Demopolis to Bobby's Fish Camp November 4th

Nov 4^th. 

Up at 4:30, motors started at 5:20, away from the slip at 5:30AM.  Pisces saw me leaving and called us on Channel 16.  The lockmaster heard us and hailed me to go to channel 14.  The lockmaster told me it was foggy down below the lock, so much so that a tow (Megan Parker) had tied off for the night 4 miles downstream.

The lockmaster told me he would lock me through but I needed to leave the chamber once we were down, fog or not.  I decided to just putt down to the lock and allow the sun to come up a little.  As we got closer, another boat (Osprey) radioed they wanted to go through also.  We entered the lock about 6AM and waited for Osprey to join us.  They seemed to be a little disorientated so the lockmaster guided them into the lock.  This lockmaster was very business like and very helpful.  We started down at 6:25.

Sailing vessel Hypnotic called a little too late and would have to wait for the next cycle.  The doors opened up at 6:42 and we were off.  Osprey is anchoring out and going to run slower than us so we left them in the fog.  It did get pretty think for 10 or 15 minutes downstream but lifted by the time we caught Megan Parker.  The Captain told me to come on so we just keep cruising.  At 9AM the Gorden A Keenan is coming toward us while Pisces is running us down from behind.

We met with the Gorden Keenan at a pretty sharp curve and the Captain asked us to slow down while he finished getting around the bend.  In the meantime, Pengeo was right on our tail looking to get by.  Then coming toward us was Temple Huckabee at 12:40, Bobby Joe James at 1:05, then Roger F Wicker at 1:40.  Then we caught up to and passed Green wave heading downstream and then had to slow a little before we passed Heloise also going downstream.  Last two tows of the day were coming toward us:  Tunica and Big A. 

 

Here come da barge

Here's the barge

bye bye barge

It is very nice to have the AIS (Automatic Identification System) that tells me the name, location, and speed of all boats within about ten miles that also have AIS.  It is very hand to know about the big tows around the bend before you can see them.  I will hail them on the radio and the tow captains are very good about letting me know when and where it is safe to pass.

Cow

Cows

Josh, I swear this is an ancient rocket ship that crashed into these rocks.  I can see it!

Tricks by Truck

We overheard a conversation between a couple of  tow boats and the captains were complaining about their industry being slow.  With all the tows Trick and I have seen on the river the last few days I can’t imagine what it would be like if they were busier.

As we closed in on Bobby’s Fish Camp, I could see Pisces on the AIS, then also notice Pengeo there too.  As we approached there were a total of four boats there, Pisces, Pengeo, One More Time and Tutto Bene.  I asked John, the owner of Tutto Bene if he minded if we rafted up and he was very gracious and invited us to the port side of his boat with our starboard.

John McCurry on Tutto Bene

John and Diane McCurry are very nice….newly retired.  They are having some drive train issues and have to limp into Mobile for repairs. 

Trick had to do a little electrical repair after we rafted up and Bobby’s owner decided to open up the restaurant for the group so we are going to have Catfish for dinner….Yummmmmm!

 

I crawled into bed at 8PM and turned on the Bears/Packer game.  I was asleep by the end of the first quarter.