters did that to us when we used to sail. Hope your engine is okay. Be safe.
Pogo Bob, Unfortunately, Henry, assholes will become part of your world for the next year. Americans, in general, are probably worse than Canadians (since, as we know, Canadians are notoriously polite). In any event, there is a type of power boater that is completely oblivious to the havoc they wreak on slow boats and either don't know or don't care that they are legally and financially responsible for the damage brought about by their wake! One trick that occasionally works is to be quite obviously taking their picture. That seems to work better than the radio, as these bozos don't usually monitor 16 anyway! Illigitimi non carborundum!
Henry Krzemien RN I don't like to paint with a broad brush toward people or their nationality. All I know for certain was that particular boat was flying a Canadian flag. The boater may not even be Canadian for all I know. There were numerous powerboats doing the same thing at the entrance of the North Channel leading into the St Clair River. Need to have posted on the bow a big sign that reads You Damage My Boat You Will Pay! I like the camera idea. Stored below I have my dashcam. Will install it in am. Speaking of Canadians I met a wonderful Canadian couple at Milliken State Park Marina. Giving a shout-out to Carol who is an RN like me. Wish we could spend more time together. She works with Alzheimer's patients and I sure could use some coping skills for my ever-present forgetfulness. Yea! I figured out how to do some editing on my cell phone.