Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Dirty Dozen or Why I am TIRED of locks!!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Yesterday was a day of frustration mainly due to another boater.  We had 3 locks to get through before our marina.  The weather was fast deterorating and night was coming up on us too fast.  A 3 hour wait at the first lock, due to maintenance, and it was finally a green light.  There were 4 of us locking through and all of us had been treading water and waiting together.  It was 1:30, just barely enough time to get through the next 2 locks and safely docked at Midway Marina.  3 of us motored up and into the lock.  Boat #4, who we shall call SLOW BOAT from now on took his time pulling up his anchor and idling into the lock.  CLEARLY making all of us wait.  This was how it was to be for the rest of the day.  It was not a trawler but a Carver so he was going slow by choice. The locks ahead know we are coming and since its near days end they make all of us lock through together.  SLOW BOAT poked down the river and cost us at least 1 1/2 hour of precious daylight.   During this slow ride John called us to make sure we knew there was bad weather approaching!  I knew it all too well.  I tend to get a bit excitable.  No, really.  Dave takes all this in stride like some kind of boating idiot savant or something.  I could really use some tranquilizers on days like this.

We made it to the marina just before dark and SLOW BOAT did not join us there but went beyond to an anchorage.  I'm glad because my mouth probably would have taken over once we saw them.

Today we left in pelting rain and have been waiting behind a barge to get through the locks.  They have priority and that's that.  Dave is holding the boat in place in the wind and rain while we wait.
This is lock # 72 since we  left Point Breeze.  There will be 78 total once we arrive in Mobile and this is #6 of the "Dirty Dozen" on the Tom Bigbee.  It would be an understatement to say that I do not like locks!!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



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