26 Oct 17

Fall is well advanced around here; it was 45F this morning, but clear and calm. The leaves are finally starting to show some indications that the fall change is imminent. We got up and underway with “Islandia” before 09:00, cleared the Southern Railway lift bridge and were off downriver toward Wheeler Lock. The wind was SW, but very light, so the lake was smooth and pleasant. We got to Wheeler Lock at 12:25 and the lock operator had the gates open for us. We arrived just upstream of Wilson Lock, which is still undergoing maintenance daily between 06:00 and 18:00, at 14:35. It is 95’ deep upstream of the dam, so we could not anchor; we just drifted until 15:30, when the lock operator called us on the radio and advised we could come on in. By then, there were 5 pleasure craft waiting to lock down. After the upper gate closed, we were lowered 97 feet to the level of Pickwick Lake. After the short run down the channel, we were tied up at Florence Harbor Marina just after 17:00. Just as we got tied up, the “American Queen” (a replica, steam-powered stern-wheeler river-boat) started playing their steam calliope and blew the whistle indicating they were getting underway downriver. Happy hour and dinner aboard, followed by a sing-along with Bob and Diane, as well as new friends, Joe and Pam, from “Tasteful Traveler”, a Nordic Tug 42 that was with us in the Wilson Lock

34-47.162’N, 087-40.418’W; Log = 40.2, Sum (2017) = 2984.9 N-m