Nov 2 Bay Springs Anchorage to Midway Marina

Nov 2


Two quick stories before I begin.  Number 1 - Before starting the loop we collected a set of previously used chartbooks.  Our set for the  Tenn-Tom was used 2 years ago and the owner did a good job of listing dates and times he passed various points.  Surprisingly, we are on his exact same schedule matching each date and location.   He made an interesting note in the side of the chartbook – “ Do not travel  until the fog clears and you can see for 1 mile”.     Number 2 – Can’t even remember where we were, but I sure should have bought the T-shirt we saw.  Printed on it was “Bad choices make great stories”.  


 So today we (I) made a bad choice and didn’t heed the warning in the chartbook and left our anchorage early in the fog.  With the lock opening for pleasure craft at 8 AM or noon I was determined to get through the morning opening so we could get docked early, relax a bit and listen to Clemson football.   There was fog in our cove but it didn’t seem too bad.   Should have recognized the bad omen when as I was washing the mud off the raised anchor the water was freezing on the deck making them super slippery.  Luckily, not falls and I made it to the flybridge safely.  Anyway, we headed out knowing 3 other boats at a marina were coming down a creek across the river for the same lockage.   We called the lockmaster and he confirmed he had a small tow he was lifting but would be ready for us at 8.  We headed out onto the river only to be consumed by a wall of fog. I’m talking complete white-out.  Disorienting, absolute zero visibility.  Complete navigation by electronics – chartplotter and radar. Idle speed was way too fast - inch up a bit and then back to neutral.  Headed for a couple of mooring cells to hide behind until the lockmaster got on the radio and said he was letting the tow out– be sure and get out of the channel.  We were already as far off to the side as possible and using the cell as our only visible bearing point.  Siren sounded to let us know the gates had opened. Never saw the tow at all as he passed.  Not even his running lights.  Then he said come on in slowly.  The other 3 boats were ahead of us.  It wasn’t until I was almost at the lock entrance walls that I finally saw a “ghost” ship just off my starboard.  Back to neutral as he quickly was enveloped in fog again. All four of us finally got secured but visibility was so limited I couldn’t even see the 2 boats at the front of the lock. Sort of eerie watching fog materialize and rise  off the warm wet concrete walls of the lock as we were being lowered 84’.  

There's another boat in front of the one you barely see

Comparison shot from later in the day

We exited and traveled another few miles at idle speed down to the next lock.   The fog seemed to be breaking up but then we hit open water for the last mile which swallowed us in fog again.  

Things were getting better then we headed into another fog bank at the  second lock

There was a northbound tow who had tied to the wall of the lock during the night. He was still waiting for the fog to dissipate before moving and was blocking our entrance. We waited patiently and suddenly within 15 minutes all the fog was gone. Two hours of nerve-wracking tensions until 10 AM and then POOF – all gone!

Fog suddenly just about gone as the tow starts moving.

 The sun came out, the tow started his trip, we entered the lock and had an uneventful rest of the trip through one more lock and arrived at Midway Marina by 12:30.    Hindsight is an odd thing.    Several other boats anchored in our general area waited out the fog and caught the noon opening – getting through the locks without issue and arriving at the marina drama free at 4:00.   Drama free,  but without a great story to tell.

Once the fog lifted it was a nice sunny but cool  day

We had another boating milestone today.  Martha captained the boat into the 3rd lock  and laid it smoothly against the wall  right at our planned stop at the second bollard where John  was able to easily just loop  and secure the line.  Piece of cake - looked like a pro.

Journey for Nov 2