Season is Over

On the 15th of October, Degaje went on the hard until spring.  A bit early, but travel for work is picking up, we have a wedding in Virginia to attend this month and then a week aboard the Island Hopper, Long Boat Key to Naples and back.

We are hoping for an early spring launch, but that is entirely dependent on how the river is behaving.

2010 Riverfest

As the 2010 boating year begins to wrap up, we had another successful hosting of freinds aboard Degaje for the Cincinnati Riverfest Fireworks.

A few of the crew aboard Degaje for Riverfest

In excess of 1,500 boats were expected on the river along with an estimated 500,000 watching from shore. 

Looking up-river as boats continue to arrive

The show was good, though a little less than previous years as the economy seems to take its toll. 

Waiting for the show to begin

Showtime!

Last 7 minutes of the 35 minute show

Cincinnati to Agusta

Readying the boat today for passengers, our good friends John and Vicki Moseley.  We will be traveling to Augusta, KY, having dinner at the The Beehive Tavern, spending the night on the dock and then on Saturday,  back down river to anchor out below Meldahl dam, back to ORLC Saturday night.

Beehive Tavern

The Beehive Tavern (http://www.beehivetavernrestaurant.com/)  was built in 1796. In the late 1863 Morgan's raiders attacked Augusta Kentucky after 6,000 troops had been sent to aide the Union leaving only 100 home guards in place. As part of Morgan's famous Raid, Confederate Col. Basil Duke led 350 mounted infantry into Augusta where they encountered heavy resistance from the home guards who had taken up defensive positions within the city. The Confederates opened up on Augusta with cannon, reportedly hitting what is now the tavern, however the home guard stood firm repulsing the Confederate Raiders from the city.

On Friday morning, after loading John and Vicki's kayak and other assorted gear, we departed ORLC.  Little did we know that Degaje would live up to her name, again!
It was a beautiful day after a hot and wet summer, as we headed up the Ohio.  John took the helm as Captain Ed took to other duties.

John at the helm

After passing by various towns and waypoints we requested a north bound lock through at Meldahl dam, but found that the small chamber (usualy reserved for recreational/pleasure boaters) was closed and both lock chambers may be closed for a day or two.

We decided to stay in our pool, and not lock through.  The water was pleasant just below the dam so we decided to swim and kayak here, and later go back down river to New Richmond for dinner.   We chose Front Street Cafe, a garden restuarant with country/bluegrass music and great food (http://www.frontstcafe.com/)

Vicki reading on the bow while heading up-river

Barb and Vicki enjoying "adult" beverages

Vicki

John

Barb

Afer dinner and drinks at the Front Street Cafe we motored by night to an anchorage about 45 minutes down river.  Dessert of sorbet, fruit and a bottle of wine followed, with the promise of more kayaking and swimming the next day.

"Smoke on the Water" . . .  Fog burning off Saturday morning at anchor

Our boats name, Degaje is Haitian Creole which means to make do or be flexible. once again, we were.

Cincinnati - Louisville - Part 3

Barb and I were up early this morning and able to catch a spectacular sunrise after which we went on a walk to a local coffee shop and then back to the boat for some phone calls and emails.

Sunrise

We then joined Dan and Jenny to return to the  Falls of the Ohio Discovery Center that had been closed on Sunday.   Prior to 1927, there was no dam or locks, so when the river was high enough a beautiful falls existed here.

Falls of the Ohio pre-1927

Play Ball!  A visit to the Lousiville Slugger museum was well worth the stop and included a factory tour. 

Louisville Slugger Museum

The day ended with a visit to one of the oldest continually operated family run confectioner in the US (http://www.schimpffs.com) and dinner at Vincenzo's, a very nice upscale Italian restaurant (http://www.vincenzositalianrestaurant.com/).

The return portion of the trip included an overnight at Smugglers Cove, 70 miles from Louisville and 67 miles from the Ohio River Launch Club.

Cincinnati - Louisville - Part 2

We left Smugglers Cove on Saturday about 8:30 AM and had finished locking through at Markland Dam by 10:00 AM.  The 70 Miles to Louisville was scheduled to take 7 1/2 - 8 hours.  We arrived at the slip in  Louisville during a severe thunderstorm.  Instead of a near impossible attempt to dock due to heavy rain and high winds, we simply motored a rectangular box course for 45 minutes or so in front of downtown Louisville while monitoring weather radar via laptop.  We finally docked around 5:30 pm with Dan and Jenny's capable assistance.

Dan and Jenny aboard "Trust Me Too" pass us on the way to Louisville

For dinner saturday evening we went to Jack Fry's restaurant.  The atmosphere (casual) with light jazz saxaphone in the background was wonderful.  The menu selection and food was great.  http://www.jackfrys.com/

On Sunday morning our cab driver from the night before picked us up promptly at 9:30 to take us to Budget Rent a Car.  By 10:30 we were back at the boat with wheels for the next 2 days.

Throughout the rest of the day we touristed in Louisville, visiting the Churchill Downs Museum and Falls of the Ohio.

Myself and Barb at Falls of the Ohio

It was at the falls that Lewis and Clark set out on their expedition:

A late lunch and casual walk downtown on the riverfront ended the day.

  The Steamboat Belle of Louisville Docking

Cincinnati to Louisville

During last year's trip to Madison Indiana, we noted that Louisville was not that much further, so we decided to plan a trip this year to Louisville aboard the Degaje.  Friends, Dan and Jenny Crocker also joined us aboard their boat, "Trust Me Too."

We left bright and early Friday morning, destined for Smugglers Cove Marina which is about half way, sixty- five miles of the 135 mile journey. 

Leaving the Cincinnati area, through town first

Our average cruising speed was 9 miles per hour, so the estimated time for the trip was close to 7 hours. 

Leaving Cincinnati behind

Argosy Casino at Rising Sun, IN

Barb and I had wondered if we could take Degaje up Big Bone Creek where Big Bone Lick State Park is located. This trip we were adventerous enough to try and were surprised to find more than adequate depth to handle Degaje, in some places 16 feet below our keel.

Big Bone Creek

After arriving at Smugglers Cove, we joined the Crocker's and two other couples, Terry and Nancy Glasgow and Dave and Anita Moeggenberg, from Ohio River Launch Club club who had overnighted at Rising Sun on Thursday night and were also staying at Smugglers Cove on Friday Night.

Dinner at Smugglers Cove  - Sunset Grille

After a brief Happy Hour we walked to the on-site restaurant, Sunset Grille, and enjoyed the weekly "Rib Night".

Kicking Around - Part 3

Had a leisurely breakfast this morning and prepared the boat for cruising about 35- 40 miles up river to Old Coney/Riverbend for the Pops concert and fireworks.  At an average of 9-10 miles per hour the trip will take a bit over 4 hours.  Stopped at Lawrenceburg to stretch our legs and have lunch at the Riverwalk Restaurant.  Nice place and a good menu.

Lawrenceburg, IN

Anchored across from Riverbend, kayaked and generally just hung out in the water to cool off from a 90 degree day.  Returned to the boat club around 11:30 PM to find out that the ramp from the stage had broken (failed weld), so moved the boat to another dock in order to off load in the AM.

Boats waiting for the Pops concert and fireworks across from Riverbend

Kicking Around - Part 2

Woke up this morning to a bunch of mayflies (aka, ugly bugs) on the decks and thick fog.  Washed down the decks with river water from a bucket suspended from a line, and had a nice breakfast as the sun burned the fog off.  Did a little kayaking and swimming throughout the day, chilled and decided to spend another night.  Oh, also finished removing the glue from the transom of the faded name of the boat that I put on about 7 years ago and applied the new letters.

Yours truly returning to the boat

Looking NW, up river, just before going down below

Kicking Around

Over the 4th of July weekend, Barb and I decided to take the boat 37 miles down river to Laughery Island which on the narrow side of the river is a safe place to anchor out, as the commercial river traffic passes on the other side of the island.  Laughery Island, also called Laughery's Island, and is named after Archibald Lochry,  the leader of an ill-fated group of Pennsylvania militiamen who were attacked near the island by Native Americans in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War, a battle known as Lochry's Defeat.

The rest of this trip will be detemined by what moves us!

Heading south from Cincinnati

Aurora Indiana

On the hook, enjoying a beautiful sunset with a glass of wine and fruit with whipped cream

Abaco

Barb and I decided to go to the Abacos (Bahamas - The Out Islands) on our own after our very good friends were not able to meet us there in the last week of May, 2010. 

We selected a hotel, the Abaco Beach Resort at Marsh Harbor on Great Abaco Island, and arranged for two days of scuba diving and three days of boat rental (a 20' center console). 

View from our Hotel Balcony

Great Abaco Island is situated on the Sea of Abaco which is defined by the various cays (pronounced keys) to the east and Great and Little Abaco Islands to the West.  In general, the width (E to W) of the sea is less than 10 miles and the boating area in the main hub of activity is about 40 miles North to South of the total 120-mile-long island chain.  In the summer, seas are calm, so the little Albury 20 footer did just fine.  The boat is built on Man-O-War Cay (population 300 Bahamian residents and about 135 foreign resident families) just some 10 miles across the Sea of Abaco.

Barb at the Helm of the Albury 20

Docked at Guana Cay, on our way to Nippers

Hope Town on elbow Cay is probably the most picturesque destination with its striped lighthouse and well kept cottages and narrow streets.

Hope Town Lighthouse on Elbow Cay

Street in Hope Town on Elbow Cay

Breakfast in Hope Town at Hope Town Harbor Lodge

Abaco is a destination that  one can enjoy on a your own boat or a rented sailboat, cruiser, hotel or cottage.  If you are land based, a rental boat is highly recommended since there are also deserted beaches, reefs as well as the various cays to explore.