Chapter 10 - Day 11: Four Rivers...and Counting

5:50 am
Tuesday, September 14, 1999
Day 11

Well include the Tennessee River as one of those we have left behind.
We have now traveled the following;
* Illinois River 234 miles
* Mississippi River 218 miles
* Ohio River 47 miles
* Tennessee River 215 miles

We made it to Aqua Yacht Harbor, in Iuka, Mississippi yesterday. Of all the marinas I have been to, this is one of my favorites. It has everything you would need, and it has several hundred slips with some beautiful boats. I just enjoy walking on the docks.

Before leaving yesterday I called Harborside Marina and asked them to call ahead and have someone come on the boat when we arrived at Aqua, to look at our Generator battery that seemed to be over charging. That's exactly what happened. We got here about 3 PM, and they were ready for us. They checked out the battery, and found it to be bad, so they replaced it.
They also tightened a manifold bolt that was seeping oil from it. We're good to go!

The 90 mile trip yesterday was beautiful. It rained as soon as we untied the lines, but not that hard. I decided to go below and drive because this boat has a great pilothouse ( a lower area where you can drive that has full instruments, and good visibility). Steve took the sun covers off the windshield and I turned on the wipers, but the center one had a problem. It seems that one of the clips that hold on the wiper blade had come off, so the wiper wouldn't stay attached. Steve did a "McGiver" trick, and used a picture hanger to fashion a clip from, and we were back in business. From that point, no problems, and the scenery was great. Hardly and boat traffic so we were on top of the water most of the way.

This morning it is foggy. We had plans to head out at first light, but we'll have to see how long it takes to burn off. We're heading down the Tenn-Tom about 60 miles and going through 3 locks.
The Tenn-Tom is an interesting waterway. The idea actually dates back to the 1700's, and has been studied since 1946, but construction didn't begin until 1971. The plan was to give boats (intended for commercial tows, but used more now by pleasure craft) an easy short cut to the gulf without going on the Mississippi all the way to New Orleans. More dirt was moved for this project, than was moved for the Panama Canal. Enough of the history lesson, I just thought you'd like to know.

Responses to e-mails, and calls;
* I too am glad we are mechanically sound again. My nerves are getting back in order.
* I know that Debbie's notes are funnier, and more interesting than mine.
Her perspective is a little different.
* Art-no way, I want copy rights to this journal. (although I can't imagine who would want to read it)

Thanks for all the notes, I save them, so everyone can read them.

BK