October 18, 2013 Birdsong Creek, TN

We were up around 8 am and ready to leave except there was a heavy blanket of fog.  Couldn't see 20 feet.  So we waited until it began to burn off around 9 am.  Southern Belle was anxious to leave so we jostled around to let her get out first and then we all managed to get up and running out the cove within a few minutes of each other. 

It was another peaceful lazy river day with only a single tow but increase in pleasure boat traffic.  It was a Friday so I guess long weekend were on the minds of many.

Arin E led us to Birdsong Creek where we were intending on anchoring for the night.  Our usual operation was to have us go in first and set the anchor and then everyone rafted off of us.  We have a large anchor and all chain so we pretty much stay where we drop the hook.

We entered the creek armed with directions from multiple cruising guides which directed us to make a turn to port after the second red buoy but that put us in very shallow water.  So we turned around and headed to the first little cove we passed coming in and promptly hit 3 feet of water.  We were able to back off but decided maybe this wasn't quite what the cruise guide authors meant.   So we were idling in the very narrow channel trying to figure out what to do.  Not so good.

Bob on Good Grief said he had good charts with depth contour lines and volunteered to lead the way.  He threaded his way through us and started up the very windy and narrow creek channel.  We were showing depths as low as 5 feet.  Not fun.  Arin E spotted a rather deep area near a little bay/cove about a mile up the creek.  So Bob led us there.  Our little forward looking depth sounder indicated a good area of water 8-13 feet deep.  Noting the apparent lack of current we orientated the boat to face into the southerly wind and dropped the anchor in 10 feet of water.  It immediately stuck in the thick mud and everyone else came along side.

Then, 30 minutes after we were all secure the boats swung 180 degrees into the current that wasn't there (I swear!).  and the wind simply vanished.  An affirmation of my startling skills weather predication skills.  Oh well. 

Luckily the anchor was stuck in very thick mud so we weren't  in any danger of dragging although the next morning we had literally swung around in a complete circle.   The windlass struggled getting the anchor and the 100 pounds of  mud off the bottom.  The mud was a large ball stuck on the flukes and Mary had to poke and pry at it until we gave up and lowered it into the water a little ways and simply dragged it along as we motored out the creek.  It washed it out pretty thoroughly.