Chapter 7: Mira, Mira

That’s Spanish for Look, Look! Mira, Mira on the wall. See the handwriting? Okay, it’s graffiti. Read between the lines anyway.

Think last year was tough? Wish I could assure everyone this year will be better, but I predict we are about to inherit the whirlwind.

Speaking of whirlwinds, did you notice the coversheet? Those towers on the pictured boat are Flettner rotors. Mechanical sails. The principle upon which they derive a driving force is the Magnus effect. Same effect that makes a pitched baseball curve, or a sliced golf ball curve, or ... I’ll suggest you look up the terms if you wish to know more about it.

The advantage for me, is I don’t need a crew to handle sails. Simple electric switches turn the sails on and off, and reverse direction to reverse the propelling force. Sails with brakes. The cylinders spin to produce the Magnus effect. Anyway, that’s primary propulsion.

River current is my secondary source of power, but only three directions. Floating downstream is obvious, but I can also angle and slide sideways across the current from bank to bank. Early ferries worked that way. Capable boat handlers use the same method docking in currents. Angle slightly across the current and the boat slides sideways toward the dock. Straighten up or angle slightly the other way, stops the boat before it slams into the dock. Brakes!

The boat can then be slowly inched in the final few feet, by adjusting the angle in the current. Slick? You bet!

To go upstream, requires power to use against the current, but also you need knowledge of how river currents work. Current is always strongest on the outsides of bends. Insides of bends are slack currents or even reverse current eddies. There is a lot more to know before navigating rivers. You have to be able to read the river. That topic won’t be covered here, it requires volumes to write it all down.

The real point I wish to make, freshwater springs are abundant along the banks and feed this river. Drinking water isn’t a problem. Also, I have solar panels, wind generators, and mechanical engine powered generators for creating electrical power.

Further in addition, I am currently constructing a pair of paddle-wheels units I’ll store onshore, for just in case ... One of the wing hulls of my trimaran is already missing a stern section. My office boat joins in there. It is relatively easy to unbolt a matching section from the stern of the other wing hull. Into these two intentional gaps, the units I’m building with wood fired steam powered paddle-wheels can bolt up, one on each side, or stern quarter.

Food? Game and fish are plentiful. Most of the river banks are wildlife preserves and state or national parks. Hunting not permitted. Enforced by law and law enforcement. If society and government collapses, who will tell me I can’t hunt these public lands? Law enforcement, if any still exists, will be occupied with preventing or stopping people killing other people. Deer? On their own with no champions to defend them.