Progress report

August 25 to August 31


    Monday we left Mon valley Boat club at 8:15 and by 9 we were encountering ever increasing headwinds. We burned the new muscles in our legs to keep up a two and a half mile per hour pace. We arrived at the POINT in Pittsburg at two p.m. where the general public ignored us. We did meet a tour boat that gave us a round of cheers. We went a tenth of a mile up the Alleghany just to say we were there. As we entered the Ohio River the winds shifted giving us some sailing and some headwinds. I couldn't find North Shore Marina, so we landed at Island Boat Club 2.2 miles down the Ohio River where I called Arlene on the cell phone. Soon, Jim, a stranger, called back for directions. He and his sweetheart graciously led Arlene to our location going quite a bit out of their way and using considerable time and their cell phone to assist Arlene in finding us in downtown Pittsburg. Arlene restocked our food supply and we continued a few miles down the Ohio just past the penitentiary where we found a ten foot beach to land the boat. Trains passed by on the tracks just a hundred feet from us every 10 minutes. Planes in a landing pattern for Pittsburg roared overhead frequently. Trash had had washed up all along our campsite, so I remarked to Ted that everything lands here. During the night I jumped out of the boat as tows with no barges sped by on their way to Emsworth Lock. The speeding tows spread a three foot wake that bounced us on the rocky beach. I quickly put some logs under the hulls to soften the grinding I felt. After 11 p.m. no more tows passed us.
    Tuesday we were up at 6 and launched at 7:30 to make a short run to Groveton Boat club only eight miles downstream. We wanted a short day after yesterday's grueling experience. Ted spent much time on the phone contacting the local news media while we waited for Arlene to arrive. Dick and Geri helped us out a lot there. Beaver County Alleghany Times interviewed Ted while I went to Arlene's room to make updates to the webpage. Ted got a shower, clean clothes, and was able to call home.

Groveton Boat Club near Coraopolis, PA


    Wednesday...bad storms... we took the day off. Dick and Geri gave us another free day at the docks. They offered a place for Ted to stay, but he insisted on keeping his pledge to sleep on the boat every night. It was a good rest. Ted got to write letters, while Arlene and I cruised by car through the next 3 days worth of scheduled stops.
    Thursday we travelled 16 miles to the mouth of the Beaver river to Skippers Landing Boat Club where we met some of the nicest and most generous folks encountered so far. Stan came out in his power boat to greet us and check our mast clearance under the low bridge over the Beaver. (3 feet) We were warmly greeted by Bill and Mary Belle Hoover (the owners). Randy and Cheryl lived there at the marina and treated us very kindly. Mary Belle drove across town to get copies of yesterday's news article from the Beaver County Times for us. They all did many things for us and we appreciate their hospitality.

Randy, Cheryl, Ted, Bill and Mary Belle at Skipper's Landing in Rochester, PA


    Friday...After being treated to coffee by Cheryl and Randy, we launched a little late and toughened our legs with an 18 mile upwind battle to Holiday Yacht Club in Chester WV. arriving at 4:30 p.m. where we greeted by wide eyed child, Nicholas, who returned later with pop and snacks from his parents. His mom called the local newspaper, and a reporter from "Review" arrived later.

Holiday Yacht Club, Chester, WV


    Saturday we left at 10:35 after receiving more more snacks from Nicholas. At 1:15 we passed through the New Cumberland lock under Arlene's watchful eye from the observation deck. By 2:30 we were at Bo's Lighthouse where Bill, the friendly bartender, warned us that we should take our showers early due to the 1973 class reunion taking place there that night. Chris arrived with spare parts that evening. The band started at ten and played till two a.m. Ted thought it was terrible music, but it was from my college time, and the band was excellent but very loud. "Down on the boardwalk" kept popping into my head all the rest of the night. Ted missed mass because it was at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m., but he visited the chapel anyway.
    Sunday, we left early even though our sleep was short. Good winds allowed us to dock at Pier 12 Marina, 15 miles away, at 11:15 a.m. Arlene was there, and Chris arrived a little later. A friendly couple of boaters at the docks gave us coffee. They told us storms were coming in the next few days. Since everything was in our favor now we decided to continue another 15 miles to Martin's Ferry Boat Club where we met very friendly people who helped us dock, helped Arlene find food for us, and called the news. Channel 9 TV came to the marina and interviewed us. Lots of people downstream from here saw the newscast and recognized us. We had a quiet and peaceful evening.

Martin's Ferry Boat Club near Martin's Ferry, OH



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