Starting Down the Tenn-Tom

Leaving the Lock with our new "friends"

We started down the Tenn-Tom today - the man-made cut that took 110 years to build (refer back to the October 24 entry).  The first part of this section is pretty stark compared to the Tennessee River and Pickwick Lake.  Pickwick Lake has some very nice homes built along the shoreline. With the views of the cliffs and the eagles flying around, I can certainly understand why.

However, the first 25 miles of the Tenn-Tom is called the divide cut and it is 25 miles of excavated channel with channel lining on both sides. Since it is kind of boring through here we pushed the throttle up to 3,600 RPM and made our way along at 8 MPH, up from the 7.8 MPH we usually run at 3,400 RPM. 

 The first Lock on the Tenn-Tom is the James Whitten Lock and Dam. The dam forms Bay Springs, which is shallow and full of stumps. Thankfully the channel through Bay Springs Lake is well marked. When we were about 4 miles (30 minutes) away from the Whitten Lock we called the lock to inquire about any traffic that may be coming through the lock. (It can take two hours to lock through a long tow when they have to lock it through in two sections. So if he had a tow going through the lock we would slow down.) he said he was loading some Pleasure Crafts now and if we come on he would lock us through with them.. We told him it would be 30 minutes. No problem, he said.
We were about 3 miles away from the Lock when we saw a 28’ Ranger Tug (a small trawler) coming up on our stern. We radioed him and asked for a slow pass. (A slow pass should happen like this: The overtaking boat should approach the boat is overtaking about 15 yards to either side. When the bow of overtaking boat reaches the boat being overtaken, both pull back to idle speed. The overtaking boat will then pass with no wake and the overtaken boat pulls in behind the other boat and both advance the throttle.) The trawler said he was going to swing wide and not wake us because he is trying to make the lock. Imagine his surprise when he got there and the lock-master told him he was waiting on a sailboat. I am sure there was a collective groan from all of the trawlers in the lock. You see the next four locks are close enough together that the lock masters communicate with each other and now the next lock knows that 6 boats are coming down.  Sailboats travel slower than trawlers, so now they are stuck traveling at sailboat speed.

We get to the lock and get secured to the wall, Frank and I are one the deck and Carol is at the helm. Several of the Trawlers were boats that passed us in the divide cut. I told Carol, you know all these other boats are giving the skipper hard stares. 

We all traveled together, four Loopers and two other boats that were heading south for the winter, through the next four locks. Carol quickly became quite the expert at getting right up next to the lock wall so we could lasso the floating bollard/bit.
Speaking of winter. A cold front seemed to be following us. The low was forecast to be 30 degrees. Brrr that’s cold. Five of us stopped in Midway Marina for the night (so named because it is near the mid-point of the Tenn-Tom waterway).
We got checked in and noticed the young lady behind the counter looked a little dead, ashen color. She told us we hit it just right. The annual Halloween Party and pumpkin carving contest is tonight, and all boaters are invited.  So, after we got the boat all settled in, we went up to the party.

They really take the Halloween celebration seriously at Midway Marina. Some of the people had some great costumes. I already mentioned the walking dead lady, there was also a gut with a zipper on the side of his head, a cowgirl sheriff, and a few other well-done zombie types.  We had a great meal and stayed around for the contest judging. They gave awards for the scariest pumpkin, the most creative pumpkin and the cutest dog. Frank asked if she gave awards for the best costume, she said I only judge pumpkins and dogs, no people. A smart lady. After that excitement we turned in for the night.

When we woke the next morning, we found there was a heavy frost overnight and the dock was very slippery. I just about ended up in the water when I step off the boat onto the dock. I looked like some kind of Three Stooge’s routine. I was able to regain my footing and gingerly head off to the shower.

As I was coming back from my shower, I noticed some of the trawlers had already departed and another one was leaving as I got to the dock (4 of the 5 trawlers were gone). I am sure they had a trawler meeting and wanted to get through the next Lock (which is only a mile away) before that darn sailboat so she doesn’t slow us down. That’s ok with us. It was only 7:30 and there was still a little layer of steam fog on the river. We fixed breakfast and called the lock about 8:00 to inquire about badge traffic. He said he has some PCs in the chamber now, if we come on he will lock us through with them.  I said we are 15 minutes away from leaving and the. It will be another 10 minutes before we get to you. No problem he said, we’ll be waiting for you.  We quickly get unplugged and with Carol at the helm again, we headed toward the Fulton Lock.
SURPRISE, we’re back. I was surprised to see that none of the early leavers had been locked through. I am sure they were surprised (and maybe some other adjectives) to see us.  Today is a series of 3 locks all close enough that they would have to wait on us, again.  The fellow from the Ranger Tug ask were we were headed for tonight. We told him; Columbus. He said that’s what we were thinking, but we’ll never make it now (inference, now that we have to wait on you). Then we heard the lock master talking to two other boats that were leaving the marina. Then he said those magical words that really made the Ranger Tug captains day: If you come on now we will wait on you. I think I saw steam blow out of his ears.

The first two locks of the day are only about 8 miles apart so there was no way the trawlers could put enough distance between us and them to get locked through before we got there. So all seven of us locked through at Wilkens Lock. The distance between the second and third lock is 18 miles. This may be the trawlers opportunity to leave us sailboats in their wake. As we were descending in Wilkens Lock the operator asked how many of us were going through to Amory Lock (12 miles away and 37 miles before Columbus). Two boats reported they were not going through Amory Lock and would be anchoring. He said ok I’ll let the next lock know. Drat, foiled again. 

We were about 40 minutes out from Amory Lock, when we heard one of the trawlers calling Amory Lock. They were 10 minutes out and had a party of 4 now. What!!! They are trying to dump little brother.  We quickly called up Amory Lock and told them Lesson Plan is on the way. He said: Yeah, I know you are coming, don’t worry we’ll wait for you.

The Trawlers made it to Columbus, but we couldn’t make the 37 miles before dark, we anchored about 8 miles short of Columbus Lock. The next morning the trawlers were already in the lock chamber going down when we called the lock. Oh well that was fun while it lasted.

Lessons Learned: The turtle may not have won the race, but with a little help we kept up.

Sometimes it doesn't help to burn a bunch of extra fuel just so you can be the first one a the lock to wait on the others.

It pays to call ahead to the lockmaster.