Life on the Lock II

[ExiledInIllinois]

 

Come to think about... It kinda sounded like wife couldn't enter Canada... At least I got that impression. Probably why not taking any chance under sail and ending up across international border?

 

But once in Caribbean, you think they would need mast? They are leaving vessel in US Virgin Islands for children, while (I said WHILE Gugny ;-P ) they fly back to Helsinki. Love to be those kids, mast or no mast! :-)

[Tiberius]

Working overnights but other crew just sent me pics of Columbus' replicas using The Lock... Nina & Pinta heading the eff South... Getting the bleep outta Dodge! Can't say I blame them... Sailing to warmer pastures! No Santa Maria? Vertical controlling height is +19.1' feet above normal pool elevation (-1.80' to -2.00' off of +579.48' msl) @ "Lemont Highway Bridge," Lemont, Illinois:

 

Nina&Pinta_09122017_2.jpg

 

Imagine going out into unknown ocean w/rinky dink vessels of this size... Of course no motor and electric bilge pumps like these guys have!

 

More pics:

Nina&Pinta_09122017.jpg

Nina:

Nina_09122017.jpg

Pinta:

Pinta_09122017.jpg

I cannot imagine going across the Atlantic in one of those!

[ExiledInIllinois]

Yep, those are modern replicas... I could imagine the real deal, they most certainly leaked like a sieve with just tarred oakum between the hull planks to keep it from sinking. Those replicas using all modern materials... The originals, of course all sail power, they probably bailed the bilge or had primitive hand turned screws with pieces of leather to act as a pump.

 

Anyway, it's the "Columbus Foundation" that runs those things as I found out in our LPMS lot of their lockage. They do have some funky USCG registration numbers... Starting with a "DL", whatever that signifies?

 

 

Seems they are out of the British Virgin Islands:

 

http://www.thenina.com

 

w/masts stepped up:

 

 

Oh... Jack I remember you mentioning them early in the year while they were making their rounds through NYS, Erie Canal. Supposedly, they were going to Peoria, Illinois on this voyage.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Every time I see this thread pop up, this song pops into my head. I'm not complaining. I'm thanking you. SRV on a 12-string acoustic ... mmmm ...

 

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLDvl9qee9E]

 

 

 

LoL... Nice one! Wow... He died way too early! :-( :-( I Gotta play that through the PA system when we are "dropping" vessels going southbound... The towboats & barge crews from Texas, Louisiana will love a little "Texas Tornado" as they head home on their long journey south to warmer endeavours! Especially in winter when it's -20, 2 feet of ice on river and those southern boys are freezing their poor butts off!!! ;-)

 

I already play this when we are busy doing "exchange" lockages (vessels going immediately up or downbound, then exchanging boats in the opposite direction). Especially, when the dingbat pleasure boaters put the blinders on and ring the bell, call on cellphone or yap on the marine band channel 16. It's usually the sailboaters that are the most self-absorbed. I play this over the hands free PA... Usually gets a chuckle from the astute, a dirty look from the hurried that try & turn everything into a rat race, especially what's supposed to be a leisure activity (ie: boating):

 

 

"Somebody's ringing the bell... Let 'em in..." LoL...

Edited September 13, 2017 by ExiledInIllinois

[ExiledInIllinois]

Through the years, one of my favorite towboats just came through, "lightboat"... Meaning it wasn't pushing any barges.

 

Any of you Southerners have coffee w/chicory? We just scored almost a pound from the New Orleans boat "Sugarland." I wonder if it is any good? I am not a coffee drinker though... Don't touch stuff. :-/ Isn't chicory "poor man's" "coffee"?

 

 

For all you "boat spotters"... The M/V Sugarland is a unique.. One of a kind boat. Fat, low, and wide... Of course retractable pilothouse... Didnt check the inland river record, think built in late 1970s... Crews love it, big smooth traveling vessel:

 

 

Edit: Just consulted the "Lockman's Bible," Specs from River Record...

 

I was wrong... Built in the very good year, ;-) ...1968 with 3,375 horsepower.

Boat still looks good for going on 50 years old... Like some other people! ;-)

 

Florida Marine... Full specs and ownership trail:

[Gugny]

LoL... Nice one! Wow... He died way too early! :-( :-( I Gotta play that through the PA system when we are "dropping" vessels going southbound... The towboats & barge crews from Texas, Louisiana will love a little "Texas Tornado" as they head home on their long journey south to warmer endeavours! Especially in winter when it's -20, 2 feet of ice on river and those southern boys are freezing their poor butts off!!! ;-)

 

I already play this when we are busy doing "exchange" lockages (vessels going immediately up or downbound, then exchanging boats in the opposite direction). Especially, when the dingbat pleasure boaters put the blinders on and ring the bell, call on cellphone or yap on the marine band channel 16. It's usually the sailboaters that are the most self-absorbed. I play this over the hands free PA... Usually gets a chuckle from the astute, a dirty look from the hurried that try & turn everything into a rat race, especially what's supposed to be a leisure activity (ie: boating):

 

 

"Somebody's ringing the bell... Let 'em in..." LoL...

 

I bought this album on vinyl when I was about 10. My mom and I subsequently visited my grandparents, where I played it on their console hi fi record player. Such and awesome memory. Wings was a great band and Macca is a music God.