Day on the Cruise: 179
From: Goose Pond Marina, Scottsboro, AL
To: Joe Wheeler State Park Marina, Rogersville, AL
Statute Miles: 98.7 SM
Time: 9.8 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 4,648.6 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we are back at Joe Wheeler State Park Marina where we spent a week for the AGCLA Rendezvous in October.
When we left Goose Pond this morning, we knew we wanted to get to Joe Wheeler, if possible, but if we got waylaid at Guntersville Lock, we might only make Decatur. So, it was a first light departure from Goose Pond at 6:45 AM. Luckily there was no fog, and the temps were not that bad-only in the high 50's. It was a beautiful morning, for sure!
 |
| This was the scene as we cast off from Goose Pond about 25 minutes before sunrise! |
 |
| Leaving Goose Pond and Heading into the Tennessee River |
 |
| Mist on the mountain tops between Scottsboro, AL and Guntersville, AL |
 |
| Cruising toward Guntersville this morning |
Around 8:00 we heard from our friends Rick and Leila on "Sun Gypsy" who were at Guntersville. They were leaving shortly headed down river, so we were able to meet up with them at the Guntersville Bridge and travel together. They took the lead and we got to Guntersville Lock around 9:30. We were let into the lock at 9:50 and we were locked down and out of the lock by 10:15. Less than an hour here was all good.
 |
| Sun Gypsy goes into Guntersville Lock |
 |
| Leaving Guntersville Lock |
Both we and Sun Gypsy decided to wait to Decatur to make a call as to how far we would try to go today. The Scenery from Guntersville to Huntsville was gorgeous. The colors on the trees covering the mountains were very vivid today. The vistas of the River with the rolling mountains coming down to the water were magnificent! It was a great ride, especially since the severe weather from yesterday and last night had passed by, and today was clear, cool, and just a beautiful cruising day.
 |
| Cruising between Guntersville and Huntsville. Beautiful scenery this morning! |
 |
| Approaching Painted Rock between Guntersville Lock and Huntsville in the morning light |
 |
| More Fall Colors along the Tennessee River today |
We made Decatur at about 2:00 and decided to push on the additional 30 miles to Joe Wheeler. Once past Decatur, the wide expanse of the River and Wheeler Lake became choppy with white caps and rolling waves created by a stiff breeze from a Westerly direction. We were heading right into the chop, so the ride was a little bumpy.
 |
| Approaching the Bridges at Decatur, AL |
Near the Elk River we came upon the towboat "Lloyd Dunning" with six barges in two strings. He was going West like we were and he gave us a two whistle pass. When we got beside him he decided to "pinch" us against the LDB a little. It was a hairy pass and one where I accelerated quite a bit to get by him quickly so we could get back into the River channel. Once by him, we crossed over to the other side and ran the RDB to stay out of his way. Not sure why he pinched us, but he is now on my list along with the "Edwin L. Kennedy" from our run up the Cumberland River.
Speaking of the "Kennedy", this towboat is stalking us. Our first encounter was on the Cumberland. He was down bound, we were up bound. We called him when we saw him on the AIS. We were in a part of the River that was very twisting. We agreed to do a one whistle, but we met as he was coming around a bend. We were four pleasure boats traveling together and Blue Moon was in the lead. When he saw us, he was very "aggressive" in wanting us over in the trees on the LDB. When we were not over far enough, he got a little hot until we were almost picking leaves off the trees.
Anyway, this guy seems to run the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers. We were behind him a good distance one day on the Tennessee River going from Clifton, TN through Pickwick Lock. We never saw him, but we heard him on the VHF all day. Today we heard him again on the VHF and saw him on the AIS. As we we were dealing with the "Lloyd Dunning", the "Kennedy" was coming upstream going into Wheeler Lock. We never saw him, but all I could think of was after a 100 mile day, here comes another nemesis with which we have to deal! I do think it was a different Pilot at the helm today than with whom we dealt on the Cumberland.
The Elk River is very close to Joe Wheeler. I tried to raise our friend Ron Cowan on "Luna" who lives on the River near the Elk, but he was not on the VHF.
Shortly after 4:30 PM we pulled into a transient slip in front of the now covered pool at Joe Wheeler Lodge. Susan checked in at the Lodge because the marina closed at 4:30. There were no other transient boats there but us on this beautiful evening. Later, a big Meridian came in on one engine to spend the night and get repairs to the broken engine, but it was very quiet at the marina.
 |
| Approaching Joe Wheeler Marina from First Creek |
The Lodge had its Friday night prime rib buffet which we checked out with Rick and Leila. It was very good. Rick made us his famous Marguerites before dinner, and we were feeling no pain.
Tomorrow we will make the 60 mile run to Grand Harbor Marina on Yellow Creek near Iuka, MS. We made just under a hundred miles by water today. Tomorrow should be much easier!
Thanks for Reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment