CaptainBuilt’s Adventures!

[CaptainBuilt]

Seems there's a niche business for everything these days. "Coffee Gear For Your Adventure"?

Yea, I dunno.

 

[highest_vision]

Maybe I need to get out more. Funny picture combo  did the UFC fighter knock that part off???

 

[Qxxx]

Logging on when I come in from the desert and actually get some internet, I am continuing to enjoy the great pictures, .

 

[CaptainBuilt]

Thanks!

Van guy in Panama City Fl. And a military hovercraft.

 

[CaptainBuilt]

Somewhere in Florida. I hate Florida.

 

[nature lover]

CaptainBuilt - what are we seeing in that pic - I guess I am too stupid to figure it out.

 

[wayne49]

Maybe it's something like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"?
Or the alien egg pods in "Aliens"?
Or a mashup of both?

 

[nature lover]

I think it looks like a bunch of crash dummies sitting in a theater (from the back)

 

[wayne49]

Maybe a barge with a load of spherical tanks on a river/channel at night.

 

[LowTech]

Yep, I saw all those things. [emoji3]

 

[Qxxx]

On no, they're here.

https://www.yourprops.com/movieprop...e-Invasion-Continues-Body-Snatcher-Pods-1.jpg

 

[CaptainBuilt]

Hey guys,

Sorry it's been so long since posting. I really need to start keeping up with this thread with all the good feedback I get from it. I promise to start updating it as the adventures continue.

Here goes a pic heavy post(s).

I was laid off for four months. I really didn't go anywhere other than drinking beer on the front porch.

I decided to do a semi remodel of the interior. I have a lot left to do to it. But it's coming along. I really want to buy a new van, but I'm gun shy with the way our (boats) economy has been going. I'll probably wait another couple of years on that, maybe.

New interior. Bed wasn't in on this pic, but I moved the power center up front, added a bench with storage, and made a new sink base.

I also lowered the bed frame, and added a rear water port for the outdoor shower:

 

[CaptainBuilt]

I finally went back to work. I've been out here for 8 weeks and I go home Tuesday. I usually only ride 4 weeks at a time, but I had to catch up on some bills.

This trip I've been all over creation with this company. 4 different boats, 4 totally different kind of jobs.

Sleeping behind a gas station on I-20 right on the Alabama side of the state line of Mississippi.

Morning coffee:

The next night I stayed at a free casino RV park, parked between two big boys:

The trip started by working at a grain elevator loading barges. This boat is 2200hp, 70 ft long.

 

[CaptainBuilt]

After a couple weeks of that, the captain that was supposed to go on the Corp. of Engineers dredge didn't wanna take a COVID test, so I went. It was a small 30ft boat (didn't take pics of it), and we assisted the dredge. The dredge JADWIN was built in 1932 and still works today. We didn't live on our boat, we slept and ate on the dredge.

The business end to the dredge:

 

[crofter]

That must be the Mississippi River we are looking at there.   ~crofter

 

[CaptainBuilt]

Next boat I had to catch all the way up in frickin Dubuque, Iowa. 13 hour drive in a rental.

Lock 12, where I got on the boat:

Some lock at night.

Day at another one. I got on at lock 12 and they go all the way to lock 27, soooooo..... I lost track of which one is which.

The front deck, in the lock. You can see my deckhand working a line:

Saying goodbye to that boat. It's a 3600 hp triple screw. 115 ft long I think. 

 

[CaptainBuilt]

The next boat I went on is a 4200 hp, 140ft long boat. We were pushing 15 barges from the Upper Mississippi River all the way to New Orleans. I got off in Vicksburg.

A 15 barge tow is 2.5 acres of barges. And it's considered a "heavy tow". Even though boats on the Mississippi River can push up to 42 barges, once you get up to 15 barges, there's no difference in feel or the way you drive either 15 or 35 barges. Just more horsepower or bigger the boat for it. Same feel/concept.

This tow is 1000ft long and 105ft wide. 24,000 TONS of product.

The boat:

 

[CaptainBuilt]

Last one for the trip. Back to my stomping grounds, the hairy, twisty, dangerous (most dangerous river in the US for pushboat captains) river. The Tenn-Tom / Black Warrior Rivers. Or what I call home. This is where I usually work.

I'll be on here for a week, then back home.

Light fog:

Going in Coffeeville Lock:

Feet on the dash, cruising:

See that hole? I did that a few years back in high water, lololol

Highlights:

How windmill props get to moved around:

Van dude hanging out:

Beer:

 

[bullfrog]

Really enjoy your posts, grew upon on the Ohio River watching the tug boats go by.

 

[highdesertranger]

cool, nice to see you back. I was wondering what happened to you. highdesertranger