Simple Physics Watson

When a 10 ton object encounters a 50,000 ton object, it is obvious which one loses.  There is little doubt about which one will sustain the damage.  Yet, in the back of my mind looms the little voice that says that although the big object will not suffer at all, there might be some expensive little doodad attached to that object that was tapped ever so lightly in the incident thus requiring repair. Since the incident, every time the phone rings and the caller ID says US Government or LAWF, I think about the other shoe falling.  That twitch thing may be taking hold.    Having reported to the USCG and the La. Wildlife and Fisheries using the correct forms, I keep waiting for one or the other to call and say that the bridge is reporting massive damage to the doodad and will require inspections by 15 government agencies and that they require my presence in a holding facility in the 9th Ward.  Today, the call from the Coast Guard was to confirm the details and make sure I made the report to LAWF.  Then the officer said that since the bridge is reporting no damage and that since we are not a commercial vessel, the entire matter is in the jurisdiction of the LAWF.  One down and one to go.  I wonder if La holding facilities are any worse than Federal holding facilities? 

I received an e-mail from Daniel of sv Alethiea.  He is the sailor we met in Houma.  He has decided to refit her in Houston while he builds time to get his captain's license.  There is a requirement for 360 days underway.  He has nothing near that time aboard.  His insurance requires the license in order for him to leave the country with his boat.  His plan:  to sail in the Houston area until the requirement is met.  Methinks there are better areas but not close to the yards in Houston.

Patience is not one of my virtues and the time that it takes to get back underway is like being a exuberant puppy tied to the dog house with a really short leash.  Even if the food and drink bowls are kept full here at the dawg house, we keep thinking about the next anchorage or port of call. Until then, I will be chewing on the leash.