Holy Schnikes!

So I have been on the tug for less than two days and already a huge bump in the road.We Left Richmond Virginia headed for Norfolk Virginia to switch out barges with another tug.We made it down the James River and successfully anchored the barge.Then it happened all hell broke loose.While stepping off the new barge back to the boat the first mate missed a rung in the ladder.He broke his left leg his wrist and knocked his head.The Coast Guard was called and along with them every local authority showed up with there seldom used fire and police response boats.The authorities showed up faster than the cops to a gun fight in the ghetto.They transported him via boat to an area hospital.We were supposed to be headed to Moorehead North Carolina however now we have to wait and see what happens.I do know this though it was a sharp reminder of how quickly a good day can turn ugly out here.

Dang!

Well I knew it was only a matter of time before my employer gave me the call and asked me to go back to work.Tomorrow seemed like a good day to them so there it is.I have to get a rental car to drive the hour or so to Richmond and jump on the boat.Only good thing is I'm going back to the same boat and barge that I just got off of.I already know most of the crew and I know how the barge works etc.Well after this post its back to boring tugboat pictures and stories.Really though I am thankful I have a job where they want me to come back early as opposed to having a job where there isn't any work.I'm not sure where we will be headed besides down river past my house and Norfolk then to the Chesapeake Bay and then I haven't a clue.

G-Dub Forrest

It's only been about six months since I had been to the George Washington Forrest but I had forgotten how intense the scenery is there.Two of my great friends and I packed like sardines into my Ford Ranger truck and took the three plus hour drive out there.We had to go to a different campsite site then our original one but we still got a sweet spot on a creek just above Cub Run.Down the mountain is stocked trout waters so all the city peeps like to fish there and it is ridiculously over fished.My one friend grew up just down the road in a town called Elkton which is right next to Shenandoah.We fished the south fork of the Shenandoah river,off the mountain and away from the morons,and even though the water was still a bit chilly all three of us caught about five fish a piece.Last time this year my friend who grew up in the area and I came up same weekend and all and we slaughtered some fish.Honestly around thirty fish a piece last year.This year I was getting skunked by my friends until I waded out into the water and found a nice deep hole.Within five minutes I had caught a red breasted bluegill,a smallmouth and a red eye.Any way you look at it we all had a great time.I honestly have a better time wondering up and down that river in swimming trunks then I do most everything else I do in my life.It's hard to explain but if you couple good friends with good weather,fishing and scenery there is no possible way you can be disappointed.

A Good Day Home

Well the weather finally broke.We have had either rain or wind since I have been home.My brother and I purchased another boat.Why another boat you ask,My response is I don't know,because I can.Really though it's a big upgrade from our first one.I took it out today in the Hampton Harbor.Nice flat water beautiful sunshine a hangover and no fish.Wait that doesn't sound like much fun but I made it fun.First I put the boat in by myself,never fun,then I proceeded to the small boat harbor in Newport News.I had to visit some people I used to work with and what better way to do it then by showing up in a boat.After a few minutes of shooting the breeze and remembering why I left that company I went and fished the seawall for a bit and had no luck.I contemplated heading over to the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel but I wasn't feeling brave enough.I was right there but the thought of crossing over the ship channel convinced me to just speed home with the motor wide open.Well this weekend I'm running for the mountains with a few choice friends to do some camping and fishing.We shall see if it works out.

Waiting on Mother Nature

Of course since I came home a bit early my punishment has been poor weather,wind then rain then more wind.I did get a chance to take my mother to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens,I missed Mothers Day that's why I did it.It was tolerable the roses were in bloom and we needed more time and energy to see everything but all in all it was borderline fun.Well my brother and I bought a new duck hunting boat,completely unnecessary,but it was an upgrade and a good deal.After I get it registered tomorrow then Thursday and Friday,weather permitting,it's on to the Chickahominy to give it a go.For now you will all have to settle for pictures of roses and plants and no fish yet.

Home on the Range

Not exactly the range it's the ghetto.Honestly it could be worse but it could be tons better.I'm back home though and that's all that matters.I'm looking forward to doing plenty of fishing and catching up with friends.Hopefully the ghettotastic drama will not be involved in any of the catching up.In the next few days there will be plenty of pictures of places I went fishing.No pictures of fish because I tend not to catch any.But it's just good to be back home.

Can't Keep the Brother Man Down!!!!

Well here I am again headed up river slowly.With aluminum again and it's dusty,again.We do have a crew change coming in the next few days so hopefully I will be involved in that.With all the office politics and being short on people,for once in my life I am in high demand.To bad covering for someone who had to get off the boat last week has drained me and I am oh so ready to head home and relax for a few weeks.Only time will tell if I get a relief or not.I was asked by the captain if I was willing to quit to get off the boat.I responded with expletive no expletive your crazy expletive do you know how long it took me to find this job expletive expletive,or something like that.WE SHALL SEE WHAT UNFOLDS.

Foiled Again!

I have stated in the past about how the tugboat world is ever changing.Well less than twelve hours before we were scheduled to leave for the Bahamas it the trip got cancelled.Along with that spectacular news the weather turned ugly at the anchorage in the lower Mississippi Valley.Oh and a crew member had a "medical emergency" that forced him to leave the boat.One last thing after they changed our orders to return to Texas to load we were in the process of getting underway and all hell broke loose.A busted tow winch a parted line and an exhausted and mildly frightened crew later we did get underway only to get pummeled by mother nature in the Gulf of Mexico by 8-10 foot seas.We are in Texas and the aluminum dust is flying and I'm going home next week that's all I know.