Trip 1999

Southbound Down The Tenn-Tom Waterway

This details Leo's and Mona's cruise aboard Jim's sailboat as they cruise the rivers and canals through Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.

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11-2-99

Jim, Mona & I left Lighthouse Landing Grand Rivers, KY at 6am we tied up to a barge in a small cove 68miles later at 6pm. It was cold all day but Jim and I were bundled well. The wind was 20-30 NW most of the day we only had the jib up with the motor. We usually were making 8 knots. Mona had hot buttered rum for us at the end of the day. We had tomato soup and crackers for lunch and ritz crackers and peanut butter and a cookies for breakfast. We didn't need much as our dinner the night before was a great buffet at a nearby restaurant

11-3-99

Up & out at 6:07am made 54 miles today. The current continued against us and we had no aiding wind. The Tennessee River runs north into the Ohio. At 205 mile marker we are off the Tenn and the rest of the way the current runs south into Gulf of Mexico. Today the temp maxed at 58; tomorrow supposed to be in the 60's next day into 70's. Today was still cold enough for longjohns and insulated coveralls and heavy jacket. It was sunny and the scenery was colorful and interesting. Saw owls, cranes, egrets, eagles, turkey buzzards. The leaves are mixture of greens, orange and yellow. I spent most of the day piloting, Jim worked on projects and Mona cleaned and cooked. Boat runs perfect. Had my shower now drinking rum & coke. Talked to Alice on our cell phone today to get update on Mom's heart attack, advised the pacemaker (Mom calls Vicki) and Mom, are both doing well. Cell didn't work for 100 miles in Kentucky, doing fine now.

11-4-99

We made only 39 miles today. We started at 600am as usual but in fog, couldn't see 10 ft for about an hour. We used radar and depth sounder to navigate. I piloted most of the day; jim worked on projects. He got the auto pilot working and the GPS and organize V berth and other projects. It reached 70 today still a little cool with the wind in our face. Mona kept good meals acoming. Tomorrow we go thru the lock at Pickwick and leave the Tennessee River for Yellow River in the Tom Bigsbee Waterway. We go from 215 mile marker to 450 on the Bigbee . That means we are 450miles from Mobile and the current will be with us.

11-5-99

We are at Tenn-Tom mile marker 419 tonight. We started at 6am and finished about 7pm in the dark. We negotiated by radar, depth meter, flashlight and hope by gosh. We went thru the Pickwick Lock this morning with no problems. The temperature was 70 still a little cool with wind in the face out of south 180. I continued to pilot while Jim worked on projects. Going thru the ditch about 75 miles is not beautiful scenery but happy it was built in the eighties.

11-6-99

We had our first excitement this morning. Mona woke up hollering that she had stepped into water. It seems that a hose clamp had worked itself loose and 90 gals of water poured on the floor. We didn't know at first where the water was coming from. We had spent the night in a shallow area and when we left this morning we had run hard aground and our first thought was there was a hole in the hull so we headed for shallow water and pumped and bailed water like hell. The problem was simpler to repair but left us without water all day. This area is pretty isolated. There was one marina but it was closed for the season and the water was turned off. We only traveled 40 miles today. We went thru 3 locks spending over an hour waiting at one. This area is called the canal and cost more than the Panama Canal to construct. I started wearing heavy clothes this morning and ended the day in a T shirt. We started as per usual at am and ended at dark. Jim repaired his dingy and I piloted and Mona cooked her usual good meals.

11-7-99

We made 38.5 miles today went thru 3 locks stopped for over an hour to replinish water, fuel, use a marina courtesy car to go into town and buy groceries, and send email. We had no problem and other than the first hour temp was around 75 t shirt and shorts weather. It is remote rare to see a car other then at occasional homes along the way. This waterway is so new (1985) that there has been a lot less development then on Tenn River.

11-8-99

Sorry for the delay in getting the daily logs to you 27 people. Problem was I had an error in the address for Kim Cisna she was the first of the list so the rest was not delivered. Hopefully the problem is corrected now. Today was a good day. Temperature was 78 today sunny even the breeze felt good. Now we are in Alabama the scenery is better. We are at 282 mile marker on the Tom Bigbee River. We are not on the canal any longer, thus the improvement. There are many beautiful birds, swan like bird with 4' wing span, birds with goose like necks, Kingfishers etc. There are many beautiful homes although we are apparently in a remote area. At least we haven't been thru a town. We could use some supplies a steak would taste great.

11-9-99

No excitement today. We made 54 miles and two locks and Jim spent 1 1/2 hrs on a futile trip. He needed to mail a letter so we went near to shore ran aground Jim got into the dingy with a bicycle and headed for a town listed on the chart. Jim asked two fisherman how far to town and they gave no definite answer. Jim bicycled for 45 minutes asking every motorist to stop and give him info and nobody responded. Finally Jim found a man who told him it was another 10-15 miles to town. So Jim returned to the boat. We are 230 miles from Mobile, AL. The people are not friendly we have waved at several people along the way and they stare with no response. We saw 2 coyotes and hundreds of birds, egrets etc. The temperature was 76 and winds varied from calm to 15 mph but mostly light. All in all a good day.

11-10-99

Slow day today. Jim had to mail a letter re insurance on the boat so we made a stop at Demopolis, Al and also sent and received email and fuel. We made one lock and stopped at 230pm for the day because fuel was leaking. Jim found the problem but there didn't appear to be any better place to stop for the night then where we stopped to work on the fuel problem. We are 197 miles from Mobile. Temp near 80 sunny and light winds. We stopped a friendly fisherman and his wife and purchased 7 small catfish which we will eat tonight.

11-11-99

Another good day, made 75 miles. No stops and the current is with us and increasing. It was 80 today. The fog usually with us for an hour or two was light today and we didn't need radar. We are anchored off the waterway in a creek tonight in a Wild Life Preserve at mile marker 123. Saw 3 small deer just before we anchored. We are low on propane so we are using the grill tonight. People Jim knows slightly from Lake Rathbun Ron and Brenda let us have a small propane container for the grill. They are anchored with us for the night. Her daughter is now in college and they decided they would quit their jobs and cruise on their little motor cruiser, Happy Hour, until they are forced back to work. There is a good chance we may not take Snug to the Bahamas this winter. Bob & Elaine are discouraging us from trying to take her in January due to weather and sea conditions and the type of boat Snug is. We are still discussing the issue. If we don't this year we will definitely take her there next year only earlier. We would leave her this year in Marathon Key until May.

11-12-99

Left the anchorage at usual 6am ended per usual at 515pm total 70 miles stopped at mile marker 53. Tomorrow we should be in Mobile. Then it is 35 miles to the intercoastal waterway then the next bay is Chris Hayne's where Mona will shop at the Commissary at the Naval Base do laundry and some shopping. Then Chris in his boat Patricia will buddy boat with us to Marsh Harbour. We only had one lock today at Coffeevile it is our last down the Tenn-Tom. We also stopped about a 1/2 hour for fuel and a few groceries. The so called store looked like Grapes of Wrath from the 30's with the Okies. We saw one fox and two dear a doe and her fawn. Have had two phone calls on our cell phone 515-491-1619 but at times when reception not adequate to complete the call. If you want to call us it is necessary sometimes to attempt several times at different time periods to reach us as we are in pretty remote country.

11-13-99

We are mile marker 16. Tomorrow we will be at Chris Hayne's probably for a couple of days. I will be able to send and receive email. We are out of water out of propane low on food supplies. We were ready to leave at our usual 6 am but the fog didn't lift enough until 10:15 am then we had to use radar for safety for another hour. We stopped while Jim changed the oil. He had a high reading for oil pressure. He has a leak of oil but left the gaskets to repair at home. He hoped new oil would help. Now he hopes it is the guage that is defective. We made only 30 miles today. Light winds high around 70. Water temperature is 70.

11-16-99

Yesterday was one of those days people who believe in the ying and yang theory. That is with good comes bad. We left Grand Mariner Marina in Mobile we had a good trip down the ship channel toward the ICW the Intercoastal Waterway. However when we got to what was supposed to be the ICC there were no buoys to guide us and we didn't have GPS (Global Positioning System) waypoints. Anyway we ended up grounded under bad conditions. Jim refused to dishonor tradition so he remained aboard the boat and Mona and I took one of the dingys and went ashore. We spent the night in the Marina's spare bedroom. Jim spent probably the worse night of his life. Next morning at daylight a tow boat pulled him off the bar and Jim sailed to calmer waters 1/1/2 hours where we met him. We were on the tug boat. We continued on to Chris Hayne's where we are looking forward to a couple days respite.

11-18-9

Another day spent on doing maintenance on the boat.Jim did the skill work and I gofered. Then we went to Penscola to Sam's Club and Wallmark for supplies and boat stores for parts. Another relaxing day. Tonight Chris, Patricia, Mona and I went out for a steak dinner. Jim was too tired to join us. Tomorrow Jim and Chris will take the boat for haul out and inspection to make sure no damage done to the boat from the ordeal. The next day we take off for the remainder of the trip with Chris buddy boating with us.

11-19-99

Another rest and preparation day. Jim & Chris took the boat for haul out and inspection. There appear to be no damage from our ordeal. Tomorrow at 7am we haul anchor and resume our trip with Chris joining us.

11-20-99

Chris Mona and I left Foley at 7am. We met Jim 2 hours later at a fuel dock on the ICW. Mona & I rejoined Jim on his boat. Jim had spent the night in the marina where he had the boat hauled and inspected. Boat OK. We stopped at about 2pm as the Weather Channel alerted us the a thunderstorm with winds 35 mph was approaching us. We anchored before the storm hit. It wasn't as bad as forecasted for us but there was poor visibility.

11-21-99

The fog delayed our departure until 7:15am. The weather was cool and overcast until about 2pm when the sun broke thru and temperature warmed to 72. We saw many dolphins swimming around our bow wave. We saw many fantastic homes. I am always amazed at the wealth in our country. We anchored at 430pm and had our usual cocktails and Mona's great dinners. Chris again regaled us with his entertaining stories. We made over 50 miles today. We will pass Panama City tomorrow.

11-22-99

We are near Panama City. We have not stayed in a marina anynight this trip. We have always anchored. We have a full moon tonight. We were delayed 3 hours this morning due to fog, otherwise we had a very good day. Lots of dolphins joined us playing around our boat. We have a lot better scenery here then the Tenn-Tom. Temperature continues to be a little cool at max 72. We had 10 bean soup tonight Mona obtained in New Orleans with corn bread. Chris brought the rum. Great fun.

11-23-99

We are in Appalachcola, Fl We will cross from here to Clearwater, Fl. We were able to weigh anchor at 6am. Fog came later when we got to the ditch. Ditch is man made waterway. Most of the ICW is rivers, lakes, bays and creeks. When there isn't a waterway the government has dug a canal like waterway. With radar and great navigating by Chris we got thru the ditch and the fog lifted. We covered nearly 60 miles. We continue to see alot of dolphins and waterfowl. Again the temperature warmed up in the afternoon but it is still cool with the light breeze in the face. Mona and I are in a hotel room and the guys and their boats are in front of us in their slips. The water comes up to the doorstep of the hotel. It will be a couple of days before we send email

11-24-99

We didn't do the crossing today instead went to Carabelle, Fl a town 30 miles further east. The seas were 4-6 ft and we elected to have a more comfortable ride another day. The trip was pleasant since it was on the ICW not on the open Gulf. We again had many dolphins playing around us. We are staying in a nice Marina good facilities and very clean. We ate at Chris's having 2 small roasted chicken, twice baked potatoes and salad and sweetpotato pie. Tomorrow we will go to a restaurant for Thanksgiving Dinner.

CLICK HERE to continue the journey east across Florida to Marsh Harbor.

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