We have been off line for awhile and have finally got hooked back up with our Verizon. I don't think they can make it any more difficult. Then finally you get to talk to someone in the US and it is done instantly. Not that I think Ma Bell would have been any better.
We left Hoppie's Marina ...... and might I say that is using the term marina very generously. It is 3 barges hooked together and tied off to the shore. Hoppies wife Fern sits all the boaters down in the evening and tells them the challenges as we proceed down the Mississippi. Beware "diving" red buoys. The currents can be so strong that the red buoys are pulled down and then they will suddenly rise to the surface. Bends with weir dams that increase the turbulence as you proceed around the corner and warnings of specific areas to be sure not to meet any tow traffic as there isn't enough room. She also tells of the best anchorages along the way.... as there are no marina's. 5 days with no shower and water so dirty you wouldn't consider swimming in it. There is a reason the Mississippi is called "the big muddy"
When you are not calling tows/barges to avoid them, watching out for the turbulence, diving red buoys, you need to be watching for debris in the water. Some debris is small, and others are entire tree trunks floating along. We were trying to call to the other boats to warn them at one time and Peter finally said to much debris to warn them about. Numerous deadheads all around. Every captain for himself or herself.
When there is a lot of rain the Mississippi rises and brings a lot of crap down with it. Now the good side to this is that the current was 5 to 6 knots so we were travelling at about 10knots + on average with spurts of 11 and then one day we hit 12.2. Surona has not gone that fast ever. And this isn't some sailors story either..... we have pictures.
Now we have to catch you up on where we have been. We continued down the Mississippi to Kaskaskia Lock. Free docking here. Tied up for the night on the lock wall. It was very quiet and peaceful. I think only one barge went thru during our entire stay.
The next day was about a 60 mile day and we stayed at Little Diversion Channel. The current is so strong that it is a real challenge to get into the channel. And to make it a little more challenging there is a fishing boat almost mid channel that we have to try to avoid hitting. We pulled right off the river into this picturesque and very quiet and still channel. It was nice to be anchored out of the current and away from the barge/tow traffic. We have been seeing barges with 30, 35, and the largest one had 42 barges in its fleet. These boys push a lot of water.... and you do not want to be close to their wake. We counted 14 rollers in the wake of one of the barge boats. What a sight, and a true experience. Barge captains are really courteous for the most part. One day when I was calling a barge for directions on how h e wanted us to meet him..... he very curtly informed me "he was not a barge, he was a tow". Well EXCUSE ME. They all look the same to me.
Then they anchor these fleets of barges out in the channel also, so it is very difficult to know if they are moving or anchored. One afternoon I was calling for directions; only to hear this growly voice tell me he thought I was talking to some anchored barges as he had looked up and down the river and couldn't see anything coming. It was good of him to let me know, but how embarrassing. Oh Well.
Fern from Hoppies had suggested we anchor at mile 7.7 on the Mississippi at Boston Bar under the I-57 bridge. This would have left us still subject to all of the wake from the barge traffic all night and the current. We decided to push on through and get into the Ohio River. When we were entering the Ohio the first thing you notice is the difference in the color of the water. It is very noticeably much cleaner and in fact it is like there is a line in the water.... it goes from really muddy (the Mississippi) to not so bad (the Ohio) The next thing you notice is your speed has dropped significantly. Now you average about 5 +knots. Now we are going upstream into a modest 1 knot current (thankfully). 17 miles up the Ohio the last lockmaster told us we could tie to some cells at the new Olmsted Dam. The dam is still currently under construction and will not be completed to 2013. Another very peaceful night.
We continued up the Ohio and anchored at the Cumberland Island Towhead which is where the Ohio and Cumberland River join. This was a very long day. When we got to Dam 53 we were told by the lockmaster that he had 44 barges on his schedule and he would try to work us in. We had to wait over 4 hours for our turn. By the time we got thru it was touch 'n go whether we had time to make the anchorage. We made it just in time. By the time we were anchored and grabbed a bottle of wine and got settled on the bridge of Yesterday's Dream .....it was dark. 6:30 to 7:00 pm it is dark. The sun has set completely.
The Cumberland River is more what I thought the trip was going to be like. A bright sunny day, temperature about 85 degrees, a lazy meandering river, and best of all no BARGES!!!! We are totally enjoying the Cumberland. Only one lock today. Yeah! And we only had to wait about 40 minutes. Not bad at all. Barkley Lock and Dam. We were locked up 57 feet. This is the highest lift we have had so far. There is a higher one coming up on the Tennessee River.
And now we are at Green Turtle Bay Marina. A true marina. 420 slips. And there is an order or priority as you enter after anchoring out for so long.... pump out, fuel, and fresh water... "and where did you say the showers are???"
It is more like a resort. Restaurants, Spa, SHOWERS, and laundry facilities, condos. We will probably stay here for 3 nights. They have a courtesy van and we have been to town, which is Paduca, two times already. The marina is close to a small town..... Grand Rivers, but the next large shopping area is Paduca.
We have fresh groceries, and the laundry is almost done. Three loads today. The last load can wait till tomorrow.
We went to the local theatre tonight to hear "storytellers" Two different storytellers; and their style was very different from each other. Very entertaining. Steve and Linda invited us back to their boat for Apple Crisp and Ice Cream. A great way to end the day.
It's 12:30 am and I really need to get some sleep as tomorrow will come very quickly.
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