Chapter 2 - Day 2: We Are Under Way...

4:55 am
Sunday September, 4th
Day 2

Well day 1 was a complete success.

We left the dock about 8:15 and stopped to get fuel. (136 gallons-- $220) The lock to a while to get through. When we got there a southbound double a barge that is 3 wide and 5 long that has o be split in half in order to get in the lock-therefore it takes two locks for it to get through), We got there at 9:15, and didn't get through until 12:30.

The weather was perfect. I mean a 10. 90 degrees, & sunny. Most of the day we cruised at 10 to 11 mph. At times we went faster, but Headquarters (the name of our boat) makes a large wake when we run fast, so when there are a lot of other boats out, I keep it down.

There were 5 of us running together. We got to Hams Harbor Marina about 5 PM. I guess you could call this a marina, although it looks more like a junk yard. This place has tremendous potential, but the owner just doesn't make it work. Great location-great harbor-but uuuugly!
For dinner we took something for the grill, and went over to the dock where the others were docked. They were all together, under a covered slip, so we had a party. Well actually they had a party. I was tired. I got up too early. Sooooo......at about 8:00 while they were hollering and carrying on-I went to bed.

I made my first mistake of the new day already. You see when we run the generator ( which is any time that we are moving) the electricity it creates is not perfect so the electric clocks run fast. Normally we reset them when we dock, to get them back on track, but last night I guess we forgot because this morning laying in bed the red digits on the clock said 5:00, but when I got up and dressed, my watch said 4:30. Oh well I'll get a early start on the day.

This morning looks great. Stars are out, and it's 66 degrees. Forecast is for nice, warm, with a chance of rain latter today, as a cold front passes.

The plan is to head out at first light and travel about 100 miles-or so. We have two locks today, and plan to anchor out along the river tonight.

Hopefully we will make it to about the 50 mile marker or so. Which means we will be 50 miles from the Mississippi.

So that's it for now. It's 5:35, and I need to get a few things done before we fire up the engines.
As they say on the VHF radio

"Headquarters clear----and standing by"

BK