Marina poem for Christmas

ON THE DOCK BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Twas the night before Christmas and out on the dock
the boats were all resting unaware of the clock.
The boats were fastened to cleats with care
in hopes that come morning all would be there.
The fuel docks were closed and hoses tied in their spots
with wind gusts from 240 at 39 knots.
With Ma in her deck shoes and me in my shorts
we had just settled down with eggnog and torts.
When over radio channel 16 there arose such a clatter
I turned up the volume to see what's the matter.
A voice clearly heard over static and blow
asked for the marina to call and give him a tow.
He barked out his transmission so lively and quick
I could have sworn that the boat name he used was "St. Nick"!
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Sure that it was only winter's last dash.
He called his position and there could be no denial,
"This is the Nicholas One and I am coming in for awhile."
The dog barked a warning and I arose from my chair
to see what was the matter and happening out there.
Out on the grass as wind whipped all around us
I picked up the dog and was soon astounded.
What to my wondering eye did I see
 A tiny tug boat and a flotilla of three.
We saw them come in from the threatening sea
Dashing from our boat to help, scraping my knee.
The tugs were all tied, the crisis was past
when out of the pilothouse stepped the captain at last.
He was a jolly old soul all dressed in red
I was sure he just wanted to use the head.
His pipe smoke circled his head like a fog...
I thought I might offer him some fresh eggnog.
His cheeks were rosy and jiggled like jelly
his boots were black as the tug underbelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old fool
and he kindly informed me he needed some fuel.
With a wink of his eye and a twist of his toes,
he sped off the dock his nose like a rose.
I heard him exclaim as he roared out of sight'''
"Merry Christmas to all and keep on the nav light!"
by Patty Mitchell on ORINOCO

Red Lion Mane Jellyfish visits Orinoco

I big jellyfish was stuck in our raw water strainer and shut down the heaters.  We got rid of it.  Next day I caught a picture of a relative of the sucked up one and he must have decided to do it again.
This time it took two days to get rid of him. 

It was a beautiful creature but so strange as it floated on the tidal flow.

Orinoco Sucks up Red Jellyfish

This was a first for the crew on Orinoco!  We were gone for the day and came home to a cold boat!  In checking the water intake strainer, we saw a big red glob totally stopping the flow of water to such essentials as the heater/air conditioners.
After cleaning and cleaning the strainer and backflushing the intake to get rid of the rest of the blog on the underside of the hull, finally the water ran free again.

Now the fly bridge is in place, the wires are connected and the parts are working except the biggest reverse cycle air conditioner/heater.  Tomorrow we go for parts.

Fly bridge goes on smoothly.

Orinoco finishes Great Loop Cruise

Orinoco and crew of three, Robert, Patty, Maggi Wonder Dog have completed the Great Loop going from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on the Great Lake Michigan through downtown Chicago on the Illinois River to join the Mississippi close to St Louis.
We traveled down the Mississippi to the Ohio and turned East to go upstream on the Ohio to the Cumberland River which joined the Tennessee and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway to the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile, Alabama.
Across the panhandle of Florida to jump off into the big waters of the Gulf of Mexico and arrive at Tarpon Springs, Florida.  Down the West Coast of Florida to Lake Okchobee and across to Stuart, Florida.
After a trip of three months to the Bahamas, we headed back to Florida and then up the East Coast to NYC.

From the trip to New York City, we headed North up the Hudson River to the beginning of the Erie Canal.
We removed the canvas top and dropped the mast to do the Erie Canal due to the low bridge clearance on the Western end.  The trip from Troy to Buffalo took us about three weeks.
Across the wide waters of  Lake Erie to Put In Bay then on to the Detroit River to join Lake St. Clair and then Lake Hudson which led up to Macknac Island on Lake Michigan.

Grandsons Riley,Corey, Aaron,Connor enjoy a month on the boat from Cape May to New York City

On September 15, 2009 we arrived where we started at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.  We had finished the Great Loop!!
                                                  Patty,Robert and Maggi Show off the Gold Burgee
                                                  at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

This adventure is now complete.  We went up and down the interior rivers 5 times, went to New Orleans and Houston once, the Bahamas twice and enjoyed living and cruising on the waters for 4 years.

The new adventure starts now with the boat moved via truck to Olympia, Washington in the Puget Sound.  We are looking forward to the new waters to explore here and in Canada and on to Alaska.