Saturday October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween! Rain seems to have abated. Temp at 52 and clear. Overslept this morning due to late night arrival. We were in a covered slip so last night’s heavy rain didn’t affect us. One of our neighbors from the Ft. Myers marina is in the slip next to us and plans on leaving later today after a water pump fix.

There are a larger number of boats here evidently due to a “loopers” rendezvous up river. Another reason is people like us, who for insurance reasons, need to stay above a certain latitude (NOV. 1) to avoid possible hurricanes. Combination of these two will make for somewhat crowded lock passages for the next several days.

Yes sir. Eight to eleven boats in each lock for all the passages. Our first lock is the Jamie Whitten with 85 foot drop. 42,000,000 gallons to fill this beast and they do it in twelve minutes. A little faster on the empty cycle. Surprisingly not difficult for all the boats (except for the catamaran that glanced off one of the open lock doors - oweee).

Midway Marina Fulton, Mississippi. Stacked us up outside at the marina and had to come in slowly and one by one as called. Happy marina owners tonight. Slip fees and fuel sales aplenty. Walmart here they come. Many people decorated their boats for Halloween with lights and pumpkins and it does look nice.

Halloween party tonight. Sponsored by the marina and all the permanent slip boaters. Prizes, food, music, and costumes. Fun time and met a lot of nice, friendly people including several from Michigan and two who went to MSU (MSU folks were restrained by their handlers). After the party, ate at one of our favorite restaurants on the waterways. That's right, yeah, fried catfish, hush puppies, pickles, sweet potato, and unlimited ice tea. Eat your heart out Wolfgang Puck.

Friday October 30, 2009

Lines off and we're away at 7:05AM. Heading south on the Tennessee River with approximately 105 miles to go. The Tennessee from here on down shows its limestone cliffs and changing autumn colors all the way to the Tenn-Tom waterway. Warmer today, 63° and heavy rain this afternoon. Slower going then we remembered due to a 2 kt current that will cause to arrive at our intended marina after dark.

In at Grand Harbor Marina, Counce, TN., at 8:15PM. Dark of course. We had to run a hour after going through the Pickwick lock without benefit of light and then turn into Pickwick Lake. Rained constantly however our 200,000 candlepower search light, radar, and chart plotter took away some of the anxiety. Not all but some. Prefer not to do this all the time but in necessity we know we can (do you believe that?)

Tired and not that hungry. Early to bed.

Thursday October 29, 2009

Yahoo! The satisfying deep throat sound of the big diesels come to life once again. We're pushing off from Green Turtle Bay marina after a ten day sojourn north. The crew of Captain Andrew and First Mate brother Frank have everything well, in hand. Second mate D. Williams is on extended shore leave for a well deserved leave (Hi sailor!).

Left the marina at 7:40AM headed down Kentucky Lake and the Federal Land Between the Lakes recreation area. Smooth going today and tomorrow barring any nasty weather problems.

Tied up at Pebble Isle marina at 3:45PM and took on 190 gallons of diesel. Excellent price along with Boat U.S. discount. Met up with Mark and Carol Earle from Afton, MN. aboard the Grateful. Had cocktails and a nice dinner together. They're on the "loop" and have just started.

Pebble Isle is located in Johnsonville, TN. at a unique Civil War battle site. On November 4, 1864, Confederate Major Nathan Bedford Forrest and his cavalry unit attacked and destroyed this river port defended by the Union Navy. Losses were large ($8 million in 1864 dollars) including three gunboats, eighteen barges, and eleven transports. This was not only a victory for the South but also the only record of a naval force being defeated by a cavalry force. GO NAVY!