4 Locks northbound

Up at 6AM.  A big 56 foot cruiser came in at dusk last night and they left at first light.

Pulling out of Pirate's Cove

We did not have to hurry as the first lock we were headed to offered services on the even hour and no way would we get there by 8AM (the big boat must cruise pretty fast) so we headed out at 7AM.

The AIS is still not working.....bummer.  The genset still won't run though I spent about an hour priming it last night.  Maybe if Trick sees the blog he can do magically diagnosis the issue remotely for me like he has before.  Still seems like I am drawing all the fuel from one tank.  But we sure having super nice weather!

Chris is a superb crew.  She has gone beyond the call of duty and been cleaning the bright work for the last two days.  It's also fun to talk about Joe, Kerm, and mutual friends as we cruise.  We both wish our spouses were aboard as that would make it the perfect trip.

You can sure tell it is a holiday weekend.  There were a zillion people out in every kind of boat pulling people of all ages on tubes.

Then we ran into two barges blocking the river, one on each bank, facing downstream. There was very little if any room to split between them.  I called them on the VHF but with no response.  Then the tow "Archie Wilson" pushing two tanker barges pulled away from the bank and headed downstream dang near straight at us.  I was a little offended.  I backed out of the way but did not want to get too close to the bank.  "Archie" passed and then "Tom Huckabee" started to move pushing coal.  Finally "Huckabee" got on the radio and sorta apologized after I told him I was trying to raise them on the radio (they were on another channel talking to each other).

So then the river was filled, and I do mean filled, with logs and debris.  It was a minefield.  Chris and I were on full alert all the way to the next lock.

We pulled right into the Amory lock but then waited for a good twenty minutes for the water to go up.  The lock master later apologized for "not pushing the right button".  At least they do apologize down here.

"Bama Gator"

Zipped right through the Wilkins lock and into Smithville Marina for the night.  "Scott" is still running the place and could not be nicer.

Chris made dinner while I moved the AIS receiver to a higher location to see if that will help.  Also looked at the fuel tank issue again and I cannot figure out why I am only drawing from one tank.  Maybe the gauge is messed up and I am actually burning a lot of fuel.  Tweeked the new taller VHF antenna so I can lower it for the railroad bridge a few miles up stream from Cuba Landing Marina.

You see weird stuff on the river!

Four more locks tomorrow and will be at Grand Harbor Marina for the evening.

This Pelican seemed to be asking "Where is Melissa????"