Every time I paddle down the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, not far from the Heinz plant, I ask the same questions. How long has this boat been here? Who owned it? And how did "they" dispose of something so large without witnesses?
Personally, this eyesore is actually a sight for sore eyes especially after an afternoon of paddling on the return trip home from Point State Park. When I see this boat it tells me the Millvale launch isn't far away.
This rusting ruin could make a great Stephen King story. Even on a bright afternoon there's something creepy and unsettling about this boat.
It gives off a vibe that it just wants to be left alone.
For this photo, I considered paddling just a little further inside, but I saw that odd hand- print on the upper right that seems to be saying, "Stop. Back up and move along. Visitors not welcome at this time."
Someday it will be gone. A scrapyard, not a beautiful shoreline should be its final resting place.
I'll only miss it a little. It's weirdly reassuring to see the boat's outline while paddling back up the river after dusk.
While researching this posting, I did find this article from a couple of years ago published in The Incline that fills in some backstory details.
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