Great Loop Day 058 Oct 25, 2016. Cumberland Island Towhead to Green Turtle Bay Resort
Cumberland Island Towhead to Green Turtle Bay Resort
The river is constantly turning and bending and you never know where it's going to go and where you'll wind up. Following the bend in the river and staying on your own path means that you are on the right track. Don't let anyone deter you from that. —-Eartha Kitt
<Day 57 Previous Post | First Post | Next Post Day 59 >
(Note: If the post is truncated in an email, readers can click on "View entire message" and they'll be able to view the entire post in their email app.)
Day 58 Tuesday, Oct 25, 2016. Cumberland Island Towhead anchorage to Green Turtle Bay Marina and Resort.
Last night while anchored at the towhead and before we retired to bed we heard the howling of coyotes out in the distance. I happened to get a weak audio of it on my cell phone. Turn up your volume.
We left our anchorage this morning and I led this leg up the Cumberland River. The current was strong where the Ohio River meets the Cumberland. I was traveling at 3.5 mph until well into the Cumberland River when my speed increased to 6 mph.
A much narrower channel with a lack of a flood plain, and not many tows. Only 2 passed us. The second vessel was a large tow with many barges. There was some confusion on the VHF radio. I heard some chatter that seemed to be between the other tow captains. I couldn’t make out what was being said. I kept my course and hugged the starboard shore on my right. The depth was between 10 and 16 feet with sufficient clearance between me and the barges.
The first tow passes with no problem. The second tow in the background is where the confusion started. I pointed the Sea Marie to the right to pass on his port.
Looked like plenty of room for me to squeeze through.
Passed her on the ‘one’ as a default route. I heard later the tow skipper was upset I didn't go on his starboard side which is on the ‘two’ instead I motored to the right over to his port side. Having an AIS transceiver would have avoided this nasty situation. The transceiver connected to a chart plotter would identify the vessel by name and calling vessels in crowded traffic would be much easier.
Some clarity as to what "going on the one or two" means. Boater signals each other their intended direction. When 2 vessels are heading toward each other a short single blast of a horn or going on the one is a port-to-port pass. Going on the two means starboard to starboard pass.
VHF radios are indispensable here on the rivers. All the river tows are equipped with 2-way radios. It's common courtesy to call the vessel ahead and ask the skipper where he would like you to go. The tow skippers know these waters and will do everything to make sure you pass safely. Nevertheless, I thread the needle between the tow and the shoreline and got through unscathed. How come everything happens to me when I go first?
Watching the shore for wildlife, not much. Herons, and buzzards, but not as exciting as what Beth saw way back near the towhead. Beth gets excited when she said, what they thought at first was a cow turned out to be a black bear foraging near the water. How cool was that!
For more photos of the Cumberland see Beth’s blog. Click here
Cruising - Team Rogers: Green Turtle Bay, Lake Barkley, KY
Buzzard on a pole. He wouldn’t stop staring at me!
Trees are turning, fall is not far behind.
A Great Blue Heron watches for us to leave so he can go back to his fishing.
About 30 miles to the Barkley Lock. A phone call was placed to them and the lockmaster asked some of us to enter on the starboard side and the last boat Mystic to enter and tie up on their port. We had a very short wait as the huge gates opened. With two other boats ahead we glided to the starboard floating bollards and lassoed it on the first attempt.
Directly ahead of me is the Island Packet Veritas and her skipper Dave and his Admiral Susan. We will meet them later at Green Turtle Bay.
Sea Marie on the floating bollard and you can see the watermark at the top is where we will end up.
All it takes is a firm grip on the line and we hug the wall as we float to the top.
Veritas is in position and ready for the ride.
Scott and Dave are ready as well
Scott makes some final adjustments as Rhonda stands by.
Once at the top the gates open, the signal is given, and we prepare to leave. We are at the same level as Barkley Lake.
We are at the top of the lock and preparing to leave.
The Mystic taking the lead.
Beth keeping a sharp lookout for rocks…
…as Dave steers clear of them.
Fast ride up some 57 ft. Upriver gates opened and we found a broad still lake in front of us. I followed the other boats to the entrance of Green Turtle Bay Marina. Large marina with many big boats. Up to the fuel dock, gassed up, and got a slip assignment. A quick calculation on the number of gallons of gas I used came up to 23 gallons from Hoppies to here. Didn’t need any of the gas purchased at Metropolis. Sweet!
We made it!
It takes a while to sink in. Traveling, whether on the big open lake or in the tight narrow confines of a river with locks, is a full-time occupation. The need to stay vigilant is paramount to staying free of injury or death.
I am a few feet from the restroom/shower/laundry room. Hooked up the power cable and cable tv. Oh yes, and the first game of the 2016 World Series Cleveland against Chicago was on tonight!
After we settled down, Scott got the use of the courtesy van and 5 of us rode out to the liquor store for vital supplies and then to Super Walmart for groceries. Got the groceries put away and settled in for the night.
Ready to watch the World Series Game 1. And what a game that was!
Now for a few days of relaxation..... Fair Winds and Gentle Seas!
For you historic baseball fans
Former Indians and Cubs player Kenny Lofton threw the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 while Rachel Platten sang the national anthem. Corey Kluber started for the Indians, and Jon Lester started for the Cubs. Kyle Schwarber, who had missed nearly all of the 2016 season after tearing ligaments in his left leg in the season's third game, was added to the Cubs' World Series roster and started as their designated hitter. Schwarber struck out twice, but also doubled and drew a walk. The double made Schwarber the first non-pitcher to get his first hit of the season in the World Series.
Kluber made World Series history by striking out eight hitters in the first three innings. Roberto Pérez became the first-ever ninth-place hitter with two homers in a World Series game, the first Indians player to hit two homers in a Series game, and the first Puerto Rican-born player to hit two homers in a World Series game. In the first, the Indians loaded the bases off Lester on a single and two walks before José Ramirez's single drove in a run, then Lester hit Brandon Guyer with a pitch to force in another. Perez's home run in the fourth made it 3–0 Indians. In the eighth, Justin Grimm walked Guyer with two outs and allowed a single to Lonnie Chisenhall, then Hector Rondon allowed Perez's second home run of the night. Andrew Miller and Cody Allen finished the victory for the Indians despite Miller having to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, and the Indians took Game 1 of the series 6–0. Francona's World Series winning streak reached nine with this victory.
Leading off the first inning, Dexter Fowler became the first African-American to play for the Cubs in a World Series
Comments from 2016:
Bob Zwald Henry, I gotta tell ya...I'm learning more about eastern U.S. geography than I ever thought. I was wondering why you were going up the Ohio River. I thought you were just taking a side trip. Who knew that there's a whole other waterway to the Gulf than the Mississippi River? Very cool.
Henry Krzemien RN I'm my research the lower Mississippi is no man's land. Very few cruisers take this route. Hundred of miles between marinas and it would be a very lonely sail. Not to mention lots of tow and barge traffic. More commercial than recreational.
Scott Stanley Sikorski, I hear the next couple of days everyone is expecting 23 to 35 mph winds...be safe as I know you will.
Susan Christine Enjoy your R&R, Henry
The coyote howls then someone says “oh I thought that was Henry” 😁