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Thanksgiving on an Inland Waterway

 The Thanksgiving Holiday was fast approaching and knowing that I had the entire week for leisure activities, my mind quickly turned to what else “the boat”.  I began to review the weather forecast for the coming week.  Low and behold the forecast was perfect.  So a plan was quickly formulated involving myself, Rhapsody and my two 9 year grandsons (William and Alex).  The same crew that suffered through the ill fated Galveston trip in March of 2006. (http://www.rhapsodysails.com/galveston.html). 

 With a few quick details out of the way (i.e. the admiral’s permission, and permission from Alex’s mother) plans were quickly made for a trip “somewhere” via the waterway.  I didn’t want to go down stream as at times we have to fight a current of 3-4 knots on the return trip.  So I began to focus on an upriver trip with the thought that at least once we turn and head back to home port it would be down stream.  Also, we had never really journeyed up stream.  Applegate Cove Marina (our home port www.applegatemarina.com) is located at Mile 341 on the McClellan/Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System and our destination was at Mile 370 with only one lock between us and the proposed anchorage.  So stores were procured and stowed, crew assembled and we set sail (actually it was purely a motor trip) at 0925 November 20. 

Throughout the course of the day we were treated to clear skies, light northwesterly winds, and temperatures in the lower sixties.  Somewhat chilly, but bearable.  The crew worked hard at maintaining their moral playing Uno, Legos, and from time to time taking a turn at the helm.  Our initial plan was to travel upriver to Mile 364 and enter the Illinois River anchorage.  However, after considerable thought, we pushed on Greenleaf Landing (mile 370).  Continuing on would allow us to return to the Illinois on day two, thus breaking the return trip in to two shorter days.

We arrived at Lock 16 and were secure in the lock at 1415 and out the top at 1430.  Our destination was only 3 miles upstream and we were anchor down by 1530.  The boyz were quick to dawn their life jackets, grab their fishing poles and set out in the dinghy on a hunter and gather mission.  The Captain required that they stay in sight of the mothership as he prepared a well deserved sundowner.  While fish were secured, it was a good thing the menu was not planned around that staple.  Following a divine dinner of Crab Alfredo and Penne` pasta, our focus turned to the much anticipated Uno Tournament.  A Trophy was awaiting the champion upon completion of the cruise.

 The weather, which by in large cooperated, got down right COLD that night with the overnight low reaching 28 degrees (COLD) with a heavy frost.  Also, the wind piped up the next morning 15-20 with gust to 30 and the skipper was having second thoughts about this whole venture.  We listened to the forecast and things promised to be much warmer IF we could just make it through the coldest part of Tuesday!  I am proud to say we did. 

In the afternoon we dinked ashore and the boyz found a “Turtle Graveyard”.  Within minutes they had discovered several empty turtle shells and were begging to take them home.  I reserved a spot for them (the shells not the boyz) in the dinghy and all was well.  Later in the day they caught a couple more fish (again nothing to write home about, but watching the boyz reel ‘em them in was blast) and again we decided to adhere to our original menu.  At some point in the afternoon the boyz decided they liked the anchorage so much they wanted to stay another night.  They persuaded me to stay even though doing so would leave us a 30 mile return trip on Wednesday.

 Following dinner and clean up, we began the final round of the Uno Tournament.  It was not pretty.  During the previous round, #2 Grandson (Alex) had dumped 225 points on his Grandpa and that in the first hand.  I was never able to overcome that deficit despite my best efforts.  Later that evening, amongst much fanfare, William was declared the new champion.

Facing an all day return trip, we were up fairly early, breakfasted, anchor weighed (0850) and headed back to the main channel.  Upon exiting the anchorage we discovered a tug pushing 8 barges right behind us.  The locks are designed for 8 barges (600’x150’).  Two rows of three and the last row of two.  This leaves a “hole” for the push boat.  They secure the barges to the bollards, and then the tow boat disconnects and fills the hole in the last row thus allowing the lockmaster to close the gates.  Commercial traffic has the right of way so I knew we were going to be delayed by as much as an hour.   

To kill time we explored a nearby anchorage identified in the Cruising Guide.  Now remember our river charts don’t show depths, just the channel.  When the boat leaves the channel it’s strictly navigation by the Braille method (an art form I am told, that some Skippers in the Northeast have experimented with as well).  This method tends to elevate the captain’s heart rate from time to time.  Anyway, we faired well and waited for the tow boat to exit the lock.  When the Lockmaster was ready he signaled us and it was our turn to drop.  I failed to mention this earlier, but Lock 16 only dropped us 19 feet. Lock 15, which forms Kerr Lake (Rhapsody’s home waters) is a 52 foot drop. As we exited the lock, I told the crew that there was a distinct possibility that we might catch the “Francis Anne” (the tow boat) and they allowed as how they didn’t think it would happen. 

Well sure enough about two hours later, we had to negotiate a pretty tricky (not for a 25D, but for the 600 footer, plus the length of the tow boat) “hairpin” turn.  It was quite interesting watching them use their engines to make the tight bend in the river.  However, by the time they completed the turn, we were right on their stern and in their prop wash (a very bumpy place).  We reduced speed to 2 knots for a bit, and I decided this was not acceptable.  Now remember folks we are in a channel that in places two tow boats cannot pass each other.  Someone has to yield the right of way or stop all together in a location where passage is possible.  After a short while I called to captain of the tow and asked if he had any more tricky maneuvers to make, he said no, and then I asked permission to pass him to his port.  He said sure.  He was only doing 4 knots.  Well I have to tell you that it took a bit, and I was constantly thinking what I would do if I had an engine failure or something, but over the course of the next hour or so we left the tow in our wake.  That’s right a CD 25D left him in our wake.

Anyway, the remainder of the trip was spent in light winds and beautiful sunshine.  We arrived at the marina at 1630 and by the time we secured and off loaded the boat it was 1800.  We had a wonderful time with lots of pretty fall scenery, thousands of migratory water fowl, hawks, white pelicans, and Bald Eagles (no Osprey this trip).  Not to mention a wonderful time with two absolutely wonderful grandsons.  Truly a reason for Thanks Giving.

Total Miles 54.6 nm.  Average Speed 4.5 kts.  Time underway excluding time in the lock 12 hours 09 minutes.  Weather:  Low 28 – High 68 and lots of sunshine.

Happy Holidays. And Fair Winds from William, Alex, and Bill.

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