November 15, 2009

November 15, 2009

Columbus, MS (mm 335) to Sumter Recreation Anchorage (mm 270)

Happy Birthday, Joe!

We were up and out of the marina at 6:50 – GOOD MORNING!!! We had been monitoring the working channel for the lock & dam and knew that they would be ready for us at 7:00 as we were the second group of boats to leave the marina. We were secure in the Stennis Lock & Dam and then waited. Eventually five more boats joined us – in fact the gates were closed once, but one more boat called the lock before the pumps started. Anyway, we finally got out of the lock at 8:00. This is one of the locks where they collect registration numbers, starting and ending ports, length and width of the boat.

We are traveling in a convoy and three of us hope to get to Sumter Recreational area by 3:00. This is a well-protected anchorage, but has been reported to have silted in at the entrance. The water is still above normal pool so we are hoping we can get in and that the water doesn’t drop too much. We traveled at an easy 8.5 knots, slowed for working barges, fishing boats, and for taking pictures of eagles and cormorants. The Bevill Lock & Dam was ready and waiting on us so we were in and out in a half hour. Because of that we arrived at our anchorage a little ahead of time and were settled by 3:00.

We were fortunate and our anchor caught right away and then we set a stern anchor. Magnolia and Biddi & the Beast had a bit more trouble so Mark got in the kayak and went over to both boats and offered to help set their second anchors. What a guy. Magnolia’s second anchor was so big and heavy that I was poised to take Mark’s picture thinking he might take a spill. But he managed just fine and then went exploring. By that time Port was wondering where he was going in the kayak without him.

I have to tell y’all that I was nearly the one to take a spill in the kayak today. After Mark returned, Port and I got into the kayak and made our way to the boat ramp that also had a small cement dock off to the side. Oh good – a place to let Port off without having muddy feet to contend with. I brought the kayak up to the cement dock that was about a foot higher than the kayak and grabbed a cleat. Port was off and into the bushes. Then it was my turn to get off. Yep – you guessed it. I still had hold of the cleat and managed to get one leg on the dock and then things got a little funky. (I thought I could get out on the dock like Mark gets out on the swim platform). WRONG! Before I knew it, I had right leg and arm on the dock and left leg and arm in the kayak trying to keep the kayak from flipping and my BUTT was in the water. Words cannot explain how silly this must have looked. I really didn’t want to get any more wet so somehow I managed to pull the kayak back in under my backside. After regrouping, I was able to disembark without further incident.