Columbus Marina

Another wonderful day on the water! Pulled anchor at Cochrane Cutoff after a very calm night.
Traveled to Bevill Lock at mile 306.8, was lifted 30 feet. Continued to Stennis Lock at mile 334.7,
lifted 27 feet.  Turned starboard at mile 335. Notice that was just .3 mile, immediately above the lock.
Easy 6.5 hour trip today. Secure at the marina where we will stay for another day.

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.

Rattlesnake Bend

Hard to believe a week has gone by since the last blog entry. We have been working on various things that were still not quite right. Including health issues. Finally the 4 mcgees are all feeling good at the same time! Apparently age is beginning to show. Yesterday was first day of summer and longest day of the year. Went shopping for groceries in preparation to travel. Everything seemed ok, so today June 22nd we released Dream Manor from the dock for the first time in a long while. Felt almost like a maiden voyage as we left the Kingfisher Marina and proceeded up the Tom-Big-Bee water way. Didn't leave dock until 4:00 p.m. intending to go only as far as Rattlesnake Bend to anchor for the night. Short trip was uneventful except the sticking throttle on starboard engine. Good ole W-40 saved the day. After lubricating several cable points it took about 30 minutes for cable to get free. Should be ready for 60 mile trip planned for tomorrow! 

Refrigerator

June 15 & 16 were busy days working on the refrigerator. It is a side by side Whirlpool located in a special spot! That is to say there is very little clearance on the sides and top. In order to slide it out for access to the back is a challenge. Guard rails have to be removed that provide hand assistance down the four steps from the galley to the bedrooms. Much trouble shooting was done in an effort to determine why it stopped making ice. In order to make tea, ice is critical. Replaced the filter which did not solve the problem. Of course the tattle-tell light would not reset to green. Still blinks yellow. Removed the ice making tray and took it to a local dealer to see what we might learn. Thermostat was by-passed to watch it operate indicating it should be functional. Reinstalled and performed bypass check. No water came into the tray. Figured now it may be the electro-magnetic dual water inlet valve. Water flows ok from the drinking side but not to the icemaker. Ordered a new tray and inlet valve assembly. Cleaned coils and vacuumed from behind the refrigerator. At one point I (Allen) slipped in the unguarded stairway removing some skin from left elbow and small gash created on outside area of the left big toe. After cleaning up some blood and getting kinks out of the old joints, new repair parts were installed. Bypassed thermostat in the new ice tray to put it thru the water cycle. Low and behold no water! At this point Brother and I are nearly exhausted. Watching the icemaker cycle and using a flashlight to see fill tube at back of the unit, Brother finally observed a small piece of ice at the end of the fill line. Stopped running the refrigerator for a few minutes and the piece of ice fell out. Put icemaker back through the test and of all things water flowed easily into the tray! Put the refrigerator back into operation and very soon ice was being made! Moved refrigerator back into its home and installed the precious guard rails. I have always maintained that education costs! This was just a two hundred dollar training program! Glad we didn't think of any more parts to replace.


June 17 (today), we drove to Meridian, MS for lunch. Did some shopping and returned to Demopolis, AL. Received the chart plotter we had to replace. UPS delivered it to the marina about 2:30 pm.
Barring any more issues, it is our intention to make grocery run and do laundry tomorrow.


A fast moving storm blew through lasting about an hour. It got very dark, windy and hard rain poured for a short time this afternoon. Rocked the boat, but nothing exceptional. Picture on our chart plotter radar shows most of the storm has passed.


Planning to start traveling upriver on Sunday. It is time to hear the diesels run!


 

June 13-14, 2016

Bobbie is being taught to wear a life vest. She really likes to run around on the boat! this causes concern about the possibility she might fall off or jump into the water.

June 12, 2016

Sunday was obviously a day of rest as we only managed to go eat lunch.
Maryann did go to church. Later took dog to a fenced play area and then went to hospital to visit a friend.
Spent some time watching news about the horrible shooting in Orlando, FL.


That grew old rather quickly and we switched to watching movies.


Still studying on best way to put photos on the blog. Below are additional pictures of the marina.

Spring 2016

It has been so long since I created a post, this is like learning all over.


Keith and Maryann arrived in Demopolis, AL on May 21, 2016. Dream Manor spent the winter in a slip in the Kingfisher Bay Marina. This makes the second year the boat has been kept here.Took some preparations to get the boat ready so they could stay on it. Most necessary was filling the fresh water tank. Having traveled on land for about three weeks they were ready to take a break.


Allen and Carol joined them on the boat May 26, 2016. The 4 mcgees are now together and the cleaning really begins in earnest. Having no attention over the winter spiders had really made a lot of messes. Mud-daubers had nests in various places and kept us on edge as disturbing them can cause attacks. Contrary to what some people say, it does hurt when they sting into the skin of these old folks and swelling does occur. Of course it takes many days to accomplish what we once did in a single day.


It has been an all out effort to get everything fixed in preparation to travel this summer. There were two exterior lights that had to be replaced. Radio on the stern had to be replaced and the radio control on the bow needed to be replaced. That involved quite a study to figure a way to pull new wiring. I say these things had to be done, but in reality we wanted them done. At some point the diesel engines were started to make sure batteries were okay and the engines would indeed start after setting for an extended period of time. Also checked out the generator. Got new gasoline for the Honda engine on the dingy. Added air to the inflatable tubes on the dingy and set it in the water. Engine ran okay. This also provided an opportunity to check the davit. Let out plenty of cable and wiped it with WD-40 so it would coil more freely. One of the fenders had deteriorated beyond any use. Replaced it and then after an extensive search discovered we did not have any line available for the fended. Line now on order. Of course any of the things done either required ordering off the internet and or making trips into town looking for supplies. Discovered the chart plotter on the fly bridge won't turn on. Tried several things in trouble shooting the problem. Finally decided it just would not work. Sent it in to be repaired or exchanged. So here we are June 11th still waiting for a chart plotter. Looks like it may be late next week before we are satisfied everything works and the trip up the Tom-Big-Bee begins.


In the meantime Keith and Maryann celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 6th.
Carol and Allen celebrated their 53rd anniversary today, June 11th.