I have set all kinds of records on this trip. The first record is not a good one. So yesterday, Sunday, I had the fewest miles I have traveled on a given delivery day with the most hours behind the wheels. I did a whopping 81 miles in 13 hours on Sunday. Mad at the world would be an understatement. We got behind fricking Dixie Express again, a tow and barge carrying Benezene. We tried with all our might to get around the Dixie Express, but no dice. We ended up waiting over 3 hours at the Whitten Lock to finally go through. We arrive at Whitten Lock at 2:45. We came out Whitten Lock at 6:30. Now that is a long frickin wait.
Then after all the time we got to cool our heels waiting for the darn lock, God decided that it would be best if we went through the lock in the worst down pour he could sum up. It rained sideways! Then it rained some more and then the wind blew about 30kts. It was probably the worst storm I have been in on the water. Once we got tied up in the lock, things finally calmed down to just a heavy rain. We wanted to continue on to Pickwick Lake, but we all had enough fun for one day and decided to head for Bay Springs Marina which was just on the other side of Whitten Lock. We tied up, ate a cold sandwich for dinner and went to bed. We were glad to get this day behind us. We could only hope for Monday to bring us a better outcome.
So we get up Monday morning at 5:00am trying to get underway and make a dent in the time we lost on Sunday. God decided that He was not done with the rain. So we untied the lines in a another downpour and got underway. Again, it rained so hard you couldn't see more than 100 yards ahead of you. Luckily the radar was working well and we knew their wasn't anyone else on the water this early except for commercial tows.
After about an hour, the rain backed down to a drizzle and things got manageable again. We picked up the pace and ran to Pickwick Lock on the Tennessee River. Of course, we were met with another 2 hour wait at the lock while we waited for "Baffin Bay", a tow with another load of Benezene. Finally, around 10:00am, we made it through the lock and we were underway on the Tennessee River and making our way towards Kentucky.
Our luck finally changed... for the better this time. With the overcast skies and light drizzle, no one was on the water. We ran hard all day and covered 227 miles and ran all the way up to Green Turtle Bay at the very end of Kentucky Lake. It was a much needed good, long run. We sucked down 525 gallons of diesel when we got in and went to Patty's for dinner. All I have to say that you need to stop here if you can. By far the best pork chop I have had in my life! Excellent doesn't begin to describe this meal. Who would have thought in Grand River, Kentucky you could get an amazing meal! I'm a believer and I will be back.
Dixie Express, my foe, with her load of Benezene.
Tied up in Whitten Lock in a total downpour.
This picture doesn't begin to show the rain. That little, red tug got spun around twice in the lock.
Grand Harbor Marina this morning.
We saw this toe with 12 barges as we pulled out onto the Tennessee River this morning.
The first person to correctly identify this boat (Make and year), I will send $5 bucks to. You only get one guess. Who thought this was a good idea?
Tied up in Green Turtle Bay Resort
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