Starting back down river

Sunday, September 28

We did the trip from Guntersville to Chattanooga in three days, to get Mary and Dave back on the schedule they would like; we plan on the return trip in two days. The only anchorage listed in the guides about half way are just above Nickajack Lock; however this then leaves us at the mercy of the lock the second morning. Knowing this, on the way up river we checked out the area behind a couple islands below the lock. Both looked like they were very useable anchorages though not well protected in some wind directions.

With the plan of a long day we got underway fairly quickly, and were off the lovely Chattanooga City Dock before 8:00 A.M. It was another beautiful day, with only a few light clouds, mid sixties, and light winds.

The trip down river was just as beautiful as the trip up. I posted lots of pictures of the trip up river so I am not going to post any here. Just review the ones in the previous post in reverse.

I have mentioned before how much Diana likes to try and photograph birds in flight. This morning we had an osprey on shore that every time we got close he flew off a couple hundred yards down river and landed again. About the fifth or sixth time he took off he startled a blue heron who gave chase. Diana got this nice shot of both of them in flight.

By midday we had reached the Nickajack Lock, we called on the radio and he answered that he was locking a boat down and would be right back up to get us. We slowed a little, and by the time we got there it was just a short wait. We got into the lock and were through in good time. Dave offered to handle the line so the Admiral got a break.

We continued down river on a beautiful afternoon past the first of our possible anchorages and by 4:00 we were pulling up on the back side of the second, Crow Creek Island. We got the hook down and there was just enough current to hold us steady on the anchor since the wind had dropped to near zero.

We sat in the shade of the front deck and had some cheese and crackers and enjoyed the end of another perfect day.

Monday, September 29

The day started with a bang early. I had been awake enough to know that it was foggy out but it was very still and calm. About 4:30 the boat suddenly began rocking side to side with some force. We all staggered out of bed, but there was nothing to see in the fog. The boat continued to rock but in the fog I could barely see the shore 100 feet away. We surmised that a tow had gone up river and had pushed a large prop wash up behind the island. Even though we were half a mile up river the wash was apparently bouncing of the shores. We continued to rock for about five minutes. Mary, Dave and I took it in stride but Diana was very shaken and had trouble getting back to sleep.

When we got up there was heavy ground fog put is was clear above about ten feet. We took our time getting ready and the sun quickly began to burn the fog of. It was another clear, pleasant day. We got the anchor up and were soon underway. It was more of the beautiful scenery and lovely cruising.

By early afternoon we were back into Alred Marina and time took go to work. Diana started a load of laundry while Mary, Dave and I scrubbed the boat from top to bottom. After that it was time for some grocery shopping and a shower. Dave and Mary started collecting their gear.

We ended the day by meeting a good friend of Dave and Mary’s, Jimmy Schaffer, at a seafood restaurant for a good dinner and some fine conversation.

Tuesday, September 30

This morning Mary and Dave finished packing their belongings and loaded up the car for the drive home. They are stopping and picking up our car in Nashville and moving it to St Charles, MO so that it is ready for us when we get there.

Since it looked like another lovely day Diana and I got underway almost immediately after they left. We headed out across Guntersville Lake and detoured out of the channel, in good water to get this picture of a lighthouse structure on the far shore of the lake. I believe it is part of a camp.

Our one lock of the day was just seven miles down the lake. We radioed requesting lockage and the reply was come ahead he would be ready for us. Then a small barge called to say he was a commercial vessel and ahead of us. As it turned out he was a small work boat with a small barge and we were allowed to enter behind him and lock thru together. The picture is as we exited, we went first and past him while he was still tied up. This is not normal procedure, normally the boat in front exits first, but the lockmaster told us to go ahead.

We got out of the lock and picked up about a half mile per hour current and made good time down river. I posted a picture of Painted Bluff on the up river trip but this one is so good with the reflection in the water it is worth another. It was a bright sunny day but a 15+ northwest wind in our face later in the day. This with temperatures in the 70s made for long sleeves all day.

By 4:00 we were into Riverwalk Marina in Decatur, AL. We had stayed here on the trip up and left Cat’s Cradle here with gear box trouble. Dave was still here, he got the gear box fixed a couple of days ago and his next crew had arrived today. They plan to head for Chattanooga tomorrow.