TBarCYa
Senior Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2005
- Messages
- 781
On Saturday, a local country music station was having a BIG concert at a venue with both seating and a general admission lawn area. I went to this same show last year and spent 2 hours sitting in traffic trying to find a place to park and then 15 minutes walking from the parking lot to the venue so this year, I decided to play it smart and go a different route and reserve a slip at the marina right next to the venue. It cost 3x as much as parking but would have been worth it at twice the price.
The day started at 1030am when we launched at the marina where i have a season ramp pass. It was low tide and took a couple tries to get her launched thanks to a HUGE log that was at the bottom of the ramp but under the water and not visable. Once I got the boat hook and moved the log, we got launched and only had to deal with 2' of water under a boat that needs almost 3 to get out. Once out of the marina, it was smooth sailing for the 10 minute trip up river to the next marina.
Once we got in and found our slip, we tied up and got to tailgating. Or is it, swim platforming? Anyhow, it was just Susan and I but other boaters in the marina were listening to the same station that was putting on the concert so we had a great time hanging out with like-minded people until it was time to go into the show. This is the first time I've left the Lottie-Da tied up while I wasn't able to see her so I was a bit nervous. I had replaced the house battery the day before but we had spent some time listening to the radio so I was a little concerned since my bilge pump float switch is connected to the house battery but everything was fine.
Once in the concert, we spent the majority of the day on the lawn (we had lawn tickets) or in the seats since it was open seating until 6pm. I bought a new Blue Chair Bay straw hat and a turquoise hat for Susan and sometime around 7pm while we were in the worst spot in the venue (due to foot traffic not visability) we were approached by someone from the radio station who offered us seats so we could get out of the crowd. We ended up sitting in the center section and had a great time watching Eric Church and Jason Aldean, the last two acts, from the seats.
Shortly before midnight, when the show was over we headed back to the marina. I didn't realize it immediately but I apparently left the battery switch set to the house battery and didn't change it when I fired the engine. We sat for a few minutes letting the engine warm up, turned on the NAV lights and the blue LED rope lights I installed a couple years ago (mood lighting) and headed down river at a comfortable 10mph since it was very dark and the river gets a bit of wood at times. The trip took a lot longer than normal but we had a fantastic time chatting and enjoying the nighttime scenery. The river is definitely more romantic at night than during the day.
We were going to head to a quiet cove to sit for a little longer before heading out but it was a little chilly and we were both dressed for the sunny day we had just enjoyed so we headed straight for the ramp. At this point, it's low tide again so we had trouble getting to the ramp and it took a couple tries getting the Lottie-Da on the trailer straight due to wood that wanted to be between the bunks and the hull but she went on straight and without any wood under the hull.
We pull out and while taking down the flag, removing the plug, stowing the gear and getting her ready to tow home (I did forget the transom straps) we were met by two guys that had been fishing on the pier next to the marina and saw us come in. When they heard the truck running over deadwood while pulling the boat up the ramp, they headed towards us to see if we needed help. We chatted for a while and I offered them beverages (there were two of them and only one of me so I wanted to be overly hospitable) and eventually they went back to fishing without incident. I'm about the same size as the smaller of the two and when he pulled out a pocket knife and was cutting fishing line, I got a little nervous. They didn't give any indication that they wanted trouble and seemed to be really nice guys, but two strangers approaching us at night when there's nobody around but us and me unprepared for such a situation, it was a nervous situation for Susan and I.
It was a fantastic day that would probably have been closer to terrible if not for the Lottie-Da. I've already reserved a slip for when Jimmy Buffett comes to town in a couple weeks and I'll be doing the same thing then except we'll be better prepared for a chilly evening.
Here are some pics from the day in chronological order. The first is my standing in front of the pirate flag being held to the antenna by the new flag clips I had installed that morning. Next is Susan sitting in one of the bow seats aboard the Lottie-Da. Lastly are two of my favorite nighttime sights from the river. One is the Ben Franklin bridge that connects New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The lights are definitely more impressive in person because the colors change but it's an interesting pic nonetheless. Lastly is my favorite... The Battleship New Jersey. She's docked in her permanent home which is just outside of the marina where we had the slip and just outside of the venue where the concert was held. We had to go more than half way across the river to get all of her in the picture.
Thanks to 92.5WXTU in Philadelphia for putting on the show, the Gloucester City Marina for the season ramp pass, Wiggins Park Marina in Camden, NJ for the parking spot for the day, Susan for spending a wonderful day together and thanks to the Lottie-Da for making it all possible.
The day started at 1030am when we launched at the marina where i have a season ramp pass. It was low tide and took a couple tries to get her launched thanks to a HUGE log that was at the bottom of the ramp but under the water and not visable. Once I got the boat hook and moved the log, we got launched and only had to deal with 2' of water under a boat that needs almost 3 to get out. Once out of the marina, it was smooth sailing for the 10 minute trip up river to the next marina.
Once we got in and found our slip, we tied up and got to tailgating. Or is it, swim platforming? Anyhow, it was just Susan and I but other boaters in the marina were listening to the same station that was putting on the concert so we had a great time hanging out with like-minded people until it was time to go into the show. This is the first time I've left the Lottie-Da tied up while I wasn't able to see her so I was a bit nervous. I had replaced the house battery the day before but we had spent some time listening to the radio so I was a little concerned since my bilge pump float switch is connected to the house battery but everything was fine.
Once in the concert, we spent the majority of the day on the lawn (we had lawn tickets) or in the seats since it was open seating until 6pm. I bought a new Blue Chair Bay straw hat and a turquoise hat for Susan and sometime around 7pm while we were in the worst spot in the venue (due to foot traffic not visability) we were approached by someone from the radio station who offered us seats so we could get out of the crowd. We ended up sitting in the center section and had a great time watching Eric Church and Jason Aldean, the last two acts, from the seats.
Shortly before midnight, when the show was over we headed back to the marina. I didn't realize it immediately but I apparently left the battery switch set to the house battery and didn't change it when I fired the engine. We sat for a few minutes letting the engine warm up, turned on the NAV lights and the blue LED rope lights I installed a couple years ago (mood lighting) and headed down river at a comfortable 10mph since it was very dark and the river gets a bit of wood at times. The trip took a lot longer than normal but we had a fantastic time chatting and enjoying the nighttime scenery. The river is definitely more romantic at night than during the day.
We were going to head to a quiet cove to sit for a little longer before heading out but it was a little chilly and we were both dressed for the sunny day we had just enjoyed so we headed straight for the ramp. At this point, it's low tide again so we had trouble getting to the ramp and it took a couple tries getting the Lottie-Da on the trailer straight due to wood that wanted to be between the bunks and the hull but she went on straight and without any wood under the hull.
We pull out and while taking down the flag, removing the plug, stowing the gear and getting her ready to tow home (I did forget the transom straps) we were met by two guys that had been fishing on the pier next to the marina and saw us come in. When they heard the truck running over deadwood while pulling the boat up the ramp, they headed towards us to see if we needed help. We chatted for a while and I offered them beverages (there were two of them and only one of me so I wanted to be overly hospitable) and eventually they went back to fishing without incident. I'm about the same size as the smaller of the two and when he pulled out a pocket knife and was cutting fishing line, I got a little nervous. They didn't give any indication that they wanted trouble and seemed to be really nice guys, but two strangers approaching us at night when there's nobody around but us and me unprepared for such a situation, it was a nervous situation for Susan and I.
It was a fantastic day that would probably have been closer to terrible if not for the Lottie-Da. I've already reserved a slip for when Jimmy Buffett comes to town in a couple weeks and I'll be doing the same thing then except we'll be better prepared for a chilly evening.
Here are some pics from the day in chronological order. The first is my standing in front of the pirate flag being held to the antenna by the new flag clips I had installed that morning. Next is Susan sitting in one of the bow seats aboard the Lottie-Da. Lastly are two of my favorite nighttime sights from the river. One is the Ben Franklin bridge that connects New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The lights are definitely more impressive in person because the colors change but it's an interesting pic nonetheless. Lastly is my favorite... The Battleship New Jersey. She's docked in her permanent home which is just outside of the marina where we had the slip and just outside of the venue where the concert was held. We had to go more than half way across the river to get all of her in the picture.
Thanks to 92.5WXTU in Philadelphia for putting on the show, the Gloucester City Marina for the season ramp pass, Wiggins Park Marina in Camden, NJ for the parking spot for the day, Susan for spending a wonderful day together and thanks to the Lottie-Da for making it all possible.
wish i was you when jimmy buffet comes id have to stay all night long be to drunk to drive and load the boat up. i usually run 1 battery if i am beached or anchord for awhile then switch to both to start up my bilge is manual but my boat doesnt take on but a cup or 2 of water in a day.