Saturday
Miles Traveled 42.5
Total Miles Traveled 852
Day 45
We had an early start to an eventful day. This is “Firebird” at our anchorage this morning at sunrise.
We locked through 3 locks today, our first was within
sight of our anchorage last night. A tow
came in just before our departure so we had to wait for him to lock through. The second lock was only 6 miles downstream
so by the time we locked through and made it to the second lock, the tow was approaching
the chamber.
We could smell the
fresh cut pine a half mile away from this mulch processing plant.
I finally caught a good shot of an eagle today, I had a
closer shot but couldn’t get to the camera fast enough.
The third lock was 14 miles so we figured we would pass
the tow and lock through before he arrived.
I called the tow on the radio and asked if we could pass, he replied on
his “one whistle” which in tow speak is on his port, or left side. He informed me it was all clear. We passed in a very narrow but straight
channel and could see the next lock about 2 miles out, so I called the lockmaster
for passage. I was informed we would
lock through “after” the tow. Now, there
was no communication on the radio, so we can assume the tow and the lockmaster
had already had an agreement that the tow would go first. I’m not sure why the tow didn’t ask us to
wait because the lock was waiting for him.
“Firebird” dropped his anchor and we tied up to him and ate lunch while
waiting for the tow.
We planned to stay at the Columbus Marina tonight which
was 22 miles from the 3rd lock.
Moni and I decided we were not going to pass the tow again and if we
caught him before the marina, we would reduce speed. “Firebird” was behind us and in agreement
with our decision. We caught him about 6
miles from the marina and he reduced his speed from 7 mph to 3.5 mph and was
favoring the starboard side of the channel.
We assumed he was slowing for us to pass, so I called him on the radio
and asked if we could pass on his “one whistle”. He replied yes, it is all clear. We increased speed and about half way past
the first barge, the tow increased his speed to match ours? We increased our speed again to about 9.5 mph
and was barley gaining on him---- and we were in a narrow channel. The water was boiling from the back of the
tow and “Firebird” had to back off. I looked
back at the tows pilot house and could see at least 4 people watching the
show. I called the tow on the radio and
asked if he didn’t want us to pass, we would have gladly followed him to our
destination. He replied that he had to blow the soot from his engines and would
back off and let us pass.
I guess it was a boring day on the Tenn-Tom Waterway for
the Captain of “Alice Parker” and a good learning experience for “Moni Jean”. We made it to port safe and sound. I must add that all of the tows that we have
encountered since starting the loop have been very professional and courteous.
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