Foggy Morning on the TennTom

---

Tuesday, 16 November, 2010

We gave Sara and Trevor a head start, knowing we’d catch up with them before Heflin Lock near Gainesville, AL. What we didn’t know were the small kinks in our plan waiting for us this morning. Kerry started the engine to warm it up and start recharging batteries while he went below for a quick wash in the bathroom sink. The engine temperature alarm started sounding, causing Oh-Shit reactions in both of us. It turns out we have a pesky leak somewhere in our cooling system, so once Kerry added water to the radiator, it cooled right down. We just need to check that more often.

We did catch up with the kids at the lock, it had just opened when we arrived and the lock down was fast and smooth. Our plan had been to anchor in the canal below the lock that carries the overflow from the dam. With gusty winds and a rocky bottom in the canal, neither of us were able to set our anchors. That meant heading on downriver and anchoring on the side. The trick was to find a good spot with enough water and far enough out of the channel to be safe when the tows pass, and to find it before it got dark at a little before 5.

We finally had to settle on a spot between 2 turns in the river, assuming that the tows would have to be going fairly slowly to make the turns. This time the assumption seems to be correct. We didn’t relax, however, until a couple of tows passed us by with minimal wake and plenty of clearance. The wind finally died down, too, and the skies cleared.

Wednesday, 17 November

We slept pretty well, even though we’re not fond of anchoring on the side of the river. We discovered shortly after anchoring that there is a very busy train track across the river, so we listened to trains passing all night. I woke up once, thinking we were being spot-lighted by a tow, only to discover that it was the moon shining in.

This morning the fog is quite heavy, so we’re waiting for it to burn off before heading on downriver. We only caught glimpses of the sailboat’s mast through the fog until 8:30 when we could see the whole boat in its gray cocoon of fog. Soon we’ll be underway.

---

Photos

Earendil
In the morning fog

Earendil
heading out Tuesday mmorning

Along the TennTom
split in the river ahead, channel to the left

Along the TennTom
pretty clouds and rays of sunlight

Fall colors
with a little sunshine

Comments

[Claudia]

trip
It sounds like you are having a real adventure. I hope all goes well with your cooling system. We're enjoying your blog. Have fun!

[Vickie Wilson]

Enjoying your blog
Enjoy reading your blog. Kids haven't posted in couple of days and we were wondering if the weather was clearing up for you. Glad you are still getting to enjoy some fall colors. Stay safe.