Lesson learned

Lessons learned. 1. Check out anchoring area. Was anchored in 8 foot of water but wondered over into 3 feet and was aground hard by morning.
2. Have both center board and rudders up when anchoring so that when or if you go a ground the boat will set is bottom on the sand and not break a board.
3. Listen to the advice of locals.
4. Have plenty of supplies because there are not many places to get supplies.
5. Take plenty of gas. It would have been more comfortable to have 24 gal instead of just 18.
6.The only trouble we had on the trip was going aground, so a shovel would have helped instead of bare hands, large spoon and cereal bowl to dig with.
7.I do have a 18 hp Nissan motor that performed perfectly, maybe a 25 would have been better. 8.Spring may not be the best time for this trip because of the spring rains and snow melt up north.
9. It would have been fun to have others go on the same trip with us.
10. I would do it again.
450 miles in a sail boat is a long ways.

True our goal was 1500 miles, but we had a blast and that is what matters. We are high on life right now, and looking foward to our next adventure.

Some last shots

Here are some shot of the last days on the river.

The goose followed us for about a mile on the river and kept flying at the boat.

Here is Washburns retirement place with the over look from the sign toward the lake.

The dock where the boat is here is much different than when we went down the river. On the way down the river the boat was level with the dock and the short docks were not even visible, big drop of about 5 feet. We are in Branson for the night.

The last lock we entered was like the twilight Zone. When the gates closed we waited and waited to be raised 42 feet. Some bath tub.

off the river

In Jasper Ak. having lunch. Headed to Branson to see the Noah show. Have a surprise for Warshurn's. Try to post pic later. Thanks to Don and Marilyn for all the help while we were here. This was a real great adventure.

gary and bj

Past Toad Suck Ferry

Had a good day today. Motor-sailed most of the day. Current of the river is about 5.5 mph due to the rain yesterday. Can make from 3.5 mph with motor to about 5.5 mph with the motor and sail and the same rpm of the motor. Hope for good winds tomorrow because there is no gas from here on. gps cor. n 35 06.444 w 92 32.816. Destination is the starting point in the next two days. Made 35 miles today. 60 left.
In God we trust.
Gary and BJ

Rain day

It has been raining all day long with no let up. Stayed put for the day and hope to travel tomorrow. Thanks Rick and Vic for the up date on the Nortons.
Just trying to stay warm and dry. Have not left the cabin all day. Just having fun with my Honey. Happy Easter to all.
Happy BD to Cale again.
In God we trust.
Gary and BJ

north of little rock

We are now north of Little rock. We are trying to get up stream as much as possible to avoid more storms that may be here tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Easter. We will worship Him tomorrow for He has risen and has grace for all.

Happy birthday to Cale. He is nine tomorrow.

This is one of the barges that has delayed our progress from day to day. Waited 1.5 hours today for this barge to clear the lock. Then after he cleared the lock he went a ground just past the dam and lock. This is the one that said "I'm the tug".

Gary

Survived the tornadoes

4/11/09

That storm front, that marched across Arkansas, thursday nite, was pretty awesome. We got anchored as best we could, off to the side of the river, and double & triple tied lines on sails and anything we could find to tie everything down. Then we removed all glass and breakable stuff from up top, like the solar charger, and lantern, and instruments. I mentioned at the last minute that I was worried about the 2 front windows over our bed, and whether they could stand up with the hail, and Gary said oh yeah, well lets tie the seat cushion preservers on them, and I grabbed the duct tape. Naturally, we did both, and it did work, cause the windows were saved during the hail we did get. Also got heavy rain with the hail for about 10 minutes, and lots of heavy wind, but no tornadoes. Boy was it noisy in there! God spared us!

Yesterday was still so windy, we decided to take a day off, and save the battering, and extra gas consumption of going upstream to water and wind both. Watched DVD's all day. Sorry we were in a bad cell phone area, so no calls, and no blog.

This morning we got up to sunshine and light winds, so we headed out to Little Rock, about 15 miles. As I was getting the inside ready to travel, and Gary was doing the outside, I ask once why he was moving all that stuff on the back, with no answer at the time. latter he told me he had a snake back there by the motor on the boat, and after that one left, he checked to make sure he didn't have any friends with him. Euuuwwww

Another funny thing happened at the first lock today. We were waiting for this monster tug & barge rig to get thru the lock coming our way, so then we could go thru. And when this happens we have to doodle around on the land side water, inside arm of the lock, instead of out in the spillway and damn water. So we doodled for 1 1/2 hr, and then a voice on the radio called "that little sailboat" and told us to just scoot on in the lock cause the tug was coming out. And Gary replied "ok, as soon as the tug gets out of there"(thinking it was the lock master). And then the voice boomed "I AM THE TUG! We laughed so hard, our sides hurt. First it reminded me what it must feel like if God to spoke to us, and next I thought about that joke with the captain telling the light up ahead to bear off his course. And the light saying no you bear off, and then the ship captain saying "I am so & so, and I comand you to choose another course." And the light coming back with, "THIS IS THE LIGHTHOUSE, AND ADVISE YOU TO CHANGE YOUR COURSE!"

Ok, enough for me, this was my first time to enter. Gary finially trusted me.. hahaha

He will add the picutre of the windows with the cushions taped on.

love to all, and its ok to comment on these blogs. Love to hear from home Vickii.

Back at Captains Mikes marina

What a character he is. Some great stories. Stayed at n34 12.743 w 91 48.597 for you gps buffs.
Now at at miles 71. Weather has been very windy and come cold so stayed put for a day instead of only making 2 mph up stream. No phones or tv so watched some dvd's. Weather today is very nice, sailed a lot today up steam. The last two days have been great weather. Yesterday we had a head wind all day so motored a lot. River curent is not as great today. Still have about 200 miles to travel upstream. The destination has change for the great adventure but the adventure is going on and changes from day to day.
Tomorrow is going to be rainy and storms. Maximun per day is 30 to 40 miles, weather permitting and of we don,t sleep in too long. Out challenge daily is to find gas. If you run out it would be curtains
Thanks for keeping track of on the trip.
In God we Trust
Gary and BJ

Hit the Mississippi today

We hit the Miss. today. Very rough water. We even shot over a dam today because the water is so high just before getting on the Mississippi. All advice is not to go down because the water keeps rising and we don't know if we can motor back up. But we did go out on the Miss. and went up stream from the White river. Every thing is fine here. Saw a live armadilla tonight in the park, and a live snake on the ledge where we are tied up. Will start back up stream tomorrow, but it will be slow going because of the high water.

long time no hear from

Hello all.wed and thrus. went trough Little Rock, had train tressles and bridges that had to be raised. Several locks. Coast guard came after us thinking we were in destress. We said no just too low a bridge. met some very nice people with good advice and good stories, Particular Captain Mike.

Answer to Jim W. Had to use hands, large spoon, and ceral bowl, and then in the last hour a fisherman came with a shovel and let us use it.

If we dont blog daily it is because we cant get towers. We are fine, having a blast on our own Survivor Trip. Thursday was thunder storms and rain. Doing some sailing with motoring most days. Tonight we are 14 miles from the Mississippi.

Due to flooding on the Miss. we have to decide whether to keep going or not. Our plan is to go on atleast to Vicksburg and then we may have to return.