2007-10 Chickamauga Dam Creature, Tennessee
Ahoy All,
This week we're writing from the transient dock at a marina in Scottsboro, Alabama. We've spent the past five days cruising on our boat down the Tennessee River. Cruising 244 miles through Tellico Lake, Watts Bar Lake, Chickamauga Lake, and Nickajack Lake--currently we are on Guntersville Lake. The scenery has been beautiful with rolling hills and farmland, steep rocky cliffs, lots of trees, birds, and wildlife, and we have passed through four dam locks.
Speaking of locking through a dam--having never done it before, to say we were a bit apprehensive our first time would be an understatement! We had read all the books and knew how to set our fenders and what cleat to use to tie to the bollard post, and how to tie to the bollard post. But, we didn't have a clue what a bollard post looks like, and we had to tie the boat up to one! Dave had decided that when he called the lock master on the radio he would advise him that it was our first time going through a lock--this was no time to be macho!
As we approached Ft Loudon Lock Dave called on the radio and advised our intentions and then stated that this was our first time locking and we would appreciate any assistance he could provide us. The lock master responded back "No problem, this is my first day on the job also." Then after a brief pause he said "Hee hee hee, just kidding." He was most helpful and came right to the boat to make sure we were tied up correctly. His parting shot was "Do you want the regular locking or the tourist locking?" We were kind of dumbfounded and asked what the difference was. He said "The regular locking was slowly pumping the water out of the lock to drop us the seventy two feet; or he could give us the tourist locking where he would pop the gates open and we would surf right out of the lock!!!" This guy was a real card! But we all had a good laugh, and made it through to the river below quite safely and easily. The next three were much easier, and we're feeling like "old hands" at it now.
There is a story we have to pass on. While locking through Chickamauga Dam, Dave was sitting on the deck manning the rope tied to the center cleat. You must do this, as on rare occasions a bollard will hang up and could cause thousands of dollars of damage to your boat. If the bollard hangs up you must untie the boat quickly or cut your rope. Okay picture this--Dave is sitting on the edge of the deck with the lock wall passing about two feet in front of his face as the boat is slowly lowered down. Then up from the depths comes this thing that looks like a cross between a spider and a crab--hence the picture of the week.
This week we're writing from the transient dock at a marina in Scottsboro, Alabama. We've spent the past five days cruising on our boat down the Tennessee River. Cruising 244 miles through Tellico Lake, Watts Bar Lake, Chickamauga Lake, and Nickajack Lake--currently we are on Guntersville Lake. The scenery has been beautiful with rolling hills and farmland, steep rocky cliffs, lots of trees, birds, and wildlife, and we have passed through four dam locks.
Speaking of locking through a dam--having never done it before, to say we were a bit apprehensive our first time would be an understatement! We had read all the books and knew how to set our fenders and what cleat to use to tie to the bollard post, and how to tie to the bollard post. But, we didn't have a clue what a bollard post looks like, and we had to tie the boat up to one! Dave had decided that when he called the lock master on the radio he would advise him that it was our first time going through a lock--this was no time to be macho!
As we approached Ft Loudon Lock Dave called on the radio and advised our intentions and then stated that this was our first time locking and we would appreciate any assistance he could provide us. The lock master responded back "No problem, this is my first day on the job also." Then after a brief pause he said "Hee hee hee, just kidding." He was most helpful and came right to the boat to make sure we were tied up correctly. His parting shot was "Do you want the regular locking or the tourist locking?" We were kind of dumbfounded and asked what the difference was. He said "The regular locking was slowly pumping the water out of the lock to drop us the seventy two feet; or he could give us the tourist locking where he would pop the gates open and we would surf right out of the lock!!!" This guy was a real card! But we all had a good laugh, and made it through to the river below quite safely and easily. The next three were much easier, and we're feeling like "old hands" at it now.
There is a story we have to pass on. While locking through Chickamauga Dam, Dave was sitting on the deck manning the rope tied to the center cleat. You must do this, as on rare occasions a bollard will hang up and could cause thousands of dollars of damage to your boat. If the bollard hangs up you must untie the boat quickly or cut your rope. Okay picture this--Dave is sitting on the edge of the deck with the lock wall passing about two feet in front of his face as the boat is slowly lowered down. Then up from the depths comes this thing that looks like a cross between a spider and a crab--hence the picture of the week.
It was about three inches
across and as the boat was lowered it moved staying eye ball to eye ball with
Dave all the way down! Dave said, had that sucker jumped he would have had the boat
and everything else, because he was out of there!!
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns