November 28th

Missy and I got a decent night sleep and then got up and prepared to leave the boat for a few weeks.

Demopolis Yacht Basin

After the haul out, it was clear we hit a submerged object with the starboard prop.

Good news, it can be repaired.  We could have put my spare set of props on and tried to fix the hydraulic steering leak today in order to get back in the water and continue the trip, BUT, when the yard hauled the boat it was very clear I needed a new bottom paint job.

I was shocked by the condition of the bottom as I had a new paint job done just eight months ago.  And I followed the recommendation of what I thought was a knowledgeable boater and  used the "best" paint.  Turns out the paint we used at the yard in Key West Florida is very good for salt water applications but NOT GOOD for fresh water use.  Bummer.  Being a boat owner is such a learning experience!

So the prop damage was actually a blessing in disguise as I would not have known for months that I had a problem with the bottom since I was under the impression that I would be in good shape for at least another year to 18 months.

The people at Demopolis Yacht Basin are the salt of the earth and great to work with.  I am confident they will take great care of Aye Sea No Snow and get us back in the water safe and sound.  It will take 10 days or so to get things done so I am having them do a couple of other repairs while they have it.

We plan to go back down to the boat after Christmas and spend the rest of the winter in Florida.  The plan now is to meet my sister Bobbie just after the 1st of the year so she can crew for me when I cross the Gulf.  She will ride from Carrabelle to Tampa.  Then we may hook up with my  brother in law, John Foley and his wife for a few days the second week of Jan.  Rachael plans on coming down either in Jan or during her spring break.

I hope to cruise down to Key West by the 12th of Jan and spend a week down there.  Then we will cruise back up to Sarasota for the duration of the winter. We also have plans to meet up with Joe Marrone in  March.

I had really gotten into the groove of cruising.  I love being on the boat.  I enjoy the challenge of operating the vessel while taking in a much different perspective on things.  When you travel at 10 mph you have more time to really look at all the different things you are exposed to and then have time to contemplate the meaning and perspective of what you experience.

It will be fun to go home for Christmas but I can't wait to get back to "da Boat"!

Missy, Taffy, and I hope everyone has a safe and joyful Holiday!  Peace!

November 27th

Cool, cloudy, light rain.  Fired up the gen set to warm the cabin and make coffee.

Fred from Demopolis Yacht Basin called around 9:15 to say his guys were on the way with the tow boat.  Yippee, another adventure on the river.

This is how you walk the dog when you anchor out!

"I have to pee where?"

Matt and Bob arrived just before 10 AM.  I had the second anchor up already and it only took a few minutes to set the lines and get ready to go.  The main anchor came up with no trouble and I put the port motor in reverse and turned the boat around and away we went.

Six hours to Demopolis. Six hours of trying to keep the boat straight behind the tow boat with a failed hydraulic system. It was difficult to say the least!

I did notice that both shaft were turning as we started out.  That meant the transmission was not seized up! Maybe the tranny is okay?  I fired the starboard motor up and put it in gear and it seems to work okay but vibrates as I rev up.  My guess now is we hit a submerged tree stump and bent the prop.  The stump must have been lodged in the prop but the drifting around during the night must have dislodged it.

Taffy kept close tabs on me to make sure I did not screw something else up!

We arrive at Demopolis Yacht Basin right at 4 PM with passing a single boat.  That was lucky!  Fred met us in the channel with a skiff and tied off on our starboard stern to help us into the dock.  The guys know what they are doing.

We secured the boat at the fuel dock for the night with plans to haul the boat out first thing in the morning to determine the damage.  I grabbed a much needed shower and then Missy and I went to dinner at the restaurant here in the marina.

Stay tuned.....we may be here for a while.

November 26th

Long run today so up at 5:45.  Motors running at 6:30.  Out of the marina and into Tom Bevelle lock at 6:50.  Out of the lock at 7:05.

90 miles to go to get to Demopolis but with luck and a downstream current we should make it.  At 9:45 I notice a small hydraulic leak at the lower helm.  I tightened the cap on the helm to try to stop the leak. BIG MISTAKE!  I made it worse.  Really bad.  It made a big mess and freaked me out.  I managed to ditz with it and slow it down to a stead drip.  Already planning to add fluid ( I have ATF on board) to get to Demopolis.

We arrived at the Heflin Lock at 10:55 and had to wait for a tow coming through the lock upstream.

As I started to move into the lock at 11:20, the hydraulic steering went out completely! OMG!  I should have known better than to tweak something while underway!

The lower helm leaked a bucket of fluid.

I managed to get into the lock safely using the throttles. Coming out of the lock was more difficult because of the currents but I made it.  I had Missy steer with the throttles while I worked on the steering.  We were going about 5 knots per hour when a large tow came around a turn toward us.  I decided to pull over and anchor to wait for the two to pass as we were in a nice straight stretch.

As we jockeyed around keeping the boat offshore the starboard motor seized up and died.  CRAP!  My first thought is we caught the anchor rode.  Nope.  CRAP.  We must have hit a submerged object.  I started the motor and it died when I put in forward.  CRAP.  I started it again and it died when I put it in reverse.  CRAP.  The transmission must have seized up.

I went to work on the hydraulic steering system trying to bleed the system.  I can't get it to work for beans.  CRAP.

So I call Boat US asking for a tow to Demopolis.  They cannot send someone out until morning.  We are stuck on the river for the night.

This is not the best of situations but it is not totally unsafe.  We are close to the west bank of the river on a very straight stretch so we should be alright.  I call the lock and let them know where we are and the situation. I put a second anchor out for security.  The weather forecast is for rain and a few thunderstorms.  CRAP.

Things are very quiet at first.  Actually pleasant.  Clear skies and almost full moon.  Missy remarks how this was the first time on the boat we have not been rushed.  She is right.....maybe I am always trying to push too hard??

A tow (Mr. Landon) came downstream around midnight. The lock had let him know we were there and he went by nice and slow.  An hour later another tow (Genie) went by northbound.  The captain of Genie did not know we were there (I had asked the captain of Mr. Landon to alert northbound tows but I think Genie must have been parked when Landon went by him).  It was entertaining listening to the captain of Genie jaw with the lock about us dumb pleasure craft operators.  I called Genie up and asked him to alert southbound tows and he was very gracious about trying to help out.

I was up every 30 minutes or so checking our position (making sure we were not dragging the anchor) and looking at my chartplotter to see if there were any boats approaching.  It started to rain about 3 AM.

At 4 AM another tow was approaching southbound (Crimson White).  Then the thunderstorm hit.  We heard a clap of thunder louder than anything I have ever heard...no exaggeration! I heard Crimson White call the lock and tell them he was going to wait out the storm as he had some difficult curves to negotiate.  He finally passed around 7AM.  Smart Captain!

Long freaking night!

November 25th

Easy day so we are up at 6:30.  Started motors at 7:15.  Pulled away from the dock at 7:30.  Into Grover Wilkens lock at 7:50.  Beautiful morning but very cold.  Ice all over the boat!

Out of Wilkens lock at 8:00 and into Amory Lock at 8:50.  I noticed a squeal from the alternator belt on the starboard motor at 1200 RPM.  This is the first problem I have had with the boat this trip.  I ran at lower RPM for a while and then very gently increased revs and it went away.  I am hoping it was just the freaking cold!

Out of Amory at 9:05 and into Aberdeen lock at 10:35 with no delay.  Out at 10:50,

Lots of plant life in the river

Darrell called around 11:00 AM to tell me how great the Gran Prix race from Brazil was going.  After he called me with a second update of the exciting conclusion to the 2012 season, I asked Missy to take over the helm for a while so I could fire up the gen set and watch the race on TV.  She is a real trooper and helps me out whenever I need it!  We took advantage of the gen set and made lunch (toast with humas).

Taffy has the run of the boat!

We arrived at the John Stennis Lock at 1:00.  A barge was just going into the southbound chamber so we are set for an extensive delay.  We did not get in until a little after 2:00 and then out at 2:20.

Another familiar sight on the river.

We have to pick up the pace to get to Pirates Cove Marina before dark.  We passed 1 southbound and 3 northbound tows.  Pulled into the marina right at sunset.  Nice people but no bells and whistles again.  We are looking forward to watching Dexter and  Homeland in bed together.

November 24th

Up at 6 AM.  Very cold, 25 degrees.  After my daily pre-trip inspection, I walked Taffy.  Only down side to Grand Harbor Marina is the distance to grass for the dog.

Cruising at 7:30.  7 miles later we were in the TennTom Cut.

It was so cold on the bridge we decided to motor from the lower helm.  Much nicer!  We fired up the gen set to warm our feet and make hot tea and hot chocolate!

At 9:50 we spotted a kayacker!  This guy has to be crazy to be out paddling in this weather!

at 10:30 we spotted a deer swimming across the channel.  He or she was very determined!

When I first noticed something in the water I instinctively thought it might be a dolphin.  In Kentucky  Not!  

Swim Forest, Swim!

Why did the deer cross the river?

Arrived at Whitten Lock at 11:30 (84' drop), entered at 11:45, out at 12:15.

Into Montgomery Lock at 12:50 and out at 1:10.

The 1st Mate is Very Important during locking procedures!!!

Into John Rankin Lock at 2:00, out at 2:15.

The Captain will not allow Taffy out on deck during locking!

Into Fulton Lock at 3:05 and out at 3:25.

All 4 locks were ready for us today.  How cool is that?  We hope our luck continues.

The Captain has to stay alert at all times!

Arrived at Smithville Marina at 4:30 with 15 minutes of sunlight to spare.  Scott is still running the marina after his dad died in a tornado two years ago.  There are no bells or whistles here but you will never find a nicer guy anywhere!

Dinner on board: peanut butter and jelly....Ymmmm!

November 23rd

Up at 6AM.  Cruising by 7:15.  We have 101 miles to go!  I throttled up as we were pushing against the current.  This time of year we only have 10 hours of sunlight so it makes it tough to go very far in a vessel that cruises economically at less than 10 miles per hour.

Still Chilly!

We arrived at Pickwick Lock at 3:30 and the lockmaster had the chamber ready for us.

Up we went for the first lock through of the season.  The first two days of our trip were up river on the Tennessee.  Once we got through Pickwick Lock, we motored 10 miles further up and then turned into the TomBigBee Waterway.  From there on we are running down river.

We were at Grand Harbor Marina at 4:40 with sunset at 4:45.

 Jeff fueled us up: 130 gals equal $535.00.  It is expensive to run hard!  We hope to run slower and cheaper from here on.

We borrowed the marina courtesy car and went to dinner at the Broken Spoke Restaurant.

We had been then in June with Rachael and loved the place.  We were not disappointed with our return and they have great food and great entertainment.

These two were so good we purchased a couple of their CDs.

On the way back to the marina the warning light indicating a low tire came on.  We found a gas station with air so we were able to get back with no problem.

I hit the sack but Missy had work to do on the internet for Medtronic so she stayed up until 1 AM.

November 22nd

Up at 6 AM.  Lots of last minute details (filling water tanks, stowing stuff, throwing trash into the dumpster).  Pulled out at 7:45.  Chilly morning with some fog.

Pulling out of Kentucky Dam Marina.

Aye Sea No Snow is running great!  EVERYTHING WORKS!!

Did I mention that it was chilly??

We observed a cruiser heading south in front of us but they slowly pulled away and we lost sight of them around 2 PM.

Lots of room in the channel in Kentucky Lake!

This ferry was a familiar sight from our trip north in June.

We were hoping to go 90 miles to Cuba Landing Marina.  There were closed for Thanksgiving but gave us permission to tie up and use their electric power.

Taffy is very at home on the boat.

For a while we thought about stopping at a shorter distance but decided to crank up the speed a little since everything was running so well and we just made it with a little light left.  It was kinda dark as we pulled into their channel but my spotlight picked the buoys up well enough so we had no trouble finding our way in.  We plugged in and cooked pizza for dinner.  It was a Great Thanksgiving despite missing the kids on a Holiday.

November 21st

I spent half the day doing an oil change on the two Perkins diesels and the Westerbeke gen set along with other preventative maintenance.  The rest of the day I was washing the spider poop off the boat.  Missy spent the entire day cleaning the inside of the boat from end to end.

We drove into Paducah for provisions and then had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant (it sure was not like eating in Venice but nice never the less).

Did I mention Missy hates spiders??

November 20th

Missy and I drove down to Kentucky Dam Marina to start our cruise toward Florida for the winter.  We checked into a motel near the marina so that we can start cleaning first thing in the morning (did I mention Missy hates spiders?).

Sept 14th, 2012

Missy and I drove down to check on the boat.  It has been a busy summer and we had great plans to bring the boat up to St. Paul but the weather and our availability never were compatible.  We left late in the morning and arrived at Kentucky Dam Marina at 1AM.  I went down to inspect the boat and it was infested with spiders!  Missy does not like spiders. I spent a half hour getting as many of the webs cleaned up and then went to get Missy and Taffy.  Did I mention Missy hates spiders?  To say she was not happy would be an understatement.

I then spent an hour washing the outside of the boat.  It was disgusting.  The slip we were in was right next to a huge overhead light.  That freaking light attracted a zillion bugs which in turn attracted a million spiders.  Did I mention that it was disgusting?  It was so filthy I could not go to bed without scrubbing the heck out of the side facing the light.

I slept in until around 9AM and woke up not feeling very well and with a sore back.  Sometimes I am just not smart enough not to overdue things.  So we just hung out the rest of the day then drove home on Sunday vowing to get back to the boat sooner.

No pictures for this posting as that would be disgusting!