Floating Bollards

Floating Bollard in the Lock Chamber on the
Cumberland River nearing Kentucky Lakes. 

They are rare on our journey using the Lock and Dam Systems. Usually, we drive into the lock chamber and tie to one of the chamber sidewalls directed by the Lockmaster. After entering the large lock, gates will close. Lock tenders come to our boat and throw down a line -- a rope to all you land lubbers. We must hold on to the line to keep our boat close to the wall and in position. Millions of gallons of water are moving into or out of the lock chamber depending on the river level. This floating bollard only requires throwing a line around the pin and floating up or down. 

In this photo we floated up 28 feet to the next river. The lock chamber opens at the opposite end and you drive into the river 28 feet higher than you entered the lock. The floating bollards require no lock tender personnel to throw a line and help you tend the line during your ride up or down. We threw a line around the pin and waited while the Lockmaster filled the chamber with 28 feet of water. The gate opened, and we unhooked from the floating bollard that floated with us to the next level. The Lockmaster will give a loud blast of the horn when the gate is completely open. We then unhook ourselves and drive out of the lock chamber. Into the river, to our next Lock and Dam. The Lock and Dam systems are maintained by the United States Army Corp of Engineers and no fees are collected for Recreational craft or Commercial traffic. Thanks for paying your taxes, because this is how the Lock and Dams are administered, by tax dollars with no charge to the users of the Lock and Dam System. We will use over 150-190 locks
during our Loop. 

We are in Tupelo, Mississippi, on the Tennessee Tombigbee River headed to Mobile Alabama. This stretch of our river journey has 12 Lock and Dams. This floating bollard is only the second in all the locks we have been through. 

Chip Ahoy

Chip Ahoy Nordic Tug 26 is traveling the Great Loop with us. 

Two Nordic Tug 26-footers follow the mother ship, the Still Waters 2. Two little Tugs like ducklings follow. The Gammel Dansk is the tortoise of the group. We have been allowed to lead the Looper Navy out of the Marina on occasion into the main channel of the river.  It was akin to being allowed to eat at the adult table at the Thanksgiving feast.

Motoring Upstream

Nordic Tug Gammel Dansk motoring upstream on the Tennessee River
near Bath Springs, Tennessee.

Note the current we are running against.

Our Rocking Boat at Tennessee State Park

Paris Landing, our boat, wind direction shift, still flying
our Washington State and Seahawks flags.

Sunrise in Paris

Ahhh...

Mary in Paris...

Mary has landed in Paris -- Paris Landing that is.

How are you gonna keep them on the Tug after they’ve seen Paree?!
Paris, Tennessee that is. We are on one the largest man-made lakes in the United States -- it is called Kentucky Lakes. It was created when the Tennessee Valley Authority built dams for hydro power electrification of the area. Check out the movie “Oh Brother Where Art Thou” with George Clooney -- it has a good soundtrack.

Kentucky Lake Lock and Dam

Watch the level of the water slowly rise in the lock chamber. 

This ride up was 56 feet to the next level of the river. Our Looper buddy boat is tied to a floating bollard. This requires only tying off to the bollard just one time as it floats up and down. Usually it requires tending lines or holding a line from the lock tender at the top of the chamber. 

Fellow Adventurers

The M/V CaBoots -- belonging to fellow adventurers,
from Helena, Montana, traveling with us on occasion.

They are headed to the Gulf of Mexico like we are. However, next they are headed to the Panama Canal and up the west coast to our former homeport of Anacortes, Washington -- and then they intend to head to Alaska.

Gammel Dansk Floating in Lock Chamber

Nordic Tug Gammel Dansk (Old Dane) floating in the lock chamber --
Mary tending the lines and fenders.

The Gammel Dansk has a wine cellar that now contains a wide mouth fruit jar of “Shine” and some Kentucky Bourbon. He haw!  However, Mary has banned me from sippin' rum, shine or Makers Mark bourbon while at the helm. We are traveling on Kentucky Lake. The Lake is 150 miles long. Nice, flat, no maddening current like the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. It will take three days of trawler speed to get to our destination:  Paris, Tennessee.
Will send photos next of the Eiffel Tower. 

St. Louis and the Gateway Arch

The Gammel Dansk arrives in St. Louis!

Passing Under the Eads Bridge, St. Louis

The tiny Gammel Dansk passing under the Eads Bridge. 

The Eads Bridge was built in 1874 by Andrew Carnegie. It was the world's first bridge constructed of steel. It is 6000 feet long, and connects St. Louis, Missouri, with East St. Louis, Illinois.

Barge Tow at Night -- Happy Halloween!

Barge tow at night on the Mississippi River.  Scary -- or is this just
Dan's view of barge traffic on the river?

Can I Borrow a Cup of Sugar?

The Gammel Dansk in the chamber with buddy Loopers -- sharing the
lock ride down to the lower river level.

Fall Colors Near Alton, Illinois

Fall colors along the Illinois side of the river as the Gammel Dansk
and crew head toward the lock at Alton, Illinois.

Bronze Settlers

Dan and Tori check out the cool bronze statue collection of settlers
complete with their horses and covered wagon.