16 November 2010 1705L Docked at Midway Marina 34. 17’ .829N  88. 25’ .223W

55.9 miles and 3 locks covered today.  We left Grand Harbor Marina this morning at 0710L and started heading for the Whitten Lock in cold rain and wind, we are ready for some sun by now.  Three out the last four have been in the rain and clouds.  Good news, SUN forecast for the next few days so that’s good news for us southbound sailors. 

1150L Approaching Whitten Lock, this is the first of three we will make today, tension is high I think after our experience with the Pickwick lock, but we have no choice and charge forth into to mouth of this monster.  Whitten lock is the is the fourth-highest single lift lock in the United States, and raises and lowers barges (Sailboats) 84 feet.  We enter the lock prepared with our experience from the first one and tie off, one center cleat, and one stern, plus two new big fenders that push the boat off from the lock wall nicely.  I call the lock master set! (Military experience from lots of radio talk pays off in spades on this trip) He starts the locking process, the bollard is not sticking, you always have to look for sticking bollards, it’s not sticking, we start going down, wow,  WOW what a relief, we have this figured out.  We clear the Whitten lock at 1315L, and head for the Montgomery lock.  Had to wait a bit to get in. 

We move slowly from the lock and as we clear the lock we punch Surprise up to top speed heading for the next lock, the lock master calls down to us that he has called the Montgomery lock and he will be waiting on us.  We arrive at the next lock at 1350L  and begin the process of locking through once again, and once again it goes smoothly.  We clear the Montgomery lock at 1408, it’s only a 30’ drop, we push on, I am pushing Surprise to top speed to make the Rankin lock.  I have the RPMs at 3 grand, top is 3400, we are pushing that little 54 HP Yanmar for all she is worth to make the next lock we are running out of daylight and want to make the next lock, and move on to a place to stay for the night.  At 1500L we are approaching the Rankin Lock and clear the lock by 1650, we have to wait on a north bound tow.  Once again we pour on the power and make our dock at 1705L.  We dock at Midway Marina in 8.8 ft of water for the night.  We enjoy chicken cordon on blue, with rice for our dinner, and once again we want to turn in early, another long day behind us. 

I want to thank my followers, and also answer to a question about damaged gear.  No Damaged gear.  I had some advice from a fellow sailor who has made the trip numerous times he had recommended that I put life jackets over the fore and aft end of the mast to protect it if it hit the lock wall, I am not sure if he is Shaman or what, but his advice paid off.  So Thanks to Vance he saved my mast head from serious damage.  Anne if you read this please pass this on.  I talk to John and ask him to pass that on, but he is in Florida so might be a min before he sees Vance.  I have had lots of great advice from many folks at GTB and his bit on the jackets has paid off in spades.  

Ok, our plan is to make three more locks on 17 Nov, I hope to make 4 that would be great, but will take what we get.  As I look back on the trip so far, I regret not being able to spend more time and to have left sooner, there is no great fun than taking your time on a voyage and meeting and talking to fellow sailors.  Just tonight I meet a live aboard that was staying here, he has been here for the last 5 years having moved from Florida, the prices got to be too much for him.  It was great meeting a kindred spirit,  and hear of his travels, so much to be gleaned from old sailors, kind of like old Soldiers……..

To all my old Soldier friends, the last thing I did when I signed out was go to the barracks and talk to Soldiers, it just felt right, it very satisfying to talk those that I worked with for so long, to talk to them before I left in uniform for the last time.  I love Soldiers, it’s why I became an NCO, the privilege to work with Soldiers for so long, it doesn’t pay great in money, but I would never trade the feeling that I had as I walked away after talking to those Soldiers for the last time, for the last time as an NCO.  Ok, enough of that. 

I will leave you all with those thoughts

Capt. Bear 2230L  34. 17’ .829N  88. 25’ .223W      

 Cold and rainy