Two Tugs Travelin': The Back Story: When Salty Paws Met Sally W

Jeanne + Moxie + Bob

Summer 2015

Jeanne Koenig and Bob Ewing, of Boothbay Harbor, Maine became interested in Lord Nelson Victory Tugs. They joined the Lord Nelson Association as wannabees, and set out to see one for real.

Sally W in her home slip, Camden, Maine

Lucky for them, the closest tug was Sally W, in nearby Camden.

Sally + Allan Seymour

Owners Sally and Allan Seymour welcomed them aboard and, as they say, the rest is history. Jeanne and Bob loved the tug, and the two couples became good friends.

Salty Paws traveling from Maryland to new home in Maine

In May of 2016, Bob and Jeanne bought 37LNVT#66, Knock Off, changed the name to Salty Paws and spent the summer cruising Maine waters, frequently meeting up with Sally W. By the end of the season the foursome hatched a plan to spend the summer of 2017 cruising the Mini Loop.

A map of the Mini Loop

The Mini Loop route is a popular route beginning in New York Harbor, up the Hudson River, crossing the Erie Canal, up into Canadian waterways, returning to the States into Lake Champlain, and finishing the loop back to New York Harbor.

Captain Allan in his pilot house. Salty Paws off the starboard side

The plan is to take two months to complete the adventure, ending in Fairhaven, MA on July 26 for the annual Lord Nelson Victory Tug Eastern Rendezvous.The first rule of boating; Don't make plans!

We were to meet in New York Harbor to begin the adventure. Salty Paws was to arrive from her winter quarters at Johnson's in Point Pleasant, NJ, while Sally W would arrive from Chester, CT. But, Mother Nature had other plans. Sally W arrived on time, but, due to a nor'easter Salty Paws was delayed one day. That gave Sally W time to explore one of the busiest harbors in the world and to show the sights to our guest, Tom Collins.

Tom hails from Aspen, CO and has traveled the world extensively. Ironically his knowledge of NY paled in comparison to what he could tell you about other places in the world. Crewing on Sally W offered a perspective few others get to see.

Sally W called their friend Will Van Dorp, aka Tugster, legendary blogger about New York's six borough (the NY Harbor). Tugster is the best guide in the world. They had a memorable day.