ADVENTURE ON THE SACRAMENTO RIVER

steveandtina

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 5, 2010
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96
Fluid Motion Model
R-29 Classic
Vessel Name
otter
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF MY FELLOW TUGNUTS. SO HEAR IS THE STORY.[ DON'T TRY TO DO THIS YOURSELF,,I -- AM A PROFESSIONAL] IDIOT PERHAPS? :? DROVE THE [BEE] DOWN TO THE LAUNCH RAMP ON THE SAC RIVER WITH MY RANCH HAND, JAMIE[PRONOUNCED HYMIE] WITH THE INTENTION OF LAUNCHING THE BOAT AND TAKING IT UP RIVER 2 MILES TO THE SAC CITY PUBLIC DOCKS WHERE TINA WOULD JOIN ME NEW YEARS EVE FOR A SPECTACTULAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY OVER THE RIVER... ONE AT NINE [FOR US OLD FARTS] AND ONE AT 12 FOR EVERONE ELSE..---- I DIGRESS--- DID I MENTION THE RIVER WAS RUNNING AT FIVE AS IN FIIIIIIVE KNOTS 😱 JAMIE WAS TO TAKE THE TRUCK AND MEET ME AT THE DOCKS TO ASSIST IN TYING UP. GUESS WHAT? NO PARKING SPACES!!! IN A STATE OF MIND THAT AT IT"S BEST COULD BE DESCRIBED AS NAIVE, AND AT ITS WORST DOWN RIGHT DELUSIONAL, I DECIDED TO DOCK THE BOAT MYSELF AND TOLD JAMIE TO TAKE THE TRUCK HOME TO TINA. AS I APPROACHED THE DOCK FOR A STARBOARD TIE THERE WAS ONE LAST SPACE WITH HOOKUPS AT THE END ALMOST DIRECTLY UNDER THE TOWER BRIDGE. [NO FRIENDLY HANDS TO THROW A LINE TO,,, I THINK THEY WERE ALL IN THE MANY BARS ALONG THE RIVER] I EASED THE BEE TO EDGE OF THE DOCK WHERE THE CURRENT COMING OFF THE BRIDGE PYLON GENTLY NUDGED MY STEARN INTO THE DOCK AS I HAULED ASS OUT OF THE COCKPIT TO SECURE HER. OF COURSE THE NEAREST LINE WAS A STEARN AND I IMMEDIATELY TIE OFF TO THE DOCKCLEAT AND STARTED TO MAKE MY WAY FORWARD USING THE GRABRAILS ON THE CABIN. JUST AS I REACHED THE GALLEY WIND THE BEE AND THE RIVER AND THE CONFUSED CURRENTS DECIDED THAT SHE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO MOOR AT THAT PARTICULAR SIDE TIE. AS I STARTED TO LOSE THE BOY OUT INTO THE RIVER, IT DAWNED ON ME THAT THERE WAS NO :shock: :shock: WAY I COULD HOLD HER TO THE DOCK. AS I MADE THE JUMP BACK INTO THE COCKPIT SHE SWUNG 90 DEGREES TO THE DOCK WHERE THE STEARN LINE WAS STILL FIRMLY ATTACHED. AS THE SWIM STEP WAS PULLED UNDER THE DOCK OUR BOAT TOOK ON A PROFOUND LIST TO STARBOARD UNTILL AT LAST MY FIVE 8TH INCH MOORING LINE SNAPPED LIKE KITE STRING AND WE WERE OFF THE RACES FLOATING SIDEWAYS TOWARD THE BRIDGE PYLONS TO STARBOARD AND A REALLY NICE YACHT TO PORT. THE FACT THAT MY ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING IS THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED MY ASS..WHEEL HARD TO PORT, BOW AND STEARN THRUSTERS SCREAMING, AND A BUTTLOAD OF REVERSE GOT ME OUT OF A VERY EMBARASSING SITUATION.. LESSONS LEARNED?? NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF AN ANGRY RIVER DURING WINTER RUNOFF, AND NEVER TIE THE STEARN OFF FIRST WHEN DOCKING UPSTEAM. THE SWIMSTEP SUFFERED NO DAMAGE ... AND WE EVENTUALLY WITNESSED A SPECTATULAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY THE FOLLOWING EVENING. SO ANYHOW FELLOW TUGNUTTER;; I HOPE YOU ENJOYED READING ABOUT MY TALE AS MUCH AS I DID TELLING IT. CHARLES,, I HOPE MY DICTION, GRAMMER, SPELLING. AND PUNCTUATION MEETS WITH YOUR APPROVAL SINCERLY, STEVE FROM INSIDE THE TOASTY LITTLE FIBERGLASS COCOON KNOWN AS THE CHRISTINA BEE
 
Great story of your adventure with a swift winter current! The Laurie Ann is snug in a slip here at Hat Island where we decided watching the snow covered mountains, blue skies, and sunrises and sunsets over the mountains was more fun inside by the wood stove than on the boat in the 20- 25 degree weather. Happy New Year to you and Tina . . . .

Laurie
 
Thanks for telling on yourself Steve. Mother Nature has ways of teaching us humility but not everyone is willing to share the lesson.

I was moving our boat from Bezerkeley to our home port of Petaluma today. The wind was supposed to be 8 knots out of the east so it sounded like a piece of cake. However there was more wind and about the time I got to the Richmond Bridge there was a pretty good chop. I finally realized that the ebb tide had a lot more water and speed then usual, duh. All that winter rain heading out to sea reminded me of one of those Gulf Island passes. Fortunately my Wife and dog weren't along since they have definite prejudices about being bounced around. As is normal with a C-Dory I just slowed down until it was tolerable.

It's awful nice to be inside with the heater on and the wipers flopping whether you're in a C-Dory or a Ranger Tug. Funny how few other boats were out.

Jeff
 
We choose to spend part of the Holidays this year at Alyeska Resort outside of Anchorage. While many people think we are crazy for going to Alaska in the winter, yesterdays temperature was 38 degrees....... seems that is warmer than Seattle!

We had a wonderful Christmas with our daughter and Maureens family in the Bay Area. We then made our way to Alaska.

I got in a great day of skiing on Tuesday. Sunny sky's. A temperature of 15 degrees at the top of the mountain, and a bit of fresh snow. Wednesday we made the drive down to Seward. It was absolutely beautiful with eight inches of fresh snow! After spending the day checking for Ranger Tugs in the Seward Marina we made our way back to Alyeska. (We never did find a Ranger Tug.......)

Thursday I headed to the top of the ski runs again while Maureen headed into the spa for more pampering..... After a run down the mountain, I decided we should go over to the Girdwood Clinic and visit our old friends who put the stitches in my head last summer...... Ah yes, you know where this is going now. No one visits the clinic for a "social" call...... On my first run down, I managed to have one ski go off on its own (with my leg still firmly attached) and the other continue down the mountain.... The results, not sure yet, the MRI is tomorrow...... Hopefully nothing more than a very bad strain as it is easier to walk on it now.

Oh well. You only live once and "If you live without risk, you risk not living"!


Steve, amazing story! I saw the river the week before Christmas and it was running about halfway to full flood stage. (to those that have never seen the Sacramento River, that would be halfway up the levies.) Glad you and the Bee made it through!

Hope everyone had a great holiday season! See you on the water in 2011!
 
Steve,
As a former resident of Sacramento, I have seen that Winter river, brown, ugly, and snarling with eddies and dead trees----so your story at the Tower Bridge doesn't surprise me. Well, I have to admit I had similar moment in Alameda right after I bought Blue Bayou, and that was only a strong tidal current, on a sunny Fall day. Docking and securing in a strong current, with wind, is hazardous, at best, and can be fatal. My C-Dory friend, Steve Brandon, liked to say, at the end of a day boating in the Delta, "Well, we cheated Death another day." I liked that. That, and a shot of whiskey. Whew ! I hope you had a stiff drink when you finally secured the Christina Bee that day.
On another note, your telegram style of all caps, that is, all capital letters, means you get a Free Pass from any grammar, spelling, or punctuation rules of the road. After all, we know, by your own admission, that you are---without a clue.
Charles
 
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