The nightly anchoring of the boat was always a circus to watch. Our crew were experienced river sailors, but this docking process was often humorous. The boat had a designated “jumper.” His job was to jump from the boat into the mud, clammer ashore towing a huge line and 3-foot mud hook, run as far from the river as he could towing the line and mud hook, and then ram the hook into the shore. The crew would tighten up the line. The “jumper” would do it again for the stern of the boat and the crew would tighten the line.
Our “jumper” would return from the river covered in mud. A half-hour later he would appear in a freshly pressed robe and proceed to serve us dinner.
