Cochrane Cutoff

Sure could not ask for a better boating day. Weighed anchor at 8:00 a.m. Departed from Rattlesnake Bend at mile marker 224.1 Absolutely no wind and very little current on smooth water as we continued up the Tom-Big-Bee Waterway.
As mile marker information is often used in the blog an explanation might be helpful. Going upstream the markers indicate a higher number. later in the trip numbers will become smaller going downstream. Heflin Lock is located at 266.1
We had been following a tug traveling about the same speed. Watched him enter the lock pushing barges just one wide and two long. Tug captain said it would be ok if we joined him in the lock. Lock master approved and asked that we tie onto last floating bollard near the upstream gate on port side. Worked out great! Lifted 30' and as instructed left first to get clear of the tow. Out the gate we increased speed enough to stay well ahead of the tow. Continued to mile marker 287.4 and turned port into Cochrane Cutoff. Off the main channel, selected a spot in 6' of water and dropped anchor.
Total miles traveled today was 63.3 in 8.4 hours.