Day 87, October 27th, 2009
We had thought Blue Heron was anchored pretty close to our anchor but when they told us they planned on getting underway at 7:00 the next morning we weren't concerned as that was our plan too. At 7:00 John started the engine but was concerned when he heard a "rumble". Blue Heron got their anchor up and planned and we waved goodbye. After about 30 minutes John had diagnosed the problem as a busted transmission cable. We called ahead to Demopolis Yacht Basin and spoke to the mechanic. He assured us that yes we could put the transmission into drive manually and we would not cause any damage. We explained our dilemma and he said they would watch out for our arrival. So we started the engine, John got the anchor up, I got the boat turned around with the help of the current there, meanwhile John dashed down below and pushed the lever down into the drive position and we were underway again.
It was really an uneventful day, raining off and on, watching out carefully for debris as there would be no easy way of putting the propeller into neutral quickly. We passed the white cliffs of Epes - pretty impressive, and just kept plodding along.
We arrived around 3:30. Called them on the radio to let them know and two guys kindly met us at the dock. John just stopped the engine, we coasted into the dock and the guys caught our lines and we stopped very quietly with no sweat. They'd hardly got us moved along out of the way and tied up before on the guys came on board and got the old cable out. The part was ordered right away and we were told it would be delivered the next morning. Very efficient. It would appear its rather an unusual part to break. However, dear old Periwinkle is not as young as she used to be and she sure has been faithful! Oh dear! I think its that age thing happening - I don't like thinking about that! Find it quite offensive!!
We had thought Blue Heron was anchored pretty close to our anchor but when they told us they planned on getting underway at 7:00 the next morning we weren't concerned as that was our plan too. At 7:00 John started the engine but was concerned when he heard a "rumble". Blue Heron got their anchor up and planned and we waved goodbye. After about 30 minutes John had diagnosed the problem as a busted transmission cable. We called ahead to Demopolis Yacht Basin and spoke to the mechanic. He assured us that yes we could put the transmission into drive manually and we would not cause any damage. We explained our dilemma and he said they would watch out for our arrival. So we started the engine, John got the anchor up, I got the boat turned around with the help of the current there, meanwhile John dashed down below and pushed the lever down into the drive position and we were underway again.
It was really an uneventful day, raining off and on, watching out carefully for debris as there would be no easy way of putting the propeller into neutral quickly. We passed the white cliffs of Epes - pretty impressive, and just kept plodding along.
We arrived around 3:30. Called them on the radio to let them know and two guys kindly met us at the dock. John just stopped the engine, we coasted into the dock and the guys caught our lines and we stopped very quietly with no sweat. They'd hardly got us moved along out of the way and tied up before on the guys came on board and got the old cable out. The part was ordered right away and we were told it would be delivered the next morning. Very efficient. It would appear its rather an unusual part to break. However, dear old Periwinkle is not as young as she used to be and she sure has been faithful! Oh dear! I think its that age thing happening - I don't like thinking about that! Find it quite offensive!!
You will see from the first photo, we are tied up on the gas dock at the far end on the right hand side. On the left a tow boat is refuelling. It took a while! They were also reprovisioning. A whole mass of groceries arrived. You could sneak a peak in some of the open doors. There was a very comfortable, clean and tidy bedroom towards the bow, with a very pretty blue quilt on the bed. They have an on board cook. It was pretty noisy with the generator running the whole time. We were rather glad when they took off after dark with lots of lights to find their way. You will see in the photo those big yellow steel supports they are tied to. They are enormous - so high to deal with the flood conditions that prevail from time to time.
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