Oct 29th - 98 Miles on the River

Tue Oct 29^th, 2013 at Kenlake State Park Marina.  Up at 5:30AM after a great night sleep – very peaceful marina.  

Pre Trip Inspections are MANDATORY!

Started motors at 6:40 after adding ½ quart of oil to starboard motor.  

Away from the dock at 6:55.  I tried the radar as it was a bit foggy but to no avail.  


Something must be disconnected????  Yet another issue to deal with when we have the time.

We came across an anchored cruiser at Clay Bay (mile 54.2).  “Sanderling is the first cruiser we have seen.  Our AIS showed a tug, “Sideview” ahead of us all day about 8 miles upstream.  I had been calling Perryville Marina several times trying to make a reservation and never got an answer.  Finally just before noon I got a recorded message saying they were closed.  Great, now we need another 5 miles to Mermaid Marina. 

When we arrived at the CSX rail road bridge at mile 100.4 we slowed down to make sure I could clear the bridge with my new VHS antenna.  Skipper Bob’s says it is a 24’6” clearance and it must be all of that if not a little more.  When we got there it was very apparent how low the water level is.  

I guess the water level is low

It looks like 5 feet below normal level so we cleared easily with a couple of feet to spare.  So I am going to say I need 27 feet to clear bridges down the water.

We passed by Cuba Landing at 3PM.  Calculations told me we were going to be late unless we sped up.  So I increased RPM from 1500 to 1700.  I burn significantly more fuel but it could not be avoided.  Now that we are out of the “Lake” we are fighting about .6 of a knot of current coming downstream (yes we are going upstream until Pickwick).  At 1700 we are going 9.7 mph so that will get us to Mermaid at 5:40.

At 4:50 we met our one and only tow for the day…."Marshall Barns”.  I tried hailing him on channel 16 but no response.  Just before we got to Mermaid, Kerm called.  He and Chris are at Pickensville, 3 days ahead of us.  It will be great to meet up with them…..probably in Mobile or along the Gulf. 

We pulled into Mermaid right on time to a VERY shallow channel……..3.5  feet on the depth meter.  Missy would FREAK out!  Folks are really friendly but very southern.  Facilities are also southern…..limited would be the nice way to put it.  Trick checked out the shower facilities and he tells me it is a garden hose in a cinder block building and it is a half mile away.  Thanks but no thanks.

98 miles today.  We started out shooting for 93 but had to improvise and it worked out nicely.Traveling on the river system is very unique....7 to 9 mph is the norm.  Some extravagant people buy boats that are faster but then they lose out on all that is to be seen moving slow and steady. I am very grateful and feel blessed to be able to absorb the vast twists and turns of the river system.

Bridge to No Where!

Fall colors in Tennessee

Ready for a flood

checking out our lunch

Missy would approve of the landscaping

Another fine landscaping that Missy would approve of.

Tennessee Time Share

The boat is running well, temperatures perfect.  Garmin chartplotter and AIS also working great so all is well.

Trick then made veggie burgers for me for dinner.  Very tasty!  We are going to hit the sack early and head out before sunrise as I want to arrive at Pickwick Lock with as much time to spare as possible as Kerm had to wait 4 hours to get through there a week ago.  I need to get through there by 4PM in order to get to Grand Harbor before they close the fuel dock at 5PM.  It will be no big deal if we get delayed as Grand Harbor is very well lite and I have been there a couple of times before but I want to get fuel so want to arrive in time to fill up.  

Arrived just in time.