Adventure 458: The Story of George, Eagle, 35

George, 1935

Real time finds George managing fairly well. He's had a couple of messy accidents lately, which goes to muscle control. Funny how we adapt. Our babies' "poopy" diapers present us with no issue, and certainly no distasteful after thought. It looks like the same becomes true at the other end of life's spectrum. Maybe the hardest part of this whole "bodily function" thing is that it's a window into my own future. It's time like these that make me realize that my outlook stating that "Life is good, especially today" means that I get to enjoy whatever the future holds. In the meantime, we'll provide George with whatever care he needs.

On another stinky note, the Eagle is scheduled to be raised like Lazarus tomorrow. Hopefully, all will go well. It's a tricky situation. The Lake City Marine crew spent much of today rigging the boat for the raising. Rigging meant that two divers spent about an hour in fifty feet of water so cold it was freezing their air hose, but thankfully, they solved that problem and were able to secure the float bags under the boat. The tricky part comes tomorrow when they have to move the boat from its catty wampus position to an upright position centered in the boat slip. Right now, she is twisted. Her stern is under one of the dock fingers. Her bow has slid forward under the main portion of the dock. Hopefully, winches, ropes, cables, and prayers will do the trick. All I know is that once the laws of physics take over, she's coming to the surface one way or another. We hope without any further damage to her, any damage to the docks, any damage to surrounding boats, and hopefully no lives lost. If all of that comes true, it will be a good day. Either way, we'll adjust. It's only a little stink after all.

 This cleat used to hold the forward dock lines. When she went down, the forces ripped this piece off like a scab.

 The mast is forty feet high from the top of the deck. The boat is lying in 48 feet of water.

 These  air bags will be pumped full of air slowly, but when buoyancy is reached, she will rise.

 Jake and Kenny entering the water. They worked in nearly total darkness for an hour securing the float bags to the bottom of the boat.

 The water temperature was thirty eight at the surface. Here Sam is clearing the ice out of Jake's air tube.

After an hour in frigid water, the divers had to be lifted out of the water mechanically. The cold made their own muscles inoperative.