Danger Bay—Episode 50—Shakedown Cruise

2008 January 4

Voyage of the Motor Vessel Sparrow” series inspired by Bob Carney. written by Boomer Jack Boardman

Previously—Episode 49—Arrival!

“They decided to give the boat a shakedown cruise after daylight, when most of the passengers would be up and about. The ‘transmorgification’ er—‘transit’ of the boat, however, had an unintended consequence elsewhere…”

Episode 50:

WHADDAYA MEAN IT’S GONE?!” Allen “Big A” SimpsonWhaddaya mean It’s Gone ©2007 New Codgers screamed into his two-way radio, “What are you saying?”

“There was a flash of light,” replied his minion…er associate, from the waterfront, “and the boat was gone, sir.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that!”

“How can this be?” Simpson thought, “They’ll pay for this—Oh they will pay…”

Meanwhile, the day dawned, and word spread quickly among the passengers of the almost-like-magic arrival of the MV Maryland & Virginia, and one-by-one, they appeared on deck to view the new arrival.

MV Maryland & Virginia on Deck at Dawn ©2008 New CodgersExpressions of “Shock & Awe” were overheard from the gathered passengers and crew:

WOW!

Day-am!

Mercy!

Farrrr-out!

Lookit that, willya?

Gee-whillackers!

Ain’t that sumptin’?

How’d they do that?

Cap & Edith were ready an hour or so later, and the MV Maryland & Virginia was launched. They took a couple of laps around the Sparrow, and then Cap decided to “Give’r a chance ta show what she’s got.” And with a huge smile on his aged face, he jammed the throttle to all the way open, and the little boat lurched ahead.

The M&V reached her top speed of around 8 knots rather quicklyMV Maryland & Virginia Underway ©2008 New Codgers (if speed not stability is your goal, get a boat with a planing hull, the M&V was built for all-weather capability, not speed), and Cap tested her maneuverability and purposely ran the wake of a passing freighter a couple of times.

“This is one fine boat!” he exclaimed, “She’ll do just fine.”

“From you, Silas,” Edith observed, “high praise, indeed.”

“Guess we’d better get’r back ta th’ Sparrow,” he said with some reluctance. It had been some years since he captained a boat, and he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

The boat was recovered aboard the Sparrow and secured in herMN 32 Star US Flag ©2008 New Codgers nest. The passengers retired to the main cabin. The Sparrow resumed her journey.

Currently off the coast of Maine, she had some miles in front of her before she reached her first port-of call in Connecticut.

To Be CONTINUED–Monday

16 Responses leave one →
  1. 2008 January 4

    8 knots? Why am I holding a ski rope?

  2. 2008 January 4
    boomerjack permalink

    Chris: Fishin’ boat, Chris, fishin’ boat! :-)

  3. 2008 January 4

    Chris missed her calling for sure. ROFL

  4. 2008 January 4
    boomerjack permalink

    Bob: What’s this “Friday are for Friends” stuff?
    Maggie: I guess so!

  5. 2008 January 4
    Lysa permalink

    I am ready to drop a line :)

  6. 2008 January 4
    Lysa permalink

    And! My coffee cup has officially been ordered!

  7. 2008 January 4
    boomerjack permalink

    Lysa: First we go to Connecticut.Whatever you put in that cup will taste better. ;-)

  8. 2008 January 4

    peep on the back of the boat dangling her feet… weeeeeee

  9. 2008 January 4
    boomerjack permalink

    Bob: The mind boggles! :-)

  10. 2008 January 4

    OK – let me get this straigh, Chris is skiing behing the fishing boat and now the fishing boat will go on the Sparrow??? – I know I’m still recovering but take it easy on us non-fishermen people! : )

  11. 2008 January 5
    boomerjack permalink

    Ines: Wait–wait! The story is pretty clear–it’s Chris and Bob and, and–I need a day off! :-)

  12. 2008 January 5

    you deserve a day off Jack – maybe get some Carney sun glasses

  13. 2008 January 5
    boomerjack permalink

    OK!

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Danger Bay—Episode 49—Arrival! « Our Saint Paul!
  2. Friday are for Friends | Focus On Frederick.com
  3. Danger Bay—Episode 51—Just Cruising « Our Saint Paul!

Leave a Reply

Note: You can use basic XHTML in your comments. Your email address will never be published.

Subscribe to this comment feed via RSS