ORE 4

Monday

Last night, about 3 am, we were awakened by the sound of a coyote howling on the shore about 20 yards away from us.

Dawg and I both bathed in the lake this morning.

Might be the last of the clear water.

Rich arrived about 11:15, and we were waiting for him at KDM.

I called the lockmaster at Kentucky Lake Lock, and was told there were three tow boats and barges waiting. It would be several hours before we go lock through. We decided to go through the canal and out the Cumberland River. Got through immediately, and were on the Cumberland at 1:30.

There's 30 miles of nothing on the Cumberland between Barkley and the Ohio.

Got to the Smithland lock on the Ohio about 5 pm and the lockmaster told us it would be about 2.5 hours. We decided to anchor and spend the night behind a nearby island.

Tuesday morning as we motored out from behind the island, we were in 20 feet of water, when the depth alarm went off. Before I could stop, we hit a rock. Twenty feet to less than two feet in the blink of an eye. the current was strong, and holding us against the rock. Dawg and Rich used the boat hooks to try to push us off. Finally after using one motor, we were able to get free. We checked the props, and didn't see much damage, and so far, we're not sinking. Lucky for the crew, I was driving at the time, so there were no floggings.

Got to the Smithland lock about 9 am and had to wait on three barges to go through before us.

Through the lock at 11:30

Beautiful area of the country along the Ohio.

Tom, Dawg, Rich