Sunday, November 7, 2010

Last night we changed back to Standard Time so we set our alarm for 05:00 so we could get an early start in the morning because we had a 69 mile day.  We woke up to very foggy and cold morning; 35 degrees and there was a thin coat of ice all over the front of the boat.  We did not get going until 07:30 and didn't get through the lock until 09:00; so much for an early start.  When I was out in front going through the lock I was slipping and sliding on the ice.

We met our first Tow at Mile Marker 198.5 and passed him at 3700 RPM's.  Keith said at 3300 RPM's we started to shake due to our problems from the other day.  When we get to Mobile Bay we have an appointment to have the boat pulled and checked; he thinks we probably bent one of the props.  We were planning on pulling the boat anyway to have cutters put on the prop shafts to cut away any crab pods we might get tangled in.

It turned out to be a beautiful, warm day.  I have been told that after leaving Demopolis, AL, that we are entering "Deliverance" country; scary!  We met 5 to 6 Tows today, other than the Tows there wasn't any other boats on the river which surprised us.

We have been anchoring each night with Roy El and taking turns with the evening meal.  So every other night I don't have to cook or do dishes.

Demopolis Dam

Going into anchorage at Mile 145
Bashi Creek, AL

Rafting at Bashi Creek with Roy El

CO's comments:  I think what I hit the other day was a metal piling that had fallen into the anchorage area.  It was certainly metal on metal.  Will take it easy and get the problem fixed at Eastern Shores Marina in Mobile Bay.  Just because the first boat into an anchorage or tie-up does not have a problem does not mean that you may not.

N31 57.3603
W88 04.2743