Author: Dan

Dan’s first introduction to China was in 1983 when he acted as a shaprone on a Williston Academy student trip to China.

In the course of this three week trip at the very cusp of the transition from Mau to a more progressive society, Dan met ‘Charlie’ Yuan, a Williston alumni from the 1920s. Charlie was an amazing character who was the grandson the first President of China in 1908….boy is that another story. It turned out Charlie’s grandson was current at Williston and Dan was asked to look after the young man alone in America.

That was the start of a thirty year relationship between Dan and Howard Raffa Yuan. Arriving in America with no money and very little english, Howard spent one year at Willison and graduated in the top 10% of his class with a standing ovation at his graduation. Howard got a full scholarship at Wesleyan University and worked hard enough to have a years tuition invested at Fidelity when he graduated. On to Alfred University for a doctorate in Ceramic Engineering, one of 12 in the country that year.

Despite the fact that Howard swore he would never again set foot in China, an opportunity presented itself in the mid 90’s that would change his stance. At the time Howard’s company had developed the material that produces the holographs on currency. China wanted to join the 180 other countries using this material. The short of it is Howard goes back to China to open a facility in Bejing and go on to head up China operations for his company….there is also a long story. Howard now splits his time between California and China.

The opportunity to view China today with a bi-lingual and bi-cultural host was a dream. This trip with Howard, Kristi, Marcia and Dan was magnificent in so many ways.

Leaving beautiful Lake George, we headed off to Vermont to visit Sy and Debora Raboy who have a house for the entire family at Stratton Mountain in the Green Mountains of Vermont. The morning of the 4th we traveled up Rt 100 in VT stopping at a variety of potters, woodworkers and artisans. While late in the day, we decided to take our chances at the top of Mt Washington, NH, New England’s highest peak. Up the cog railway built in 1869 to the summit at 6,200 feet. Marcia could not believe we were above the tree line, luckily the clouds cleared for part of our visit.

After a night in North Conway, we headed to Maine via Lake Sebago with a stop in Portland for lunch. Bob and Tancy Rapp, new RV’s themselves provided their usual great hospitality. After a tour of Pemaquid Point, it was off to Cow Island for the weekend with our hosts Sam and Wendy Plimpton and their many guests. This is hospitality in the old style with gracious hosts, great company, awesome food and wine and a setting to remind us of what life can be like in its purest form.

After Cow, it was back to the Rapps for a round of golf and dinner with another fraternity brother, Mike Gero and his wife Malli who would then host us for a couple of days at their home at Tenants Harbor. At Rockland, a community that has lifted it self out of misery to become an art center, we stopped at the Owls Head Auto Museum and the Farnsworth. We then headed to the Boston area.

Last stop was with Jim and Lori Hamilton in Cohasset, MA with many dogs and lots of humor. Finally, we got out of the small car with the small dog and got on a plane for Miami.

Having left True West (the Large Road Vehicle) for servicing, we got in the Small Road Vehicle and headed for the Hampton Inn in Fairhaven to get reorganized and get the laundry done.

On the 28th, Nan Neth and Jim Wolf took the ferry from Martha’s Vineyard with their clubs and we got in 9 holes and a lot of laughs. After a lunch at Elizabeth’s in Fairhaven, we dropped them at the ferry and headed for the Berkshires. George and Sue Ulrich put us up in their colonial home in Worthington which we used as a base to cover Dan’s old stomping grounds. The Worthington Country club provided both golf and a fine dinner.

Our swing thru the Berkshires had us up Mt. Greylock, highest peak in Mass, then over to the Clark Museum in Williamstown, down to the Rockwell Museum after a lunch in Lenox and into Great Berrington for a B&B stop.

The next morning we stopped at the Hancock Shaker Museum outside of Pittsfield, MA before heading over to Saratoga Springs, NY. There we stayed in a B&B that was a Skidmore College dorm when Dan was at Union College about ten miles away. Tom and Claudine Hedbring were kind enough to take us to dinner at the Saratoga Country Club and let us use the company table at Saratoga Raceway the following day. Marcia was responsible for all of our losses.

In the morning, a round of golf at the Sagamore on Lake George followed by lunch. Then it was off to the Green Mountains of Vermont for a visit with Sy and Debora Raboy.

 Dan, Marcia and Lola flew into Knoxville late on the 14th and spent the night at the Candlewood Suites by the Airport.

The morning of the 15th we took a cab to Steve Cox storage yard to pick up the GMC and headed off to meet Mike and Malli Gero at Tellico Marina on the Little Tennessee River where they finished up their week on True South. After a quick visit and lunch, we dropped them at the airport for their flight back to Boston. The Gero’s have already signed up next years trip.

Returning to the boat, we decided to take one last trip up the headwaters of the Little Tennessee, about 10 miles upsteam. It was beautiful as we were starting up into the Cumberland Mountains. Our progress was stopped by a dam, we took a swim….Marcia will never fall for ‘the waters fine’ again, the water was 60 degrees.

On the morning of the 16th we headed by boat and camper to Harbourtowne Marine in Louisville, TN across the river. True South was hauled out and  made her ready for her road trip.

On July 20th, she was loaded on a truck and trucked about 600 miles over to Hemstead, NC and unloaded at Anchors Away Boat Yard.

In the capable of hands of Dennis Hollingshead, formerly of Hull, MA, she will be serviced and made ready for launch on Sep 18th.

In the meantime, its on the road again for Dan, Marcia, and Lola.

On this leg, Dan and Marcia travelled up the Tennessee River approximately 460 miles (north according to the lock operators) to its headwaters. Clearly the best part of the entire journey. Arriving in a rental car from Birmingham, Dan and Marica meet Peter and Diane at Grand Harbor Marina. On the 17th we all tour the Shilo Battlefield. …a moving experience. While the Tea Party may be at odds with the rest the citizens over the role of our government, as least we have not resorted the using the arms we have a right to bear, yet. Peter and Diane head back to Boston while Dan and Marcia get ready for a round of golf at Pickwick Landing.

This is a lazy trip averaging only 30 miles a day. On the 21st, golf at Shoal Country Club, one of a dozen Robert Trent Jones courses in Alabama State Parks….yes, much of the Tennesee River is in Alabama. Up thru Wilson lock with a 90’ lift and on to Joe Wheeler for another day of golf….still not keeping score.

In Decatur, a day off the boat and golf at Point Mallard Park. Onto Goose Point Marina and another day of golf. As we arrive at Nickajack Lake on the 28th, a stop at Nickajack Cave. Dan’s Prigmore clan settled near here in the 1790’s. On the 2nd we went up the Hiwassee River and found the likely place were Joseph Prigmore, at 107, fell off his horse fording the river. For that reference to Prigmore family history, simply click on the name.

The 29th and 30th were spent in Chattanooga which we consider to be the best city we visited on the entire river trip. The twin Aquariums, the Hunter Museum, the restaurants and great parks. This was also the only city with good municipal docks.

July 3 we locked thru Ft. Louden, our last lock on the trip, only to be met with a wall of boats waiting for the big fireworks display that night. Anchored in a cove nearby…nice show. Up the Little Tennessee which was first flooded in 1979; therefore, all of the development here is post 1980. What a show place for ridiculous 10,000 sf faux chateaus….miles of them. Dan suggests building an international airport for direct flights to China as a way to clear the market.

On the 6th we meet Mike and Mali Gero at Volunteer Landing in Knoxville and have a nice dinner at Ruths Chris. The next day is devoted to an orientation on the boat as we head for Louisville Marina.  Here, Dan, Marcia and Lola depart for their trip back to Miami. On Jul 15th they meet up with the Gero’s again for another handoff.