Log 57; Day 161; Oct. 29, 2008; Smithville Marina

This homemade shrimp boat belongs to James...you can read his story below.

This is how it looked as we left our slip today


Our dinner location...that's James holding the door for me

This is one of the better looking boats in our marina at Smithville Marina...an interesting stop.

Log 57
Day 161
Wednesday, October 29, 2008

5:30 AM CDT
Location: Smithville Marina, Smithville, MS
Weather: 35* and foggy; forecast is for 64 and sunny

We set a new HQ record for cold this morning...35*. Based on the forecast (and the fact we are heading south) this should be the coldest it gets for some time...we can only hope. When I got up this morning and started to turn on the heaters, it took so much power that it blew the circuit breaker on the dock so I had to go outside and see if I could fix it. First of all it was real cold...secondly, I almost fell in the water because the swim platform was solid frost and so slick I had to hold onto the rail and inch myself across to the dock. But I got it fixed, and it is starting to get warm in here now.

Yesterday...after talking to the lock, and then communicating with several boats with the VHF radio, we left the dock about 7:50 and went about 1 mile to Jamie Whitten Lock. When we got to the lock it was open, and there ended up being 5 other boats in there with us. For the next 35 miles, and 3 more locks, the 6 boats stayed together. Each time we got close to the lock they were open and ready for us to enter. When we got to the 5th lock (Glover Wilkins) 3 boats went in the lock and HQ, along with 2 other boats, turned to port (left) and up a small channel to Smithville Marina. We arrived here about 1:30. (Side note: when we were at Grand Harbor I was talking to the harbor master (and boat captain) and telling him where we were going to stop along the way, and mentioned Smithville Marina and he said “why in the world would you stop there”...after pulling in to the dock, I understand what he meant). As usual, the people here are very nice, but this is a very small; warn down; old; and very rustic marina. After getting secured at the dock, Deb and I went into the office (if you can call it that) to check in. Jesse...the owner...was there and not really interested in checking us in, but wanted to talk about his tractor collection (which was on the wall) and made sure we went through his picture album of all of his” before and after” pictures of the real tractors he had restored. Kind of weird...but also interesting, because he did have some great looking tractors that he had restored.

The other 2 boats with us are “Good News” and “Ms. Mary”. Good news was with us at the Looper Rendezvous and we also saw them at Grand Harbor. We left before them at Grand Harbor, and they ended up stopping at Bay Springs Marina and then we traveled together through the locks with them to get here. This is the first time we have seen Ms. Mary...it is a 45 shrimp boat (that was actually hand made, and “shrimped” in New Orleans for 14 years). The owner (James) is another interesting story. He has always wanted to explore the waterways and kept putting it off, so finally his daughter found a boat online and he bought it. He sold everything he owned, except what he could fit in his car, and drove to New Orleans to get the boat. He took what he had in his can and put it on the boat, spent a month getting it ready, and took off...on his own. For the last 3 1/2 years he has been traveling, by himself, throughout the US. His plans are to do this for another 1 1/2 years or so (to make his 5 year goal) and then find a place to settle down, which he is still looking for.

We had dinner with James, Andy and Mary (on Good News) at Mel’s Diner in town last night. Of course the specialty was catfish...we all had it, and it was very good. To get to dinner we asked for the courtesy car, that was advertised in the guide book. Jessie said it was in the shop, but we could use his truck, which was a very old Nissan small truck. We decided we would have to make two trips because it was so small, and there were 5 of us, and as we were getting into the truck a guy who we had not seen, and never met, said “hey...I’ve got a big 4 door truck...take mine”. Which we did. Another example of the many people who help you along the waterway.

Today...again I am monitoring the VHF radio to listen to the lock and decide when to leave the dock and head out. Our first lock is only 1/2 mile away and the 3 boats decided last night I would call the lock and we would make a decision when to leave from there. It’s not light out yet...but I can see it is also foggy, so we need to let the sun come up and burn off a little of this fog before it will be safe to head out. One of the problems with running this river is that you think it is clear, and then come around a bend and find the fog has settled in a low area. Not a good deal in a narrow waterway. Our plan today is to go through 3 locks and 42 miles to Columbus Marina in Columbus, MS.

I’ll keep you posted.

BK.