10 November, 2019 Tennessee River--Happy 244th Birthday Marines

Late entry no connectivity t-mobile cellular internet

One tow, lots of Crows, 6.6 engine hours, 42.6 sm

38 degrees at breakfast clear no fog at anchorage in Lick creek mm 127.8  Coffee and yogurt for breakfast.  Used propane heater and was toasty.  Really a beautiful anchorage.  Deployed a stern anchor last night--tight confines with some obstacles in the water and did not want to swing.  Wisps of fog at 0700, retrieved stern anchor then bow anchor and we were U/W at 0720.  Just a magical exit through this narrow passage back to the main river.

The stuffing box (description) has started leaking more than I am comfortable with.  It is supposed to drip slightly--the water cools the packing around the prop shaft, but yesterday I noticed increased dripping.   Potential solution is to tighten the huge nut--if I had the tool big enough--I don't.  Static, it stops dripping which is a very good thing at anchor.  Continue to monitor.

Passed under Alvan C York bridge.   Alvin Cullum York, also known as Sergeant York, was one of the most decorated United States Army soldiers of World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking at least one machine gun, killing at least 25 enemy soldiers and capturing 132.  York

Approaching our planned anchorage, which was an oxbow area, one very talkative tow Captain saw us first on AIS—-yea.  He was rightly concerned that we were going to be in the same 90 degree narrow bend without enough room for both of us.  I replied via VHF radio we were going to go behind the island and anchor on the Right Descending Bank (RDB).  Reassured we continued.  But he called again and said if we were going to enter the bend we needed to hurry up our game because there was not room for both of us.  I could not go faster.  Again, I reassured the tow captain I was exiting the main channel and would be clear.  We both got it figured out and each went on with our business.  As we were setting the hook the Captain offered us a safe night on the river.

They don't stop quick, don't turn quick and take up the channel

Very few birds today.   It warmed up this afternoon with outside temperature of 64 degrees.  Winds steady SSW @ 10-12.  Mostly 2300 RPM today to make generally 7 MPH SOG.  Arrived in the vicinity of Swallow bluff island anchorage.  (map) Came up to dickey towhead deep water with 2 mph current.  Well off channel.  Anchored in 13’ at 1345.  Just a beautiful location with a good anchor set.  Boat and crew well.

Dickey Tow-head:  An alluvial deposit in a river, such as a sandbar, or a small island formed from silt, often permanent enough to have vegetation.

What a sunset and full moon rising at the anchorage.