Describe it to Me

It was time. We were taking the boat out for a "shakedown" cruise so that I could get used to driving and learn the other things I would need to know. Hal untied us. Harbor personnel pushed us away from the dock. I put MY BOAT in gear and eased out of the marina observing the slow "no wake".

Signs. Now I was in the Mississippi. WOW! We all learned to read channel markers and learned the rules, there aren't that many, as we proceeded downriver to learn how to beach the boat and anchor it properly. Hal had me pick up the speed (open the throttle more) and he appeared totally unconcerned with his novice pilot handling the boat.