Sunday, September 13, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Home at last
Sorry; I was just too bushed to finish the story last night.
Yesterday morning we left the public dock at Clarksville about 6:45 in dense fog, carefully making our way up river on the lookout for the Clarksville marina and our next fuel stop. It was farther than we had thought, and we arrived to find no one anywhere around. The call box was ineffective. I finally went up the hill to the house where the owners live, and the proprietor agreed to sell us some gasoline. With full tanks, we left the marina headed for our next scheduled adventure, the Cheatham lock. We called ahead and were assured that the lock operator would help us with our first locking experience. It requires a good bit of hustling about, donning the requisite life jackets, putting out the fenders on the side of the boat next to the lock walls, and lassoing the floating bollard that rises with the water. All went as smoothly as we could have hoped. Soon we were lifted several feet into Cheatham Reservoir and were on our way to Ashland City.
It was beautiful cruising from this point all the way home, much of it from the flybridge in perfect September weather. The trip took us through some the mid-state's most beautiful country, past stately homes and small riverside cottages, through downtown Nashville, past LP Field and the Riverfront, around Bell's Bend and Neely's Bend and Pennington Bend and MetroCenter, past Shelby Park and Peeler Park, Gaylord Springs and Hermitage golf courses, the General Jackson and the Music City Queen, past Anderson's Bluff, through the Old Hickory lock and into Old Hickory Lake, and finally to Creekwood Marina in Hendersonville, arriving at 7:45 p.m., just as the last light of day was fast fading.
Thus ended a never-to-be-forgotten adventure, whose memories will remain with Daniel and me always. And now begins a new chapter in the life of Blue Heaven, a tough old boat we will try to return to her former glory.
Four days, more than 250 miles of cruising (plus at least 20 miles of back-tracking), and times of total relaxation puctuated by a few minutes of stark terror. Some of my take-aways from this experience are these:
There are too many great photos to place on this blog, but you can see the album at a Picasa site I will place here later today.
Yesterday morning we left the public dock at Clarksville about 6:45 in dense fog, carefully making our way up river on the lookout for the Clarksville marina and our next fuel stop. It was farther than we had thought, and we arrived to find no one anywhere around. The call box was ineffective. I finally went up the hill to the house where the owners live, and the proprietor agreed to sell us some gasoline. With full tanks, we left the marina headed for our next scheduled adventure, the Cheatham lock. We called ahead and were assured that the lock operator would help us with our first locking experience. It requires a good bit of hustling about, donning the requisite life jackets, putting out the fenders on the side of the boat next to the lock walls, and lassoing the floating bollard that rises with the water. All went as smoothly as we could have hoped. Soon we were lifted several feet into Cheatham Reservoir and were on our way to Ashland City.
It was beautiful cruising from this point all the way home, much of it from the flybridge in perfect September weather. The trip took us through some the mid-state's most beautiful country, past stately homes and small riverside cottages, through downtown Nashville, past LP Field and the Riverfront, around Bell's Bend and Neely's Bend and Pennington Bend and MetroCenter, past Shelby Park and Peeler Park, Gaylord Springs and Hermitage golf courses, the General Jackson and the Music City Queen, past Anderson's Bluff, through the Old Hickory lock and into Old Hickory Lake, and finally to Creekwood Marina in Hendersonville, arriving at 7:45 p.m., just as the last light of day was fast fading.
Thus ended a never-to-be-forgotten adventure, whose memories will remain with Daniel and me always. And now begins a new chapter in the life of Blue Heaven, a tough old boat we will try to return to her former glory.
Four days, more than 250 miles of cruising (plus at least 20 miles of back-tracking), and times of total relaxation puctuated by a few minutes of stark terror. Some of my take-aways from this experience are these:
- Time spent with family and friends is the most precious investment we can make.
- We live in an exceptional part of God's world, filled with natural beauty. We need to take care of it so that our grandchildren's grandchildren can enjoy it, too.
- There are more good, kind-hearted, helpful, Christ-like people out there than you think. We met several of them along our way.
There are too many great photos to place on this blog, but you can see the album at a Picasa site I will place here later today.
Monday, September 7, 2009
From near disaster to great pleasure
Today (Monday, Labor Day) was a story of difficulty, kindness, and triumph. We were towed to Bumpus Mills Marina last night by the good folks from Green Turtle Bay, arriving at 9:00 p.m. There was not a soul to be found. We tied up Blue Heaven at the end of a dock, finished the paperwork with the tow guys, and turned in for the night on board without any shore power or supper. Didn't need air conditioning; it was very pleasant. The best money I ever spent was my membership in BoatUS, sort of a AAA for boaters. The big benefit is unlimited free towing when you're disabled. Last night it saved us $1,585.00.
We rose before dawn this morning, hoping to get an early start but suspecting the marina wouldn't open for business until at least 7:00, which was right. When the owner, Wally Horn, showed up, we were ready to crank up the boat and pull around to the gas pump. Apparently, however, our use of the running lights and an interior light during last night's tow had drained the batteries, and the engines wouldn't crank. So we had the borrow a charger and charge the batteries for a while. Then we were able to crank the engines and top off the fuel tanks, and Wally and his wife, Vica, were very helpful and courteous. They have been operating the marina for 24 years and are ready to retire. They even asked if we wanted to buy it, but it's a little out-of-the-way!
By 9:30 we were underway, headed for Clarksville and maybe even Ashland City with luck. A couple of miles up river toward Dover, both engines began to miss and sputter badly. Wally was a great guy, but I'm afraid his fuel is contaminated with water, a common occurrence along the rivers and lakes, we're told. We limped the 12 miles into Dover and tied up at a public boat ramp just below the Highway 79 bridge, walked up the hill into town, and went to the sheriff's office to inquire where me might find some gas-dry/rubbing alcohol. A deputy offered to drive us to a market, and I got my first ride in the back of a squad car.
Armed with our magic elixir, we returned to the Blue Heaven ready to pour the alcohol into the tanks, crank her up, and be on our way. But nooooo; the batteries were dead again. We tried with the help of a couple of folks to boost and start, but it soon became apparent we needed two new marine batteries (on Labor Day, of course.) About that time we met Betty and her friends, who were preparing a picnic in the shelter just up the hill from the boat ramp. She introduced us to Walt, a warm-hearted retiree who insisted on taking us to get the batteries. We wound up having to drive to Paris Landing, where we found one at the marina there and another at a nearby hardware store. Back at the boat ramp, we installed the new batteries and fired up the engines, letting the alcohol disperse the water while we joined our new friends for a picnic lunch. My heart has been warmed, my faith in God strengthened, and my faith in humanity restored by the helpfulness and warm-hearted kindness of the total strangers we have met along this journey. I am resolving to be more alert to others' needs and quicker to jump in and help.
Our new friends pushed us off the Dover ramp at about 2:45, and we began a beautiful cruise up the Cumberland to Clarksville, engines running smoother, making a good 10 miles per hour. En route we saw the stacks of Cumberland City, met a barge tow on a sharp bend in the river, and reached the new public dock in Clarksville at 6:15 p.m. We are now comfortable in the Riverview Inn, and have had our first hot meal in 48 hours--some great pizza at the Blackhorse Pub on Franklin Street. Tomorrow morning we we set out early for Old Hickory Lake. With expected good weather, no delays at the Cheatham and Old Hickory locks, and no mechanical problems, we can make the 90-mile trip to Creekwood Marina in Hendersonville before dark.
We rose before dawn this morning, hoping to get an early start but suspecting the marina wouldn't open for business until at least 7:00, which was right. When the owner, Wally Horn, showed up, we were ready to crank up the boat and pull around to the gas pump. Apparently, however, our use of the running lights and an interior light during last night's tow had drained the batteries, and the engines wouldn't crank. So we had the borrow a charger and charge the batteries for a while. Then we were able to crank the engines and top off the fuel tanks, and Wally and his wife, Vica, were very helpful and courteous. They have been operating the marina for 24 years and are ready to retire. They even asked if we wanted to buy it, but it's a little out-of-the-way!
By 9:30 we were underway, headed for Clarksville and maybe even Ashland City with luck. A couple of miles up river toward Dover, both engines began to miss and sputter badly. Wally was a great guy, but I'm afraid his fuel is contaminated with water, a common occurrence along the rivers and lakes, we're told. We limped the 12 miles into Dover and tied up at a public boat ramp just below the Highway 79 bridge, walked up the hill into town, and went to the sheriff's office to inquire where me might find some gas-dry/rubbing alcohol. A deputy offered to drive us to a market, and I got my first ride in the back of a squad car.
Armed with our magic elixir, we returned to the Blue Heaven ready to pour the alcohol into the tanks, crank her up, and be on our way. But nooooo; the batteries were dead again. We tried with the help of a couple of folks to boost and start, but it soon became apparent we needed two new marine batteries (on Labor Day, of course.) About that time we met Betty and her friends, who were preparing a picnic in the shelter just up the hill from the boat ramp. She introduced us to Walt, a warm-hearted retiree who insisted on taking us to get the batteries. We wound up having to drive to Paris Landing, where we found one at the marina there and another at a nearby hardware store. Back at the boat ramp, we installed the new batteries and fired up the engines, letting the alcohol disperse the water while we joined our new friends for a picnic lunch. My heart has been warmed, my faith in God strengthened, and my faith in humanity restored by the helpfulness and warm-hearted kindness of the total strangers we have met along this journey. I am resolving to be more alert to others' needs and quicker to jump in and help.
Our new friends pushed us off the Dover ramp at about 2:45, and we began a beautiful cruise up the Cumberland to Clarksville, engines running smoother, making a good 10 miles per hour. En route we saw the stacks of Cumberland City, met a barge tow on a sharp bend in the river, and reached the new public dock in Clarksville at 6:15 p.m. We are now comfortable in the Riverview Inn, and have had our first hot meal in 48 hours--some great pizza at the Blackhorse Pub on Franklin Street. Tomorrow morning we we set out early for Old Hickory Lake. With expected good weather, no delays at the Cheatham and Old Hickory locks, and no mechanical problems, we can make the 90-mile trip to Creekwood Marina in Hendersonville before dark.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale..."
This morning (Sunday) we rose about 5:30, had breakfast, and prepared to get under way en route to Clarksville, our intended destination for Sunday night, with plans to make the rest of the journey on Monday--through Cheatham lock, Nashville, and Old Hickory. We left Green Turtle Bay about 6:30 a.m. There were a few low clouds, but generally good weather. We made good time through the morning, and saw the Kentucky State Penitentiary at Eddyville (pictured above), along with other lake sites both natural and man-made. We negotiated Devil's Elbow, a point where the channel makes a 90 degree bend, and were reminded of how important it is to stay between the appropriate markers. We overtook a gang of coal barges I would estimate at over 1,000 feet in length.
It was such a relaxing and uneventful morning that Dan commented we might not have much to blog about tonight. We do not have that problem. As we were passing Bumpus Mills marina, just north of Dover, we checked our fuel supply and thought we had enough to make the next marina, and we didn't want to waste time refueling unnessarily. Soon the starboard tank ran dry, and we lost both engines even though we had perhaps 30 gallons of fuel in the port tank. Not a huge problem: we had brought an extra 10 gallons in two cans on the deck for just such an emergency. We emptied the two can into the starboard tank we knew to be operating properly, and resumed our cruise through Dover. Then we realized that we couldn't refuel there, because there are no marinas on the Cumberland between Bumpus Mills and Clarksville! Ok, we should have planned ahead better for this contingency. Nothing to do now but return to Bumpus Mills, refuel, and adjust our itinerary. But we didn't have sufficient fuel remaining to do that either! But wait: there's fuel in the port tank! We'll just transfer it the other tank with out handy little siphon pump and our gas cans. So we dropped anchor to accomplish that task. Made the transfer of 10 gallons, but the starboard engine wouldn't start. Oh well, we'll have to return to Bumbus Mills on one engine and check it out. So we we were ready to return down river to Bumpus Mills and refuel, and by this time probably we would have to stay there for the night. Couldn't raise the anchor; it was wedged between some rocks or something. Finally had the cut the rope and leave it. Oh well, anchors can be replaced.
Heading back down river to Dover, we ran straight into the most severe and terrifying thunderstorm I have ever seen on water or land. It blew us all over the channel, blew two deck chairs and one gas can overboard, and scared us to death. I couldn't hold her in the channel against 50-60 mile per hour headwind off the port bow, and we blew ashore just north of the Ft. Donelson National Battlefield. I don't know whether we sustained any damage, but I'm not taking a chance. We called for a tow (bless BoatUS), and we're waiting now (5:10 p.m.) for him to get us back to Bumpus Mills Marina. Remember that coal barge tow we had overtaken earlier today? He just passed us.
It was such a relaxing and uneventful morning that Dan commented we might not have much to blog about tonight. We do not have that problem. As we were passing Bumpus Mills marina, just north of Dover, we checked our fuel supply and thought we had enough to make the next marina, and we didn't want to waste time refueling unnessarily. Soon the starboard tank ran dry, and we lost both engines even though we had perhaps 30 gallons of fuel in the port tank. Not a huge problem: we had brought an extra 10 gallons in two cans on the deck for just such an emergency. We emptied the two can into the starboard tank we knew to be operating properly, and resumed our cruise through Dover. Then we realized that we couldn't refuel there, because there are no marinas on the Cumberland between Bumpus Mills and Clarksville! Ok, we should have planned ahead better for this contingency. Nothing to do now but return to Bumpus Mills, refuel, and adjust our itinerary. But we didn't have sufficient fuel remaining to do that either! But wait: there's fuel in the port tank! We'll just transfer it the other tank with out handy little siphon pump and our gas cans. So we dropped anchor to accomplish that task. Made the transfer of 10 gallons, but the starboard engine wouldn't start. Oh well, we'll have to return to Bumbus Mills on one engine and check it out. So we we were ready to return down river to Bumpus Mills and refuel, and by this time probably we would have to stay there for the night. Couldn't raise the anchor; it was wedged between some rocks or something. Finally had the cut the rope and leave it. Oh well, anchors can be replaced.
Heading back down river to Dover, we ran straight into the most severe and terrifying thunderstorm I have ever seen on water or land. It blew us all over the channel, blew two deck chairs and one gas can overboard, and scared us to death. I couldn't hold her in the channel against 50-60 mile per hour headwind off the port bow, and we blew ashore just north of the Ft. Donelson National Battlefield. I don't know whether we sustained any damage, but I'm not taking a chance. We called for a tow (bless BoatUS), and we're waiting now (5:10 p.m.) for him to get us back to Bumpus Mills Marina. Remember that coal barge tow we had overtaken earlier today? He just passed us.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Today we traveled from Pebble Isle Marina to Green Turtle Bay just south of Barkley Dam on to the Cumberland River. It wasn't as far as we had hoped to travel, but we thought is best to stop for the night and get an early start tomorrow morning. As always, we have met some very friendly and helpful people at marinas along the way. Tonight was 80's night at Green Turtle Bay, bad we had a wonderful dinner at the yacht club just above our transient slip. We were lucky to get a slip here tonight, as they have actually been booked for months because of the Labor Day weekend. See above for some of the pictorial highlights of the day:
Friday, September 4, 2009
It's the Friday before departure tomorrow morning at dawn, and hopefully
our preparations for the river cruise are almost complete. We have checked out the systems as best we can, believe we have a working depth finder (essential for lake and river travel, as our boat draws three feet of water), have topped off the fuel tanks and loaded an extra 10 gallons in cans on the deck just in case, and provisioned with food and water.
Our plan is to cruise from dawn until mid-afternoon, then stop at a marina to refuel, shower, have dinner, and sleep on board. A good day tomorrow (Saturday) would get us to Prizer Point or Lake Barkley State Park marina.
Son Daniel will be crewing with me on Saturday and Sunday. David and Amanda will meet us somewhere along the way (Clarksville?) early Monday morning to help bring her in. It will be a great time to share together. Blue Heaven is not quite ready for Sharon to inspect as yet; she'll need a little more polish!
We hope and believe that many good times are ahead with children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends. It wouldn't hurt to say a little prayer that we can get the boat home without any major problems.
our preparations for the river cruise are almost complete. We have checked out the systems as best we can, believe we have a working depth finder (essential for lake and river travel, as our boat draws three feet of water), have topped off the fuel tanks and loaded an extra 10 gallons in cans on the deck just in case, and provisioned with food and water.Our plan is to cruise from dawn until mid-afternoon, then stop at a marina to refuel, shower, have dinner, and sleep on board. A good day tomorrow (Saturday) would get us to Prizer Point or Lake Barkley State Park marina.
Son Daniel will be crewing with me on Saturday and Sunday. David and Amanda will meet us somewhere along the way (Clarksville?) early Monday morning to help bring her in. It will be a great time to share together. Blue Heaven is not quite ready for Sharon to inspect as yet; she'll need a little more polish!
We hope and believe that many good times are ahead with children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends. It wouldn't hurt to say a little prayer that we can get the boat home without any major problems.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Preparing for the trip
I have always loved boats. Since I was a little boy, I have wanted a boat. Now that I have just turned 60, I have finally succumbed to the temptation of buying my first boat.
After a fairly long search, mostly online, I found a 1974 Silver Queen 36' houseboat for sale on Craigslist. Christened "Blue Heaven" by one of her several previous owners, she was docked at Pebble Isle Marina in New Johnsonville, TN, on the Tennessee River/Kentucky Lake. After completing the purchase on August 15, preparations began to bring Blue Heaven home to Hendersonville by water, a journey that would follow the Tennessee River downstream (north) about 60 miles to the Barkley Canal that connects Kentucky Lake to Lake Barkley just below the dams, then up the Cumberland River almost 200 miles past Dover, Clarksville, Ashland City, and Nashville, through the Cheatham and Old Hickory locks, and into Old Hickory Lake.
Since the boat has not been operated regularly in some time, the first challenge was to get the engines running, drives operating correctly, controls freed, etc. Then she needed a good cleaning, and that process will continue indefinitely. With the help of my son David and his wife Amanda, and my friends Karl Johnston and Caldwell Creel, and the gracious assistance and advice of our new friends at Pebble Isle, we finally got the boat ready to take out by ourselves and get accustomed to the way she handles. On our "maiden voyage" August 16, I managed to get her out of the slip, around to the fuel dock, out into the channel, and back into her berth without hitting any other boats and running aground only once!
Since the boat has not been operated regularly in some time, the first challenge was to get the engines running, drives operating correctly, controls freed, etc. Then she needed a good cleaning, and that process will continue indefinitely. With the help of my son David and his wife Amanda, and my friends Karl Johnston and Caldwell Creel, and the gracious assistance and advice of our new friends at Pebble Isle, we finally got the boat ready to take out by ourselves and get accustomed to the way she handles. On our "maiden voyage" August 16, I managed to get her out of the slip, around to the fuel dock, out into the channel, and back into her berth without hitting any other boats and running aground only once!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
