On The Move Again

Thursday June 25, 2009 After being at Green Turtle Bay for nearly a month the Mississippi has finally dropped to a level that I feel we can handle. It's still not for the faint hearted but if you don't mind strong currents and occasional channel wide debris it's not too bad. So with that in mind we pulled out of GTB at 6:15 am. I wanted to cross back over to the Tennessee River and travel that river to Paducah but a quick call to the lock squashed that idea. They had just started a double (barge that has to be locked in 2 sections) and had another one waiting which meant us sitting for a minimum of three hours before we could lock through. Fortunately the Barkley Lock was open so to the Cumberland we go. The only bad part of the Cumberland route is that it adds 22 miles to the day. Oh well! Down the Cumberland we went at trawler speed + to conserve fuel. The current was moving pretty good so we got a little boost from it and hit the Ohio at 9:42 am. Once we entered the Ohio the water turned to a nice thick milkshake brown. We cruised over, yes over the dams at Locks 52 & 53 since the water was so high and they are the type that can be lowered to the bottom of the river. The lock chambers that we came through back in November were completely under water.

We entered the Mississippi at 2:45 pm and turned North. Only 579 miles left to go! The current was every thing I expected but not much debris yet. Of course our timing was perfect in that we made the turn onto the Miss at the same time as the Raymond Grant Ekstein pushing 35 barges was heading upstream from the lower river. Yikes! A quick conversation on the VHF to let him know our intentions and upstream we went. The water was calm but the current was ripping and the color of the water would have made any farmer who works the land want to get his planter out. There can't be any dirt left in the Midwest. It's all in the river! We made it to our destination near Cape Girardeau, Mo. and anchored off channel in the Little River Diversion Canal. The same spot we anchored in on the way down but with 15' more water. A nice days run.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Tuesday June 23, 2009 The heat is almost unbearable down here. Almost. Mid 90's every day with humidity along with it. The good news is that I now weigh in at a svelte 125 lbs. I've been eating like my tape worm came back to life! Any projects we have take place in the AM then we hibernate in the AC after that. The good news is that we've been getting some things done that were going to be put off until we got home.

Anchored in what the locals call cheap skate bay last week end. They call it that because it's only 2 miles from the marina thus not much fuel is used to and from. Even with that moniker hanging over us we had a good time. Our location offered us a good view of Barkley Lake and all the boats coming and going without feeling much effect from their wakes. On Saturday we had a visit from Bruce and Leda Brubaker who slip their 48' Sea Ray at GTB. We had met Bruce earlier and told him where we would be anchored. It was fun visiting with them and comparing boats since theirs is the same model as ours. Bruce is a Ford dealer here in Kentucky (and happy to be one!) and a former pro ball player. Their nephew is the current catcher for the Yankees. We later had dinner with them at the Commonwealth Yacht Club back at the marina. I think they know everyone there! Both are very hospitable people who exude Southern Hospitality.

Back here in the slip I spotted the above pictured turtle trying to eat a nectarine. I'm either bored or just enjoying the simple pleasures of nature.

On the river front I thought I'd give some comparisons taken from the NOAA web site about the volume of water passing by Dubuque, St. Louis, & Cape Girardeau, Mo. today. Dubuque river stage 9' and flowing at a rate of 52 thousand cubic feet per second. St. Louis 25' stage and a flow of 404 thousand cubic feet per second, and Cape Girardeau at a 33' stage with a flow of 455 thousand cubic feet per second. Not sure how that translates to mph but I know it's pretty fast!

Don't Mess With Mother Nature

Thursday 6/18/09 Our plan was to leave last Friday and start for home, however Mother Nature wants us to remain here for some reason. Heavy downpours have been occurring almost daily at different locations all along our intended route of travel causing flash flooding of the tributaries that feed the Mighty Miss. The river has been rising ever since we arrived back at Green Turtle Bay. At St. Louis although not closed, traffic has been limited to daylight hours only and towboats must have a minimum of 250 horsepower for each loaded barge in addition to the warning about heavy drift (logs & debris) severing buoy moorings and moving them off station. Currently the river is rising to or above flood stage from Alton, Il. to Cairo, Il where it joins the Ohio River.

Since we can't move North we've been taking advantage of our situation by doing some of the boat chores that we were putting off until we got home like waxing & polishing. Not a fun job but one that needs to be done to keep Tourist lookin good. I feel like the Karate Kid. On a personal note I got cleaned up yesterday, rented a golf cart and drove into town to Janice K's salon and got my hair cut for the first time since Ft. Myers. (at Pams' insistence) I was hoping to wait until we got home for the shearing but it was beyond time. Since we're still in the South I thought I'd surprise Pam and get a more traditional Southern haircut. I'm now sporting a Billy Ray Cyrus Mullet! She's thrilled y'all!

Temps are in the 90's and forecast to stay there for the next several days. I think we'll cut the dock lines and find a cove to drop the hook in. It's Princess Chair time!

Superman and a Small World

Saturday June 13, 2009 Last night while sitting at the bar of the yacht club here at Green Turtle Bay two things of interest happened. First off we were sitting there talking to a couple about boating, where we were from, etc. We learned that they had lived in Metropolis, Il. some years ago and had once held up a bank there. Neither of them looked menacing so we kept up the interrogation and found out that the bank job was done as part of the annual Superman Festival held each June in Metropolis. Further questioning revealed that the festival was taking place this week-end. Hmmmm.

Our conversation continued to where we had spent the winter and our travels en route to GTB. Seems they spent the winter in Ft. Myers at the City Marina just a few blocks from Legacy Harbor where we were. Our conversation continued to talking about coming up the Tombigbee in high water and when I told them how much we raised in the Coffeeville Lock Bill said that's what they raised. He then asked what our boat name was, started laughing and told us that they were on Lorelei at which point we all burst into laughter. We had run in sight of or within radio range of them from Mobile to Bashi Creek below Demopolis, pointing out logs or buoys that were bobbing below the surface. We even both anchored in Bates Lake and Okatuppa Creek together as well as locking through Coffeeville Lock together. They are spending the summer here at GTB on their boat which they have lived on full-time for the past 10 years. Small world!

After the first paragraph you probably guessed that we were going to the Superman Festival. I wanted to go in costume. Me as Superman of course and Pam as Wonder Woman. Well that didn't happen. Pam nixed the idea when she realized that WW wore a tiara which of course would mess up her hair. We drove to Metropolis (about 40 miles) and enjoyed an afternoon watching people of all shapes and sizes parading around in their favorite superhero costume. In addition to the people watching I scored a personal first which was to eat my first corn dog! I know you probably think I've led a sheltered life! From there we made a stop in downtown Paducah for a libation before returning to GTB.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Friday, June 12, 2009 We're back at Green Turtle Bay after a couple weeks at home. The highlight of our trip home was Grandson Drew's' 8th grade graduation. During the ceremony he played guitar and sang. He even wrote a verse of the song. He sounded great and never missed a cord. (takes after me. Ha!) The picture shows Pam, Drew, grandson Luke, & yours truly.

We got back to the boat Wednesday afternoon and found it pretty much as we left it. Just dirtier. Thursday was cleanup day with the thought of leaving today. Mother Nature however has other plans. Thunderstorms with flash flooding rolled through the area last night as they have been doing over the area of our travels for the past few days. A look at the weather map shows no let up for the next several days. St. Louis is predicted to get near 5 inches over the next 4 days and the river is rising again. It's predicted to be up 3 feet by Sunday which translates to more current and debris to fight. The worst part is that between here and Alton, Illinois there are no islands to hide behind to get out of the current. Only small tributaries which are subject to flash flooding when it rains hard. I think we'll sit tight for a few more days and watch the geese behind Tourist.

A check of the Coast Guard Navigation Notices shows a warning to be on the look out for heavy debris in the waters below St. Louis and barges transiting the area should have a pilot on board who has high water experience. Could we make it? Certainly but why? It's called pleasure boating after all!