10/24/2010 BELLEFONTE ANCHORAGE TO DITTO LANDING MARINA, AL

TENNESSEE RIVER FOLIAGE

SUNDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY:  46 NM

Since we didn’t set the aft anchor the second time last night, we had a huge mess this morning. The thick mud was caked on inches thick. Dan got down on the swim step with it and had to scrape the gunk off, rinse and scrape some more.

Back on the road, or rather water, we were revisiting the sights we saw heading to Chattanooga. Going in this direction we did see things we missed though. This beauty was at the entrance to Roseberry Creek at MM 382.3.

OUTSTANDING!

We approached the Guntersville Lock, contacted the lock master and were given the bad news that a tow and barges were going to be locking up and our wait would probably be a couple of hours. Dan asked if we could tie up to the small lock wall for the duration and given the OK. So with wind now blowing, we maneuvered over there, tied up and sat down for a leisurely lunch.

WIND ROUGH WATERS AT DAM

“Cap’n on the Quest, this is the Guntersville Lock. Cap’n, I am really sorry but I think I need you to move. This tow comin’ has empty barges and I’m a thinkin’ ya’all might be in be in the wrong place if one of ‘em gets loose in this wind.” So we moved!!

GUNTERSVILLE LOCK AND DAM

They brought the nine barges out with no mishaps and dropped the water back down to fetch the tow. And still we waited. Such a good exercise in patience. However, by 3:00 we had cleared the lock and were streaking towards the marina. OK, so maybe that’s a gross exaggeration since, as all of you previous Quest travelers know, we don’t ever go real fast.

WILLIAM HANK TOW PUSHING HIS BARGE

We got to see the beautiful Painted Bluff again, this time from another direction. Still breathtaking!

PAINTED BLUFF

As we pulled up to the fuel dock at Ditto Landing Marina, Roger and C.J. from Sea Jay came to assist and greet us. We had first met them in Kimmswick, IL at Hoppi’s Marina where Fern had educated us on the “ins and outs” of the rivers and locks to Mobile. We had also seen them when we laid-over in Green Turtle Bay. Always good to see familiar faces and boats.

HUNTSVILLE SUNSET

Expecting some thunderstorms, we tied up with extra care. Good thing!! The rain came down most of the night, from light sprinkled to a deluge. The thunder and lightning came and went, snapping oh so close then rumbling off in the distance. At one time, the power went off causing our power alert alarms to shriek their warnings.