Inagural Splash Part I

Ramp Out of Service - damn, now what was I going to do? Merlin and I settled in the van pondering what to do next. I remembered a call on my cell that I had ignored because we were in the middle of the survey and the number was not in my address book... Oh that reminds me.

I had forgotten to charge my phone the night before, but didn't worry knowing I could charge it in the van on the way to the lake. My 'real' GPS was in Big Duck, so as we left the house I plugged my phone into the van's cigarette lighter and turned on the phone's navigation...my memory is as old as my body and I often miss my turns unless the polite lady inside the GPS gives me notice. We call the lady inside the GPS GyPSy and we appreciater her very, very much.

I look at the call wondering if I should really call back, I had to get organized and didn't need complications. Then the notice came up on the phone, "Battery low, plug in charger'. So I did, wondering why it didn't have a full charge after 2 hour on the road. I decided to listen to the message. I missed the first part of the message because I was messing with the charger plug, and I didn't recognize the voice, but whoever it was offered assistance in the the event I needed help at Lake Murray. He had seen the Facebook photo of Big Duck (with a Lake Murray title) I'd uploaded from the rest area about 50 miles from the marina.

I post a lot of forums and often get offers of help or an invitation to stop by for a visit, and for the most part I do. One of my 'things' is to meet an internet aquaintenance personally on each trip. But it became apparent on the way down, that Big Duck is an eyecatcher. People are hanging out the window or cross the street for a chance to get information on her. We always oblige - it's fun sharing, but in this case, not knowing who it was I was tempeted to just ignore the call, but decided to replay it for assurance.

Holy Ship! It was from Nicky, a relatively new boating buddy, and this guy knew his stuff and Lake Murray was his backyard. I called him back and he told me about a good ramp for Big Duck's first splash and even volunteered to meet me there.

I Googled the Marina and put it in as a destination on my phone. Plugged in, it was still saying 'battery low'. I'm now thinking that even plugged in to the charger, the phone draws more power than it gets from the charger with the GPS on using Navigation, but we made it to the ramp before the phone died. I'd just grab the cigarette charger and recharge on Big Duck with all the phone's programs off.

We called Nicky when we got to the ramp. I took Merlin for a 'hobble' and he didn't want to head back any where near the boat. All he wanted to do was to find old dried up fish and rub his head in them. When Nicky showed up I tied up Merlin to the dock while I made preparations.

As is normal, I completely loose it when I get to the ramp. It took about 20 tries to back Big Duck down the ramp - Nicky was soooo patient. Getting her off the trailer went well, although she does need to be pretty deep...exhaust burbling. When the Duck was at the dock I went up and secured the van/trailer that Nicky had so professionally re-positioned for me while I was making the boat (and Merlin) ready. Nicky would join us for a run up the lake and back, then we would put him ashore. Merlin and I would backtrack some along the midnight track and spend the night aboard.