Long time no chat, but we have been land-based and trying to sort, unpack and get settled in our JAX, FL house. The same day that we won the bid on the house, we also bought a small “trailerable” trawler – Ranger Tug 27, so all plans to pull the trailer for summer fun, went in the trash and we decided to do a little more floating.
During
our loop trips we entered the mouth of the Ohio River but only went about 50+
miles before turning up the Cumberland River to Grand Rivers, KY. All the remaining 900+ miles of the river
remained to be explored, so this summer we are descending the OHIO River, we
hope, from Pittsburg, PA to Grand Rivers, KY.
While
there is information on the route, it is no way as detailed and current as
other trips we have made, so I will try to keep some helpful notes here in
addition to any fun adventures we might have. The notes on Active Captain have
been mostly dated. Also, we found lots of non-functioning phone numbers there,
so will try to add more current info on AC and here. We did get much help from Allan Lloyd’s Ohio
Navigation notes and the Ohio River Guidebook by Jerry M Hay. The Guidebook is
excellent with historic details as well as navigational info. However, he is very comprehensive covering
info for small boaters like canoes and kayaks as well as various power boats, as
a result it is often not clear if suggestions are suited to our boat’s draft
and air-height. A voyage of discovery adds to the adventure.
Taking
it slow, (i.e. four nights on the road) Steve drove the truck and trailered
boat from JAX to Pittsburgh. The boat is about the same size and weight as our
travel trailer and is also easy to “camp” in while we were trailering it. We
did get a few odd looks and puzzled head shakes from some of our Harvest Hosts
and RV park neighbors, but it worked just fine.
When we got to Pittsburgh, we launched at the public ramp under the Birmingham Bridge on the southside of the Monongahela River. This ramp is in the Riverside Park that has been carved along the river here providing foot paths and bike trails to enjoy the views. It is also a short walk to the South Side Marina run by Fox Chapel Marine and able dockmaster Ed (412 7207013). This was handy since we had to leave the trailer at the ramp until we could move it to storage. The transient docks are at the end of the marina furthest from the ramp but easy to access as it is a long finger pier with great power and convenient side tie mooring. (Pump out facilities are located here as well.) The marina facilities are in tiptop shape with multiple unisex toilette/shower rooms and a small laundry room ($1.75 to wash and $1.50 to dry). Also, super WIFI – everything a boater wants to see.
Transient Dock - we fit INSIDE 
Club House with restrooms 
ramp to elevator to parking lot 
heading out to the transient dock
The marina is a in great location just a couple blocks off East Carson Street with a multitude of bars and eateries. One of our favorites is the Bakery at Bartram House on the corner of 26th and E. Carson. Besides the great pastries, they serve wow food for breakfast – Eggs Benedict Florentine or on Crab Cakes, plus super sandwich or salad options for lunch – not to mention the great coffee.
Also, a Hofbrau house and Cheesecake Factory
are just steps from the transient dock as well.
There is a True Value Hardware store a few blocks down Carson beyond the
Birmingham bridge and off 20th St. a Giant Eagle grocery store
easily accessed on foot or by bike using the pedestrian path under the bridge. An
Albi is even closer. One of the best things about the location is stop #1 of
the Pittsburgh Tour Company who run a hop on hop off city tour on double decker
red buses. We enjoyed this overview of all Pittsburgh has to offer, and we
found there was much more than we could fit into our short visit and will have
to come back for more time in the city.
With
a one-way trip planned, we needed to drop the truck and trailer at our haul out
point which is about a 10-hour drive from where we dropped the boat in.
However, we were fortunate to have friends with space to store the truck and
trailer for us between Pittsburgh and Grand Rivers. We rented a car and convoyed the rig to this
storage location and returned to the boat in Pittsburgh. Fortunately, we were also able to spend a few
days with these wonderful friends, Greg and Mary Claire, and even enjoy their
grandchildren on this visit. The plan is to retrieve the rig in the same way at
the end of the trip, but sooner if we run into trouble 😊
Our
river journey begins in Pittsburgh since it is where the Monongahela and
Alleghany Rivers meet to form the Ohio. This co-mingling occurs at “the point”
just a short distance down river from the South Side Marina. Casting off from
the marina we will shortly be entering the Ohio proper – a historic river
system which played a prominent role in the early exploration and development
of the U.S. interior.
Teddy adjusting to boating again 
a stop for the famous SANDWICH 
Stunning PGH - Strip District 
nostalgic stop for Colombian Coffee
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