Lock 52 At Paducah

October 23-24, 2016

We are up and off the anchor at 7:15, eager to make our way to Green Turtle Bay, Lake Barkley, Kentucky. Bean Branch Creek was a very nice anchorage although the Creek was more like a trickle into the Ohio than a flow. We had to pass through the infamous Lock 52 today. We hear that boats wait five hours or more to get through. Of course, we are hoping for a quick pass.

Park Lighthouse near Metropolis

Grain mounds near Metropolis

Fort Massac

Fort Massac

The Ohio is much calmer than the Mississippi. The current runs between 1-2 mph which slows us down a lot more than we expected! The Tows seem to be in no hurry here, passing us with little to no wake. It took 2.5 hours to go 12.6 miles to Lock 52. We were instructed to remain South of the I24 bridge where we anchored and waited for an update from the Lock Master. They are letting the Dam down which means they drop the gates and allow the water to flow freely. This causes turbulence and debris which we are downstream of. We can see the water moving toward us from two miles away; it is rolling and boiling whitewater. Sea Marie has been behind us most of the trip but catches us so we are all anchored separately but in a cluster. Two more pleasure craft show up and anchor as well. We wait four hours only to learn that we will not be allowed to pass through Lock 52 today. We are told that we can anchor across the river on the Kentucky side; however, we have to go south around red buoys marking shallow areas before we can cross. Henry heads across from us to Metropolis, Illinois to tie up at a tiny dock at Fort Massac. He tells us later that he met a gentleman who took him to to get fuel and groceries. Henry is the lucky one today!

We haven't been on land for five days now. We want to do laundry and replenish our dwindling supplies. We really need a hot shower too! We keep an eye on the Tows with the hope that things might change but the sun sets on us sitting there below the I24. After dark, we hear coyotes howling and go up on deck. Looking toward Paducah we see that the Tows have driven their barges up to the shore where they aim a spotlight on a tree to mark where they sit. They check during the night to make sure they are on that mark, not moving back down river with the current.

We are up and ready to go at 7:30 to find that we are status quo. In fact, many more Tows have joined the waiting line, both southbound and northbound. We've now been sitting here for 24 hours and know that we could be here for days! Finally, we are told that we can move forward to the lock. The Tows are motoring through over the dam but the Lock Master decides that our three sailboats may not make it over that hump due to the strong current so he will put us in the chamber. We motor in, he closes the doors then immediately opens the other side. It is a gentle transition and we are well out of the way of the Tows. We are delighted to be on our way once again.

Morning has risen at Lock 52

Locking through Lock 52

We are on a mission to get to the Kentucky Locks. We heard this lock also can have long waits for pleasure crafts. Rhonda called ahead and learned the wait at the lock was at least four hours. Plan B is to take the Cumberland River instead. This adds 20 miles to our trip but we should have better luck going through the Lake Barkley Lock. The decision to take the Cumberland River is an easy one. We will have to anchor at the Cumberland Tow Head tonight but we will make it to Green Turtle Bay, Lake Barkley tomorrow!

We slide into the anchorage at Cumberland Tow Head still feeling the current. Mystic anchored first. Sea Marie pulled along our port side and tied off.  As I grabbed Henry's line, I see a dozen carp leaping into the air behind him. I'm so excited that I scream and jump up and down pointing in the direction of the carp. Henry looks at me like he's being followed by a monster. This carp jumping phenomenon is incredibly cool to witness. I have yet to catch a photo but hope to do so one day. Mucho Gusto tries to anchor freely but couldn't get a good hold so Scott came along Mystic's starboard side, dropped anchor and raft up. Two more sailboats joined us at the Tow Head before the evening was over; Ernie on Grateful II and an Island Packet named Veritas that we had not seen before. We invited Henry and the Joiners over to Mystic for snacks and the last of our beer and wine. Once again, we hear the howl of coyotes fill the air. It is eerie and beautiful and pulls us outside from our cabins to strain our necks hoping to see them on land. Like last night, it only lasts a moment then all is quiet. I look to the sky and see a shooting star.

Docktails at anchor on the Cumberland Tow Head

Scott & Rhonda with Henry aboard Mystic

Tomorrow we'll get to Green Turtle Bay. We've gone over 300 miles the last five days. We made it through "Fern Country"! We are beyond excited for the next leg of this journey!