Pickwick Lake

Day 74, October 14th, 2009

After leaving Wolf Island at 0800, we were faced with a heavy current against us as we got closer to the Pickwick Lock and Dam. When we entered the lock, we got ourselves into a bit of a pickle. We had difficulty getting tied to the lock wall but after a little fiddling around to our embarrassment we finally got settled. The lock marks the end of the up river struggle on the Tennessee River and now we enter the Tenn-Tom canal system. We'll now have the current with us for the next 450 miles to Mobile Alabama. All down hill from here. Just like the Kentucky Dam and Lock, on one side you have the stressful river system with the debris and high current and on then the gates open to the lock and you've arrived in this beautiful lake area with beautiful homes and it feels like paradise!!

We thought we would reach our destination that day around noon or shortly after, but what with the current and waiting for the lock etc. we didn't get out of the lock until almost 3:00 p.m. However, it was so lovely on the southern side of the lock that we were quite happy tootling along at 5.0 knots for another hour or so. We arrived at Lee Spry Boatyard around 4:00 p.m. and Lee Spry himself was on the dock to meet Twice 's Nice. They weren't on the dock for 5 minutes even when Lee and his fellas got Twice 's Nice into the slings and lifted her out onto the hard!! It looked like a good omen. To explain here a little - Paul had noticed a bit of an oil leak a couple of weeks ago. He'd changed the oil in the outdrive of his engine at Pebble and found water in the old oil and knew something had to be done. Fortunately there was another catamaran at Pebble and the guy Don had done similar work on his own. With help from Don, and e-mails to Rick Schultz of Sound Marine in Owen Sound, they were able to get on the phone to England and order parts from the Sonic dealer in Surrey. The parts would meet them at Lee Spry Boatyard! Anyway, Lee kindly allowed Periwinkle to tie up on his dock rather than anchor nearby. We all settled in for the night expecting action in the morning.