Repairs in Clifton TN – The adventure continues

Tennessee River at
Clinton TN

I love you guys! When we don’t write, folks call and ask what is going on! We got emails and phone calls from friends / readers either concerned for our safety or needed another fix of those crazy people who travel / live on a boat. Isn’t that sweet? 

When we arrived in Clinton Marina,
the water was this high

As you recall from our last post, things went bad on Good Karma on Sunday November 13, 2018 when the transmission pumps gave up the ghost in Clinton Tn, the middle of nowhere. At the same time, a small shaft propelling the blowers into the port engine gave out so the engine would not work.

Four weeks later, the water
completely covers that road!

Diesel Don came up from Gulfport MS on Monday November 14. He replaced the small blower shaft with one he carried with him in his truck. The port engine was fixed. He sent the transmission pumps to Detroit Diesel directly for repair. We thought he sent them to a repair shop but he went right to the original source for rebuild. We probably got a warranty!
 

Michigan Avenue

Don said there was no reason for us to wait around. He could not predict when the pumps would be finished. So we went home to Ohio on Wednesday November 16 in a rented white Nissan Sentra that we affectionately called the scooter.

We had a wonderful interlude with friends and family over Thanksgiving. All Christmas presents are purchased, wrapped and delivered. All Christmas cards are out – the first time in many years the cards were mailed before New Year’s! The house is cleaned to an inch of its life. We saw every episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season two.

Macy's - Chicago

My sister Martha and I went to Chicago right after Thanksgiving. She had a doctor’s appointment at University of Illinois Medical Center and I had a speaking engagement at Northwestern University. We had a wonderful time! We walked on Michigan Avenue, saw the windows at Marshall Fields Macy’s, shopped at Christkindle Market and ate at Eataly, Mario Bataly’s Italian market place. 

It was so cold the pigeons
gathered around the
eternal flame. 

Marissa got us a wonderful hotel room at a Marriott just east of Michigan Avenue, north of the river. I got the chance to meet two coaching clients in person!

I spoke to a class of senior level industrial engineering students at my alma mater, Northwestern. It was nice to get back to campus. In fact, speaking at Northwestern was a bucket list item for me!

Windows - Marshall Fields,
I mean Macy's

Kermit and I are ready to travel.

Unfortunately the boat was not ready for us until now.

Kristkindle Market

Diesel Don alternated his time between our boat in Clifton TN and our new friends, Eagle One, broken down in Aqua Harbor. We just had a few pumps rebuilt. Kris and Rick had a cracked block, a much more serious problem. As long as Detroit Diesel took their sweet time, Don worked on Eagle One. They are now fixed, ready to begin traveling after Christmas.

Kermit finally got the call from Diesel Don. He drove down to Clifton TN on Wednesday December 12, a full month after our initial problem. The rebuilt pumps were ready for installation. Don’t get too excited. This could be complicated.

Here was our dilemma. The transmission pumps needed to be rebuilt. That much is clear. What was not clear was whether the transmissions would work even with the rebuilt pumps. Don was very honest with us. If the transmissions did not go into forward gear with the rebuilt pumps then we needed new transmissions.

The precious transmission pump

This kind of major repair would take time, lots of money and major hassle. You see, the transmissions would have to be removed through hatches in the salon floor. Those hatches are covered with beautiful, high quality carpet and real furniture like the kind you have in your living room. I would cry. A lot.

We were on pins and needles the entire month in Ohio with the “what ifs”. Where to find the money? What if they had to mess up the salon? Is there another way? What about the delay? We are supposed to be in Florida already.

We did a little deep breathing and a lot of meditation / exercise / activity to get our minds off the “what ifs”. But finally we would learn the true reality.

Kermit drove down on Wednesday December 12. Don arrived on Friday December 14. He installed the pumps. EVERYTHING WORKED PERFECTLY! Almost like Good Karma!

We do not need new transmissions. We finally breathe. And sleep.

I stayed in Ohio a few more days to attend a few meetings I scheduled before knowing our departure date. Most important, I could sing in the Christmas Cantata at church.

Sunday morning December 16 dawned clear, warm and sunny in northeast Ohio. The cantata was almost perfect. We got a standing O! I hugged my church friends and sped out back home. My bags were packed, the house clean when Marilyn Lipka arrived to take me to the airport. I hugged Marilyn and got on the plane on time for the flight to Nashville.

Kermit met me at Nashville airport in the scooter. We stopped for dinner at what we learned was the hottest spot for a younger demographic in all of Nashville, the Pinewood Social. We definitely impacted the average age. The place was filled with millennials bowling, drinking coffee, enjoying

We brought up the average age - Pinewood Social

cocktails and eating dinner. Kermit had an awesome hamburger and I had a turkey and brie sandwich with cranberry chutney and sprouts. UMMM!!!

Nashville by Pinewood Social 

It feels great to be back on the boat. It is interesting to be the absolutely only folks in this marina. No one even comes to the office. It is dark, quiet and just a little scary. We walk very carefully around the corners - we wouldn't want to fall in! 

Yesterday on Monday December 17 Kermit returned the scooter and we prepared to leave. 

Before we left we decided to appease Poseidon with the name changing ceremony. We didn’t get to do it before we left. Maybe that was the problem. I am not superstitious but what the heck.

We pulled out three bottles of champagne.

Appeasing Poseidon?
We hope!!

Notice the xmas lights? 

Poseidon is evidently still a little mad because just after the ceremony, the toilets backed up. We spent a nice hour mopping up the front and rear toilets then washing towels and rugs. We can't wait to get to Florida...

As I write this on Tuesday morning, December 18, the fog is lifting a bit. We will take off when we can see across the river. The current is very fast against us. The fishermen say the current is about 5 to 7 mph. We only have to travel about 55 miles through Pickwick Lock to Aqua Harbor. Fingers crossed we make it safely.

What’s next? At Aqua Yacht Harbor we will have the boat lifted out to take a look at the props. Then Don returns to supervise some oil changes and check out his handiwork to be sure we are still in good shape. I suspect we will leave on Friday December 21 for points south.