2 September, 2021. Long day dodging river traffic and fighting current on the Ohio

54 SM; 10.5 hours and one lock

 Excellent and peaceful sleep at anchorage last night.  Cool and comfortable as temps dropped into the middle 50s.  Gentle rock as the Mississippi River traffic went about their business.  We would like to get to Paducah, KY tonight. We have to engage the Olmstead lock and dam on the Ohio.  It can be a long wait for commercial traffic, and with fighting a 2+ mph current we cannot make Paducah.  We want to get as far up river today due to a surge of water coming down from the upper Ohio valley from the recent heavy rains from storm Ida.  No flooding, but 3-4 foot river level rise with corresponding increasing currents.  

Weather reviews to include river stages, breakfast and prayers finished,  we fired up the diesel and hoisted the anchor at 0730 and raced down the Mississippi River the remaining 7.7 SM to the junction at Fort Defiance.

Looking east: junction of two great rivers

Serenity’s location just before we turn into the Ohio river

Into the Ohio, our 10+ mph speed over the ground slowed to 4-4.5 MPH and we realized it was going to be a long day.  The river is stacked both sides and in the middle with barges.  We passed under two major US highway 60/62 bridges over the Mississippi and Ohio rivers we have driven over many years.  Certainly a different view from the water looking up.

US 60 Mississippi

US 60 Ohio

Tows everywhere; up, down and left and right.  It was busy all the way today.

Two whistle pass

Large 4 story tow encountered on Mississippi/Ohio rivers

Grain harvest beginning to be loaded

We reached Olmstead lock about mid-day.  Both chambers were occupied with commercial traffic so we idle/maneuvered around for nearly an hour as there was no place to anchor or tie up easily.  Finally, lock master cleared us to approach the outside lock wall and secure and wait.  Cautiously in about 3 mph current racing through the nearby dam we approached the lock wall and secured Serenity.  Another 30 minute wait with engine off.  

So new, it still smells new

Finally, the lock chamber doors opened and we were give OK to enter.  Started up and motored 1000 yards and secured starboard side to inside the chamber.  Only about 2 foot lift!  Soon, forward chamber doors opened and we proceeded out into the most confused, stiff and swirling currents we have experienced exiting a lock.  At times I had to use cruise RPM to move, steering stop to stop to maintain a straight course until finally we cleared the lock area and re-entered the Ohio.  For the remainder of the afternoon, currents decreased some and we were making 5 MPH speed over ground.  Paducah still a ways ahead; GPS reporting at current speed we would arrive 45 minutes before sunset.  We pressed on dodging tows and debris in the water.  

We made it to the new Paducah city docks.  Excellent facilities off of the river.  Another boat at the docks directed us around to the inside, off of the river face and caught our lines.  All secure at 1830.  So glad to have this day behind us.  No google map—-apple and google have decided not to play nice on my phone tonight?  Kim’s city dock video

Tomorrow we will top off the diesel tanks.  Pretty sure I have enough, but still have about 60 miles of bucking an increasing downstream current, so why risk running out?  We will take an Uber to get groceries as it is too far to walk, then head back up river later in the afternoon to an anchorage off the Ohio.

6276 SM traveled; 2076.9 hours hobbs