Fast forward about five years and a bunch of life. It's Easter weekend sometime in April 2006. Mickey meets Pam and me in Little Rock and we make final plans to move the boat to its new home in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you have been keeping up with the blog you remember My President Elect; if you haven't been reading it would be a good time to review that post.
Again, car management is an issue when cruising. Carolyn, Mickey's wife drove him to Greenville, MS and a good friend and work associate of mine was kind enough to pick Mickey up in Greenville while on a business trip and deposit him at Detour with us. Pam and I have been gone from Little Rock since the first of the year as my job has moved us to the great state of Tennessee and so a night on the boat before leaving was in order.
Our plans were to get to bed early, rise early and get an early start on the day and the trip. If you remember my warnings in earlier posts for all cruisers, you will know that cruisers should not get in a rush and not be surprised if well made plans are quickly disturbed. It was certainly the case on the next day as we begun our trip bright and early.
The Murray Lock and Dam or Lock and Dam Number 7 is about 3 miles from the Little Rock Yacht Club and we made our approach to the lock at approximately 7 o'clock. My excitement on getting the trip underway was blunted a bit when I realized that a large tow boat and raft of barges had beat us to the lock. It wasn't just a large tow but a "double tie" tow which meant that it would take two lockings to complete the transition. We had no choice but to tie up and wait out the lockings. I believe it was nearly 11 o'clock when we were whistled into the lock. It didn't take us long to get ahead of the large tow and we hurried to get far enough ahead to make sure we didn't have to wait again.
The first days trip was relatively routine and we anchored on the inside of a long bend in river just off a shallow sand bar. I couldn't find a suitable off river anchorage and felt the depth of the
water and inside bend would put us a good distance from passing nighttime tows. The moon was full and we talked about the view of the sandbar out of the starboard salon windows as we enjoyed a final glass of wine before turning in for the night. During the wee hours of the morning, about 4 am as I recall, the door of our berth opened abruptly and Mickey was standing in the opening and, in an excited voice, said, "if we hurry we can get out of the way of that tow boat". In my low level of awareness, given the time of day and the frantic awakening, I calmly said, "let's wait for about an hour or so before we move". Mickey then said just as calmly, OK and
Again, car management is an issue when cruising. Carolyn, Mickey's wife drove him to Greenville, MS and a good friend and work associate of mine was kind enough to pick Mickey up in Greenville while on a business trip and deposit him at Detour with us. Pam and I have been gone from Little Rock since the first of the year as my job has moved us to the great state of Tennessee and so a night on the boat before leaving was in order.
Our plans were to get to bed early, rise early and get an early start on the day and the trip. If you remember my warnings in earlier posts for all cruisers, you will know that cruisers should not get in a rush and not be surprised if well made plans are quickly disturbed. It was certainly the case on the next day as we begun our trip bright and early.
The Murray Lock and Dam or Lock and Dam Number 7 is about 3 miles from the Little Rock Yacht Club and we made our approach to the lock at approximately 7 o'clock. My excitement on getting the trip underway was blunted a bit when I realized that a large tow boat and raft of barges had beat us to the lock. It wasn't just a large tow but a "double tie" tow which meant that it would take two lockings to complete the transition. We had no choice but to tie up and wait out the lockings. I believe it was nearly 11 o'clock when we were whistled into the lock. It didn't take us long to get ahead of the large tow and we hurried to get far enough ahead to make sure we didn't have to wait again.
The first days trip was relatively routine and we anchored on the inside of a long bend in river just off a shallow sand bar. I couldn't find a suitable off river anchorage and felt the depth of the
water and inside bend would put us a good distance from passing nighttime tows. The moon was full and we talked about the view of the sandbar out of the starboard salon windows as we enjoyed a final glass of wine before turning in for the night. During the wee hours of the morning, about 4 am as I recall, the door of our berth opened abruptly and Mickey was standing in the opening and, in an excited voice, said, "if we hurry we can get out of the way of that tow boat". In my low level of awareness, given the time of day and the frantic awakening, I calmly said, "let's wait for about an hour or so before we move". Mickey then said just as calmly, OK and went back to bed. As we discussed the event in more lucid circumstances, it seems that Mickey had gotten up during the night and looked out the starboard windows to check the position of 
the boat and make sure the anchor was holding. As luck would have it and taking into account his drowsy state, the wind had shifted and swung the boat 180 degrees making his view out the starboard window a down river view and right into the searchlight of an approaching tow. As you can relate, it was quite unnerving. We all survived the event and continued our trip to the Mississippi the next morning.
The April day, as sometimes is the case, was downright blustery and maybe even bitter. The wind was out of the South and blowing at sometimes up to 30 miles per hour and the
the boat and make sure the anchor was holding. As luck would have it and taking into account his drowsy state, the wind had shifted and swung the boat 180 degrees making his view out the starboard window a down river view and right into the searchlight of an approaching tow. As you can relate, it was quite unnerving. We all survived the event and continued our trip to the Mississippi the next morning.The April day, as sometimes is the case, was downright blustery and maybe even bitter. The wind was out of the South and blowing at sometimes up to 30 miles per hour and the
temperature was in the mid-forties. About a mile or so from the mouth of the Arkansas River, I noticed that the voltage on the starboard engine was fluctuating nervously and it was a sure indication to me that the voltage regulator was dying a slow death. I knew because this engine has a history of digesting regulators. I also carry several spares to be ready for just such an event. I knew a change would be much easier on the Arkansas than it would be on the Mississippi so I found a suitable sandbar and nosed Detour over and put her fast to the bar. I made the necessary maintenance and we were back underway in under thirty minutes; my best time yet.
We entered the Arkansas Post Canal, the connection between the Arkansas and White rivers
and made our way to the the new Montgomery Point lock. It is interesting to note that there is no entry to the Mississippi from the Arkansas as a low-head dam is constructed across the mouth of the Arkansas to help maintain sufficient depth as you will remember from my posts on the trip up the Arkansas. The Montgomery Point lock was not mentioned in the upstream post five years ago because it was not completed. This lock is not used unless the water level is low other wise you simply proceed over the dam as if it didn't not exist. It reminded me of the "wicket" dams of the Ohio river south of
We entered the Arkansas Post Canal, the connection between the Arkansas and White rivers
and made our way to the the new Montgomery Point lock. It is interesting to note that there is no entry to the Mississippi from the Arkansas as a low-head dam is constructed across the mouth of the Arkansas to help maintain sufficient depth as you will remember from my posts on the trip up the Arkansas. The Montgomery Point lock was not mentioned in the upstream post five years ago because it was not completed. This lock is not used unless the water level is low other wise you simply proceed over the dam as if it didn't not exist. It reminded me of the "wicket" dams of the Ohio river south of Paduccha, Kentucky. Our interest in the new lock was soon overwhelmed by the ominous view of the mighty Mississippi.
