Great Loop Day 080 Nov 16, 2016, Bobby's Fish Camp to Three Rivers Lake Anchorage
Bobby's Fish Camp to Three Rivers Anchorage
“I must go in. The fog is rising.” ― Emily Dickinson
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Day 80 Wednesday, Nov 16, 2016. Bobby's Fish Camp to Three Rivers Lake Anchorage. 56.8 miles. Planning a long day on the river. The fog held us up for an hour and a half. Meant we had to go faster in order to make our anchorage before nightfall. No fuel docks for over 118 miles till we get to Mobile. My lady, the Sea Marie was up to the task.
Coffeeville Lock and Dam (Mile Marker 116.6) The last lock on the Tombigbee River. The further south we go the more the water will turn brackish. Part fresh and part salty seawater. It means we will also have to deal with the tide, something I have never dealt with on my own boat. Two more nights and the Sea Marie will be in Mobile Bay. I can feel the anticipation.
The fog was quite thick, the worst I've seen. The larger boats had AIS which can see the tows ahead on their chart plotter. So I stayed close behind them.
Had to almost feel my way along the wall of Coffeeville Lock the last lock on the Black Warrior River. Part of the Tenn-Tombigbee Waterway. Pretty darn close to sea level.
The Kakku on their port along the lock wall.
The lower gates slowly peel open to reveal a world that surrounds you with stillness and serenity.
These floating bollards make descending so much easier. This is my preferred method for securing the Sea Marie to the wall. The bollards drop as the water recedes. I'm holding on to the line and if needed a quick release. I had some hair-raising adventures in the early locks, now I'm going to miss them. They're like old friends once you get to know them.
The water level drops and these upriver gates hold back the water behind us.
I felt safe the whole time, these guys know what they are doing.
As we leave the lock the fog just thickens to no visibility. Kakku and I tie off the long wall to wait for more clearing. About a half-hour to 45-minute wait.
We had an audience watching us go thru the lock...
And they brought along a few buddies. These may be buzzards and if so, are they waiting for the fog to lift or were they looking at us as lunch?
The fog starting to thin out a bit. We had a long journey ahead of us to get to Three Rivers Lake anchorage before nightfall.
We moved on. Mile after mile after mile. Motoring at 6.5 mph. Changing course every 15 to 30 seconds, the auto tiller kept us going. Cutting inside every bend close to the navigational aids and always in the channel. It was tempting to go inside a buoy but lessons are now ingrained in my brain. The river changes her bottom more often than not. Channel markers have been known to move and some may not be there at all. Watching the depth, watching the markers, watching for tows, it is a never-ending task.
The S/V Kakku had radar and AIS and can see vessels ahead in the fog.
How much easier would it be for two people? Changing shifts at the helm would be a welcome break. Going solo with no breaks. But with the auto tiller, I can at least go below to get a snack or drink at least for 15 to 30 seconds. Longer if the river goes straight for a mile or more. But it becomes a routine, scan forward, run below, hurry out, scan forward, and back to the cockpit. For 8 to nine hours, it's living in the cockpit. You scan, you steer, you eat, you pee, you poop, all in the cockpit. Snacks consist of granola bars, grapes, apples, and pop tarts, sometimes I can get a hot cup of coffee or coca. I keep a thermos of hot water near the hatch with a pump to pour the hot water. No time to make sandwiches however a cup of ramen noodles warms you up. For Mickey, he has his water, a dish of dry cat food, and a clean litter box at his disposal. He sleeps most of the time but wakes up, comes up to see the water, goes below for a bite to eat, and back to sleep. No complaints, and no comments. It's just the way it is and like me, we just accept it.
Coming close to our anchorage, there's one bend that really takes us for a loop. It's two hairpin turns side by side and you steer around the compass points in a full circle. Not a good place for a tow to be coming at you. And it just so happens there was. Kakku called the captain of the tow who was nice enough to stop his tow to let us get by. That doesn't happen often.
A railroad lift bridge needed to lift to allow us to pass. We called them on channel 13 of our VHF marine radios for the lift.
The last tow of the day actually stopped at a series of tight bends to let us pass. These hard-working tow captains are very polite and cheerful and think only of our safety. We got into Three Rivers Lake anchorage just before dark and didn't have time to get any shots of the narrow river.
One more turn and we find the opening that leads to the Three Rivers Lake anchorage. The guidebook says to enter from the south. I've been cutting corners all day why stop now? Slowing down I ease her in, watching the depth. 10 feet, 9, 7, 5 feet the fishfinder shows the bottom and I did go over a sand bar but it didn't touch us. 6 feet, 8, 9 feet. The channel gets narrow and I decide 9 feet is good enough to anchor. I thought I try the trick the boats did at Bashi Creek and anchor bow out facing the river. That works if there is no current but here there is. So drop anchor with the trip line and let the current take out the slack in the rode. Felt it grab, reverse engine to set, and throw out a stern anchor.
Tried another idea that backfired. Throw out stern anchor line while outboard was in idle reverse. Lines and props like oil and water don't mix. Yep for the second time, the prop wraps the line and shuts down the engine. Bow anchor set so I'm not going anywhere. Unwrapping the line took a bit of time but I got it untangled. Stern anchor out and set and cleated. Kakku anchors near the mouth of this river. Time for dinner. Spaghetti and meatballs with salad, coffee, and a can of mixed fruit. Simple to make and clean up. Write my post and the AT&T signal is not there, wait a few minutes and back on. Hate when that happens afraid my entire post will disappear. Well, tomorrow is another busy day. Good night and Fair winds and gentle seas.
As the night wore on, an upbound tow throws her lights on the shore ahead illuminating the scene in a ghastly glow.
The sky lit up with a billion stars as they looked down on some weary travelers.
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