PITTSBURGH, PA

Tues, June 16th to Sat, June 21st, 2014

Day 13-17
Miles Traveled on 16th:  9
Total Miles Traveled: 348

  Had a good night sleep tied off to PNC Park wall after all the wave action calmed down.  Some wind blew up just before dark and caused us to "rock and roll" a bit.  In the picture below, we were tied off to the wall just behind the yellow buoys.  PNC Park is the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. 

  We traveled on new water Tuesday.  We headed 9 miles up the Allegheny River to Fox Chapel Marina.  Only had to pass through one lock this day.  However, we did have difficulty passing a single scull rower.  How embarrassing!!  We had to accelerate, but this rower wanted to race, and it took us almost 1 mile to complete the pass.  Every day there are new challenges.  We did not think this would be one of them.


  Upon arrival at Fox Chapel Marina we immediately met Anita who helped us to get docked.  Anita and Marty, aboard Genesis, have been living on their Monticello houseboat for 10 years.  Very interesting and nice people.  We went to dinner with them and had a marvelous time.


  Wednesday and Thursday were boat chores (cleaning, laundry, groceries, etc.). We also managed to get some relaxation in as well.


  Friday was "Being a Tourist Day" in Pittsburgh.  THANK YOU MARTY AND ANITA !! for use of your car.  We took a light rail (subway) called "The T" from North Shore, where we had docked previously, to downtown.  This light rail runs under the river.  We walked to Point State Park to see the fountain that we saw from the river on our approach to Pittsburgh.  It was just as spectacular on land.  There are 800,000 gallons of water in the system and it is run by three 175 hp pumps. The main column reaches 100 ft high.  For more info about this park go to: http://pointstatepark.com/

Point State Park Fountain      

Also at Point State Park is the Fort Pitt Block House and Fort Pitt Museum.  Fort Pitt was a key British fortification during the French and Indian War.  The Fort Pitt Block House was built in 1764.  To learn more about Fort Pitt go to: http://www.fortpittblockhouse.com/

Fort Pitt Block House

Outside the Fort Pitt Museum was a canon that Dan had to have his picture with.

 
  The most favorite architecture that we saw was at PPG (Pittsburgh Plate Glass) Plaza.  PPG was one of the first successful plate glass companies in the United States and was founded in 1883. There are 6 buildings made of glass with a fountain in the center. 

Dan and Angie at fountain at PPG Plaza

Largest Building at PPG Plaza

One of the small buildings at PPG Plaza showing detail on the roof lines

  Friday afternoon ended by relaxing at Fox Chapel pool.  Our time at Fox Chapel Marina was very enjoyable and we would recommend this marina to other boaters.  To see more about Fox Chapel Marina go to: http://www.foxchapelmarine.com/


  Saturday was to be cast off day to start the trip back to home port.  That plan "sprung a leak", literally.  Friday night, while Angie first started her shower, the fresh water pump, which supplies water from the water holding tanks to the boat, quit working.  Dan immediately hooked up the shore water line so that no pump would be needed.  Angie resumed her leisurely shower while Dan tried to contain a geyser of water flowing into the bilge from a broken water pump fitting, which he found while inspecting the nonoperational pump, so that Angie (unaware of this situation) could finish her shower.  What a mess !!!  And so the challenges continue!  At 1:00am Dan is still up trying to trouble shoot the non-functioning fresh water pump.  It was determined that a new pump was needed.  
  Saturday, Dan was able to buy and replace the fresh water pump - TWICE.  The first one was so noisy that he returned it and got a different model.  BIG THANK YOU! to Ken who helped Dan get the second and quieter fresh water pump installed and also drove Dan to hardware store for fittings.  We met so many nice and helpful people at Fox Chapel Marina.