Dockside, Part Two
Been busy busy getting Lady of the Blues (a name I’m fond of and will keep) here at Smith Mountain Lake deep in Appalachia, so busy that I only occasionally have the time and perspective to enjoy how beautiful this area really is. To give you a mental image of my surroundings, if you saw and recall the movie Deliverance – and I bring it up strictly for the visuals, not the vibes of the story – as in the film
this lake was created back in the 1960s via a hydro-electric dam that submerged a substantial chunk of central Virginia; whole neighborhoods and towns are now at the bottom – it’s not uncommon to lose your ground tackle (anchor) from fouling the foundation or chimney or whatever’s left of someone’s former abode, if you’re unlucky in placement.
Addendum: In Deliverance this was important for the subtext: if you’ll recall, the locations of the various dramas and personal agonies that transpired on the canoe trip were ultimately ‘covered up’ by the rising waters, if not the memories of the characters; this was a vital aspect of the story’s ending (the Jon Voight character’s dream and so forth). And as I’ve mentioned before, in story-telling, endings are everything.
Although we’ve had our feisty moments, I’ve become quite fond of Steve (the previous owner), without whom I’d be truly lost here. Although we’re very close to areas similar to those in the beginning of Deliverance – who can forget the ‘dueling banjos’ scene with the kid on the porch – the rural folks I’ve met are smart and friendly enough, but without a local connection like Steve I’d not be able to get anything done, let alone learn some local history. Yesterday after making the rounds of the marine and hardware stores, Steve took me on a land-tour of the lake’s shoreline. Learned some stuff you don’t get in the Chamber of Commerce pamphlets.
I finally cleaned out the rig stem to stern. Christ was it dirty, and I found some soft wood here and there. No structural problems but it will be tough to sell. I’m struggling with the figures trying to see how I can keep the boat and the rig. Gonna be tough but maaaybe. I’d love to be land-and-water mobile. That would be the best. We’ll see.
During the final thousand feet, the grid fins are useless and the thrusters only work in the weightless vacuum of space. So how can it stay upright AND adjust trajectory. Impossible, no matter what you are ‘seeing.’
Any of you live over on the Potomac River, maybe near Colonial House Beach? Beautiful area and looks like the closest to this lake by highway, which is the next big step. Hiring a big rig to haul Lady to the Potomac. In about a month, I’m hoping.
Meanwhile, I got distracted last night watching the Spacex Falcon Heavy launch in April, which I had not noticed at the time. Incredible. The twin booster ‘landings’ looked identical to the February touch downs. I’ll have to check my archives but I would bet what they played to you all and the world was the same images they used before; it’s like they are not even trying. Well, why should they? If you believed it the first time, why bother to make fresh imagery – like maybe having them land in different order (close then far, etc.) or maybe have one come down then the other ten or twenty seconds later; after all, they are ‘falling’ through high and unpredictable winds.
As far as I know I’m still the only blogger or ‘journalist’ or ‘researcher’ or whatever to point out that these images are breaking the laws of physics.
Maybe a hint here, in this ‘private’ video of the boosters. See how the upper wire doesn’t pass in front of the booster like the other three? What’s up with that?
I’m still waiting for a video of someone lowering a broom or stick to a spot on the ground from a palm-balance. Can’t be done, can it? If not, how would a rocket do it? (And if you’re going to misdirect re the grid fins and thrusters, how do you explain all the test flights when none were used?)
Sorry for the paltry imagery. My main Macbook is still down and all my still photos are on it (and on the Time Machine back up that I can’t seem to figure out).
I’ll be back on my game soon. Still have the list to deal with.
Allan
Some major generosity from out there. One of you ponied up $100 to keep me going and – get this – a long time and very… interesting (can’t go into it) subscriber sent me a Phantom II drone to film Lady from on high. What a guy!
Hey Allan
Might be a bit late, but nice to see that you made a turn in your trip. and met ‘The Lady of the Blues’. Congratulations! Sûre it will change your mood and pace. Hope everything will go as you plan.
ps comments were closed for while, was that you, who closed them?
ps2 heard of a new launch from Musk but haven’t seen any image yet.
Happy Boating Captain aloha
Living with our EGOs is a battle is what I am told by those supposedly more spiritually connected.
She claims most people lie. They say they are doing well when in fact they are unhappy.
I do not believe that statement can be verified and I sure hope it is not true.
Life is tough but you deserve the credit sir as you are willing to grab it by the balls and see what it brings you.
It’s time for me to do the same. Too much talk not enough walk for me.
Hey Doug , you’ll find people are easily conditioned and are unable to think from their neo cortex or think practically . In 3 brain theory most people are operating from the R complex brain (the oldest human brain of evolution also known as the reptilian brain ) or the Limbic system ( 2nd oldest and known as the emotional brain or mammal). Properly operating from your neo cortex ( newest brain or human – thinking brain) is hard work as your other 2 older brains are constantly overpowering and overriding your neo cortex , you could describe operating from your neo cortex as practical – critical thinking or mindfulness . Once you understand the characteristics and traits of these 3 brains you can literally see in everyday life these brains operating in people .
I wonder why people call it the “vacuum” of space, when it is neutral?.
Hi again Allan, yes I had a play with that broom stick trick – not that I didn’t believe you! , and it’s bloody impossible!…and that was indoors with no wind at all. Also, I asked a Tesla “fanclub” on youtube how his rocket vaporized into nothing, and stony silence and no answers. Hey I can’t believe a person can own a boat (especially an engineer!) for 20 years, and not know everything there is to know about the vital water tank.
Boat bilges are always grubby to filthy.
In this country (NZ) it is far more expensive to run a boat, than wheels on the road.
Anyway all the best to you.
Sheesh. It’s bloody impossible for anyone to land a broom if they don’t try. Scratch that I didn’t even try hard.
Try to fly by waving your arms. If you can’t, then that means birds can’t fly….nor rockets…
The broom landing analogy isn’t proof of anything anyway. So whats the point?
It’s meant as proof. It’s an example. The proof is in the physics. Newtonian. Plus common sense. Force coming from one place (the rocket at the bottom) cannot do two separate things (keep it upright and control where it lands).
Those who don’t get it just don’t want to. And there are a lot of them.
What if you balance the broom on your hand (the sweep end), and slowly drop your hand to the ground, making adjustments with your the hand, in order to keep it balanced. Much easier, no? This is much more analogous to a rocket landing upright using a thrust vectoring engine. The balancing is going on at the very bottom.
P.s. I was a little worried, and am glad your back.
Sorry to comment twice. Thrust vectoring is how our modern jet fighters work. The engine actually moves, to redirect the thrust in different directions. It is not doing two things at once, it is redirecting the thrust. When used on a rocket it can indeed keep it upright and control where it lands (by moving the part of the engine where the thrust is projected.
You say, ‘It is not doing two things at once, it is redirecting the thrust.’ This doesn’t explain anything. It’s just re-phrasing. And the engine ‘actually moves’ is likewise irrelevant in this issue since the only change that can occur is one of vectoring, i.e., force from the place of thrust, which remains at the bottom of the rocket. [Why am I bothering with this?]
What if at 500 feet, or at 1,000 feet or 50 feet from the target, the wind blows the booster one way and the engine ‘thrusts’ to offset that, meanwhile moving the booster ‘over the ground’ in a way that is off target?
You can’t get around that with phraseology. But I suspect you will not see the obvious problem, since I’ve explained it many times, and you haven’t yet.
[I’ll not bother with the upside down broom comment, since it’s nonsense. Sorry to be cranky, but since you are apparently really thinking about this, I see no excuse… you can’t lower a broom either end up to a spot on the ground, can you? No. Christ.]
There is only one thrust, and if you maneuver the direction (vector) of the thrust, you can offset any wind and gravity, whilst keeping it balanced. It’s complicated, but possible. I don’t want to argue. It’s just not worth it. All the information is available. I’d rather you enjoy your boat. Everyone have a great day.
I see the inspiration for your best story yet in this new adventure! Captain Zero meets Tom Sawyer. So happy for you.
Awesome, looks like fishing is in order !
Along with a continued adventure…
I’m tuned in.
We’re choosy but God’s love falls on all of us. Me, being choosy, thank God for Steve (the previous owner). Lady of the Blues. This is going somewhere.
This feels like a positive shift for you, Allan – Water Time in comfort!
Looking forward to more news from The Lady…
Cheers!
Ben
Thanks, Ben, Bruce, Cat, and Melanie. We’ll see but I’m optimistic. Reading a fascinating book titled ‘Evidence of the Afterlife; The Science of Near Death Experiences.’ I will have something to say about it soon.
Allan,
You have lived (so far) one of the most unique exciting lives of most people I have known. Smuggler, writer, surfer, blogger, road ghost here and in foreign countries and I am sure I am missing some other exciting professions my old mind can’t remember. Oh yes most of all film maker and photographer. Damn the only other soul I know of that has lived such a diverse life is Max Hardberger. I am so glad to see you take another direction with “Lady of the Blues”. I am sure it will open up a bunch of new adventures. What brand of vessel is she. I am still waiting and a new novel based on your road adventures, more detailed than the blog allows. Safe sailing.
Thanks, James. Very kind of you. I look back on my life and wonder what I really accomplished. Which is why I’m trying to make up for my past failures by digging around and finding nuggets of truth. Not sure what more I can do.
Lady is an old houseboat, a ‘Drifter’ model — the first manufactured true houseboats. She’s almost as old as I am and in better shape… I hope… we’ll see if the engine holds out on the Great Loop…(If you google the model you’ll find a photo of a boat similar to mine, a tad smaller, with 1960s era babes waterskiing behind. Black and white.)
Interesting, Hubby and I had a midnight conversation about Deliverance a few nights ago. I said it took place in Georgia while he thought Carolina’s. I was right. Interesting facts, the boy was a local they came across. That scene of the film was an add on. Turned out to be best scene in the film.The boy wasn’t realy playing. The guitarist stood behind him and played. The young man afterwards was requested to play dueling banjos so much, he learned to play it. He traveled around performing and made good money. Not ashamed to say that film scared the crap out of me. Years later I watched it and found majority if the film boring. Didnt like Reynolds either time.
Seems like things are coming together for you Allan maybe you could sell your big camper and buy a cheaper medium size one to still give you a double choice, regards james
I’m in trouble with that. Don’t know what to do with the old rig. I’ll take any even semi-reasonable offer, actually.
glad to hear you got a drone. i almost sent you mine. same goes for the $100… but they were my last ones. 🙂
re: your comment — “…so busy that I only occasionally have the time and perspective to enjoy how beautiful this area really is. ”
i think that is the key to happiness. you can always s-l-o-w down. no penalty for senior citizens. there’s a smart phone app you can download to remind you to return to mindfulness and observe the present moment — it’s called”Chill”. i just got reminded by it NOW… otherwise i’d already be done with this post.
i can’t wait to see more of your excellent photography and videography. thanks for sharing allan.
Dusty, apps confuse me, which I don’t need, so I’ll have to keep alert for the beauty of it all from the inside. But your advice is in essence good.
Copy that!
Glad you’re back on the water amigo.
Exactly!
Thanks, folks! I appreciate the good wishes from out there, really do.