RAIN and MORE RAIN November 12, 2008

We awoke after 6 a.m. and found our boat surrounded by autumn trees. About 5 a.m. the rain pattered on our ceiling but lightened up when we pulled the anchors.

Catrina was on the River by 7 a.m. We found the 3 W's: Wind, Waves and Wet. With the same rpm's we got 4 mph rather than 6 mph. It was downright uncomfortable outside. We closed down the cockpit and moved into the settee.

Tom connected the GPS and autopilot inside so each could be used from the settee. Here is Debbie running the boat as she looks out the front window. The only feature missing was the depth finder.

In front of Debbie is a set of Corp of Engineers Charts lent to us by Wendy. They show every marker and curve on the river all the way to Mobile. We can look up distances, marinas or overnight mooring areas.

Above is part of one page that shows a railroad bridge with one section removed. The blue area is water. The lower bank show a finger of land (in grey) come out into the river. The diamonds are red and green markers indicating the channel. The straight line is the recommended sailing course. The upside down dashed lines are deeper channels to areas at the sides. The boats at the sides are mooring spots. Now let's look at the bridge.

One thing that Tom missed when he piloted the boat from inside was a seat with a back. Inspiration hit and he found a good use for his crutch!

Late in the afternoon the rain stopped. We noticed the leaves again. Before we were concerned with the rain, fog and poor visibility. We were very concerned about the barges and not knowing they were there until a few hundred feet away. All day only two barges passed us. The River had frequent curves and a narrower width with a smaller deep channel.

About 4 p.m. we pulled off the river at Cuba Landing. Water was low in the entrance channel and again Tom moved very slowly to the gas dock for a fill up and pump out. We decided to take advantage of the pool on the way in. Below is a picture of the route around the edge to the marina. Just picture our boat just behind the white/red marker. That is where we spent the night as the rain fell gently on the roof.

ON THE RIVER - ER - KENTUCKY LAKE November 12, 2008

While Carol and Debbie fetched 5 days of drinking water and straightened up the boat, the fearless three (Tom, Glenn and Wendy) resinstalled the motor and moved the dingy motor back to its original home. Yes, you do have to drop the motor from the cockpit into the pontoon and secure it to the mount. But you also have to hook up the raising line and gear and throttle cables.

By Noon our friends waved goodbye and we were off. Captain Tom took the wheel finding a way to keep his operated knee up. Debbie kept an eye on his eyes to make sure they were open!

We crossed the Lake from the west side to the east as two barges moved south or down river. During the afternoon we only saw about 7 barges total and all were headed the opposite direction. We are traveling south but are going up stream. Because of Kentucky Dam and Lock at the entrance to the lake, we are in "pool" - no current but we can have wind and waves. It was a good refresher lesson to pass barges on the wide part of the river with no current. Also we remembered that going up stream meant that our left side would be RDB - Right Descending Bank - and the left markers would be green.

Not only do we wish to travel to warmer temperatures (it was under 40 this morning) but we can enjoy fall in another area than palm trees and sand. The leaves along the shores are in full color and the channel usually goes adjacent to the east side of the lake.

Before we know it, four hours have passed and the sun is setting over the west shore. This is the view out our back cockpit door. We will have to get up early if we plan to make many miles during these "short" days.

The sunset is beautiful as we hurry to find a protected spot off the barge route to drop anchor.

We decide to go a couple miles further to Fort Heiman Cove RDB (west shore). We have been traveling at 6 mph. In just 20 minutes it is pitch dark. The clouds are pretty in a sunset but they hide the moon!

As we enter Fort Heiman Cove at mile 62.6 RDB, the last rays leave us. Thirty one miles today. The cove is behind the right bank and is deep and a couple hundred yards wide at the bottom. Tom crept Catrina along keeping a close eye on the depth finder. Debbie sat on the bow ready to drop anchor. The depth was about 15 feet when Tom flashed the light relaying the drop anchor command. We have been traveling with all windows closed to preserve heat so we improvised and found a non-verbal command.

You may not be aware but Tom is addicted to TV so we double moored. Debbie put out 150 feet of anchor bow anchor line. When we were firmly grounded, Tom shut down the motors and dropped the stern anchor. Then Debbie pulled in some of the bow anchor line so that Catrina was in the middle of the two anchors. If we removed the slack, it would hold the boat in one position and we would not slip off the satellite signal!

Debbie put the leftover fajita mexican take home into a salad, added salsa and sour cream and a side of baked beans for a quick and easy 5 p.m. TV supper. It has been a full first day back on the River!

CATRINA AT LAST November 11, 2008

Dr. Mark discharged Patient Tom with instructions not to fall OVERBOARD! Carol and Glenn loaded up their van with all our stuff (as much as we took off October 12) and hauled us to Kentucky Lake. We cannot thank them enough for such good delivery service, friendship and wheeled-vehicle storage!

On the way we stopped and picked up the repaired motor. Wendy and Joan had referred and taken us to this marina, the best in the their area, and they were able to repair the damage (versus sell us a new motor). Glenn and Tom "carted" the motor to Catrina while Carol and Debbie unloaded the rest of the van. Then it was off to Wendy and Joan's, a visit to our favorite mexican restaurant in Benton (they also have a taco bell), grocery shopping at Wally World (of course) and home to bed. After over a month it was wonderful to sleep in our own bed with the water gently rocking us to sleep!

SURGERY SUCCESSFUL November 6, 2008

Tom's Tuesday surgery went well with Dr. Mark finding more damage than the MRI showed. He was able to reach it and Tom should be good for a couple more years! Today he is almost off pain medication and can take his first shower! He can bear weight but should keep his knee up to keep swelling down.

Post Op appointment is Monday 10/10 and we anticipate getting the okay to return to Catrina.
We cannot thank the Mark (Son) family enough for our two week visit and excellent referal.

Delayed Return to Rivers November 4, 2008

As our friends are voting today (or have already voted), Tom and Debbie reside in Louisville with Tom's son Mark's family. When we left the river, friends Carol and Glenn picked us up and took us to their home in Indiana where we had stashed our truck-camper-macgregor. A quick trip to Florida with a three day turn around brought us back to Louisville. Tom came back a week early to attend a funeral of a long time hunting/neighbor friend.

The Mark Smith's reaped the benefits of this week early arrival with a host of house projects: Find the short in a circuit breaker, fix the bathroom wall behind the shower, replace an old wood door to the backyard and putting same-keyed locks on front door and things like that. They made us feel right a home. Debbie helped with the cooking and tool fetching. Kids Katie, age 10, and Will, age 13, entertained us with sports games, gin rummy and poker.

Tom's orthopedic apppointment was yesterday and today he had his PAT (preadmission testing). Tomorrow is the surgery for a meniscectomy. Some time after November 10th when he is scheduled for his post-op check up we will return to Kentucky Lake and Catrina. We both miss not being on the river but are so happy Tom can have the surgery this week. I guess it really helps that son Mark Smith couched doctor Mark Smith's son for many seasons! Tom is getting the VIP treatment from a well respected Orthopedic Doctor!

32nd Day On Catrina October 12, 2008

The sun is just rising as we look around our "bed" for last night and find a quiet channel on the south side of Cuba Toehead. Tom takes down our make-shift mast light and pulls the anchor and we are headed south up the Tennessee River. This river is another backwards rivers that flows from south to north. The red markers are on the our right not left side.

Along the way we see a new type of dolphin. What's a dolphin? It is a very secure structure used by barges to tie up and looks like a large concrete drum. These are taller which allows for changing river levels.

Twenty two miles and we are at the Kentucky Lock and Dam. It is a very deep lock with a 57 foot lift. Tom calls the Lockmaster and keeps his fingers crossed that we will not have to wait hours. The Lockmaster says, "I'll get everything ready and you can drive right in!" Tom pushed the throttles full forward and we took off for the Lock in joyful surprise.

We drive in, pick a bollard, the lower gate closes and the water quickly fills the 58 foot well. We felt like royalty! We are so happy we chose the short route on the Tennessee (versus the Cumberland) and risked a long wait!

Kentucky Lake is one of the largest man-made bodies of water in the world covering 160,000 acres with 2,380 miles of shoreline. We will travel more than 240 miles on Kentucky Lake to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

As we head up the lake and then move to the west coast but find it very shallow (3 feet). It is very important to be on the correct side of the markers. The barges travel along the east side of the lake but we are headed for mile Bear Creek at Mile 31 on the west coast. Sailboats dot the lake and motor boats roar by us. Neat, well kept cottages are built high above the water line.

Docks are sprinkled in the coves. We reach Bear Creek Cove and turn in to the Moors Marina and Resort, Catrina's home for the next couple weeks.

It is time for Tom and Debbie to get back to the real world (shutter). We need to take our truck-camper-boat to Florida. After 32 days, we have traveled about 600 miles in the great lakes, 627 miles on the Chicago, Illinois, Des Plaines, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Rivers. We have passed through, over or around 14 locks. We have made many good friends and shared many new experiences. When we return in November we will continue our blog for 634 miles on Rivers and 14 locks and then a trip across the Gulf to Crystal River.

OHIO October 11, 2008

Upon leaving Little Diversion Canal at 8 a.m. we encountered barges. The whole way down the Mississippi to the Ohio River (48 Miles) we always had a pusher in sight. The dialect of the captains is often hard to understand as they chat on Channel 13 - their channel. We can use it to contact them or they can use it to direct us to pass on the one (our port) or two (our starboard).

The Pusher John Yeager told the four boats to get in a line so he could pass us as a group. We have been looking at his stern all day!

Five miles below the our home of last night we passed under the Thebes Rail Road Fixed Bridge. This bridge has 100.2 feet clearance. Most bridges will have a line of numbers showing the water level below the clearance. It is very helpful if you have a high mast and are not sure if you can make it under. With our mast down we are one of the lowest boats. The trawlers are much higher and most times much bigger. Below is another bridge. The numbers go to the water level when it is high! But you knew that!

The Mississipi is full of curves and turbulence today. As the river widens, our speed decreases with the current. In narrow areas we are traveling at 10 miles per hour but most of our day is a miles or two below that. We decide to enjoy this speed as our next leg is upriver and we will be crawling with only one motor. Last night Ken helped Tom moved our sick starboard motor to the front deck. This morning Tom moved the dingy motor into the motor well. We can use it to negotiate docks and moorings but it is not practical for on the river use because Debbie has to sit beside it on the floor and make adjustments. She does not have her engineer's license!

Please note the quiet motor reclined on the foredeck under the mast and between the four gas cans!

As we leave the Mississippi (picture of out last glimpse) about 1 p.m. we are gliding along at 10 mph. We pass under the Cairo Highway Fixed Bridge (85 feet), go around the bend and up to Ohio and under the Cairo Highway Fixed Bridge (116.50 feet). Our speed drops from 10 mph to 5-6 mph!

The Ohio River at the Junction of the Mississippi river.

What a surprise! We take one last look at the Mississippi and there is demasted catamaran behind us. As it passes us (everyone does these days), we chat with two germans in a Venezia 42 named Tamada. They are headed for the Gulf of Mexico!

At the mouth of the Ohio is Barge Land. We pass blocks of 50 or more barges sitting right in the middle of the river!

You are looking out the window at rows and rows of barges end to end!

It is very hot today and we have all the Eisenglass windows rolled up or off. Finally we add fans!

We can almost read the mileage signs on the Shore Markers.

As Debbie's camera runs out of battery power, we pass the Olmstead Lock and Dam 15 miles up the Ohio. It was to be finished in 2008 which has now been moved back to 2013! It will replace Lock 53 and 52.

Below Lock 53 we catch up and wave goodbye to our friends Barb & Ken, Ellen & Woody and Brenda & John. They have dropped anchor. We don't see a wiggle - is it siesta time?

Lock 53 is two miles further up the Ohio. We throw 35 foot lines up to the lock masters and are soon on our way. Usually it is a 14 foot rise but today it is about 3 feet! In the fall and winter months water is let out of Kentucky Lake to keep the river up. It increases the flow to about 2 mph. In the spring the flow is 3 mph and in the summer 1 mph. At 5 mph we get to see everything initimately along the Ohio. We think the River is at "Pool" (very little current).

Twenty three miles north we arrive at Lock 52 and Dam. It is after 9 p.m. Don't forget to divide 5 mph into 23 miles! We wait 75 minutes before the lockmaster tells us to proceed into the smaller lock. We see only one lock being used at a time and wonder why they have two! He lowers a hook to Debbie to pull up her 50 foot line. This a 10 foot level change not a 14 (Lock 53) but needs a 50 foot line not a 35! We don't ask questions because we know lockmasters rule this part of the world and we really want to get up river as quickly as possible.

Tom is a good night sailor. He stands at that the wheel with his head above the roof looking in all directions. We have turned lights on at the front, back and top of our boat. He watches for other lights and any movement. We have a 1,000 watt hand held light and we cannot guess how strong the pusher's lights are. They pick us up on radar and spot us with their strong light. Tom uses eye sight (our radar is safely stored under our bed) and uses his "candlelight" 1,000 water light on them. Markers guiding us up the channel are difficult to find so we keep an evil eye on the depth finder. We don't want to get in one figures as we need 3 1/2 feet clearance

About 11:30 p.m. we approach Paducah and the foot of the Tennessee River. This is a very busy part of the river and we have to wait carefully all Pushers to make sure they are "rest" at the side of the river or slowly moving somewhere. Debbie's eyes are used as a backup for Tom's and she enjoys all the pretty lights along the shore she cannot see.

At the far end of Paducah the Tennessee River branches off at an island. We see a red light on land (and island) and wonder if it will be at the branch. It is! We take the right fork into the TN River and then hunt for a second island - Cuba Towhead - where we hope to spend the night. We see a yellow light to the right and investigate at our slowest speed with watchful eye on depth finder. Catrina continues around a curve at 16 feet depths and Debbie drops anchor. Sleep at last and it is only a few minutes after Midnight. 8 a.m. to midnight - 92 miles - our longest day -we have earned a good nights sleep!