whoops. Wrong thread.
Friends,
We were going along fat, dumb, and happy, thinking we had loads of time to get down to Mobile by mid-October. We figured we would have so much time we could come down the Tennessee to the Ohio, then go up to Cincinnati so we could have all our friends over to show off the boat and have some well deserved docktails.
Well, have you ever been making plans , and you could swear you are hearing a little chuckle from the Almighty up above. In our case I actually think the Lord was holding his sides in from laughing so hard.
You see, there’s this little list that lets boaters know when a lock or a waterway will suffer an interruption. In early July we realized not one but two locks in our travel plans would be closing for a month at the time we would get there. All of a sudden, we went from loads of time to having to leave in a couple weeks to get through them before closing. A mere 549.3 miles by water in four weeks.
After a harrowing two weeks of back and forth to Norris to provision the boat, store the necessities, repair items, install items, we were finally ready to mount the little boat, the dinghy, on the back swim platform. The last item, and we could shove off.
Unfortunately, for us, the geometry of the dinghy and the big boat could not be made to meet. So, another slow trip, back to Cincinnati towing the dinghy up Rte 25 the whole way.
We ordered a new Dinghy, called a Portland Pudgy, only to find out the next day that the business had been sold to a new owner, who was moving everything to his shop, and, oh by the way, the two employees were taking two weeks vacation.
Three weeks later or so , it showed up, so another trip to the lake to measure the geometry to order the hinges, known on a boat as davits. A week later they showed up and were installed by us. In the meantime, Suzanne determined the cabin refrigerator would not cool enough to keep milk and other items at a safe cold temperature. So, ordered a new refrigerator, picked it up at the delivery site. Left for home confident our mechanic would get it in before we returned. Apparently, no way, Kemo Sabe. It won’t fit through the door, so the old one got put back in, and now how to get the new one home, since the trip was to be a one way and shove off.
We found a way to make the cabin door open more, got the refrigerator wired in ourselves, screwed the unit into the sidewalls, and a neighbor offered to store the old one in his electric cart garage.
Whoopee !
So, we had the transporter pick up the boat on July 31 at the marina, put us in on the Tennessee and we were on our way. All the way of one mile downstream to the Volunteer Landing Marina (Downtown Knoxville). You see, we had promised (a totally execrable word when dealing with a grandchild, I’ll have you know) the oldest grandchild, Eli, that he could ride with us for a week or so the second week of August. Since we had been delayed, this involved two former neighbors, good friends, bringing him down when they came to see us off. Of course this involved doing the town for a couple days also. So, we set off on Sunday, the 4th, full of confidence and ambition to make up miles. We did good, got 32 miles downstream that day and pulled into a lovely side cove and dropped anchor. After a long day, we went swimming with Eli.
Fantastic.
Out of the water, we found the battery bank was really, really low. Frustrated and horrified at this development, we ran the generator all night hoping it would charge the batteries to get engines started. Finding a marina with mechanics was only 3 miles away. With engines successfully started next morning, we hightailed it for help.
Turns out the starting batteries were indeed all good and charged by the generator. Great.
Turns out the house batteries were not hooked to the engines to recharge. The only way was to plug in at a marina overnight, or the use our gas tank fuel to run the generator every night when out at anchor.
We elected to have him rewire the boat to charge batteries while running every day. It only cost us three more days. Side note, how do you keep an 11 y.o. happy when just sitting around waiting. You let him play games, watch videos, and FaceTime til his eyes go square, of course! So sue me for being a Bad Grandad !
Out again on Thursday late, did 13 miles. Next morning, went through the Louden Lock and 20 more. Next day 55. Next day 40 some and the Watts Bar Lock. Next day 27, the Chickamauga Lock and 7 miles to hold a couple days in Chattanooga .
Did 39 today. Things seem to be going well. Lots of new challenges. After living in a protected lake environment, the current and wind are helping to round out our skills.
We bought a set of headsets so we don’t have to shout at each other to communicate over the noises of engines, wind, and wave. They are colloquially known in the boating community as Marriage Savers.
Anyways, we think of you all often. Regret the sudden disappearance. Will be home in October, January, April, and July.
Should be home for good in October 2025.
Wishing you all well.
Suzanne & Denis