October 8, 2013 Ohio River near Metropolis, IL

The precise area where we have anchored tonight  is here

We all managed to rise and begin departing by 8:30 am.  We with Arin E left last because we had the anchors down.  Finally got out in the channel to meet up with the others and we ran under the bridge and after a brief disorienting moment involving buoys we made the left turn up into the Ohio river.

Rain had fallen in the Tennessee Valley a few days before and it was a large amount.   Debris, both large and small was flying down the river on the punishing current so we were dodging around the whole day trying to avoid the large logs.  The current near the mouth was keeping our speed over the ground down around 5 mph even with the throttle near max.  It was a long day.

Up on the Ohio at the river junction is a very large fleeting area where barges are assembled or stashed for later use.  It took us several hours to clear out of there ... remember we were doing only 5 mph.

The Ohio was as muddy as Big Muddy,  And as wide and with currents just as fierce.  The only difference for us was orientation.  We were headed up stream.

Olmsted Lock

We finally reached Olmsted Lock , which is under construction and slated to replace the 2 existing locks number 52 and 53.  Here is where your supposed to call lock 53 on the radio which we did.  And  we discovered the damn was down and the lock was basically not there.  Well, its there but not functional. The high water levels essentially rendered the lock unnecessary.  We sailed right over the damn and could only see the lock wall posts.  The depths were in the 30 foot range.

Yes, this really is lock #53 but underwater

Since our progress was in the "creeping" range we picked an anchorage at mile 48.5 along the Kentucky side of the river.  Conflicting directions and landmarks made locating the exact area an inexact exercise.  But we found the general area and I went in with the forward looking sonar and found plenty of water.  We selected a spot laid out 125 feet of  chain and the snubber while the others waited in the channel.  The current was swift and it had the anchor chain pulled tight in a matter of seconds.  We wont be worrying about wind swinging us around tonight!

Field Trip coming alongside

Field Trip came in last and tried to lay out an anchor before backing alongside but the didn't work.  So for about 30 minutes all 4 boats were hanging off our anchor which appears to be able to handle the load.  But being cautious folk, Jeff launched his dinghy and took Field Trips anchor out and set it.  Then he and I started to take his anchor out but the outboard died  as we were making our way along the side of his boat!   Luckily, and I do mean LUCKILY we just caught the rub rail of his boat before the current could sweep the dinghy and us down stream.  Whew!  Close one.

Field Trip, Arin E taken from our bow

So with two anchors set we should be ok for tonight.  Although the swishing of the current past the boat is tad loud we aren't moving an inch so I'm hoping it'll be a good night for slumber.  I think I need the rest having acquired a cold which is rendering me hoarse within in hours.   The ensuing cocktail party did help though.

Tomorrow ... well it'll be up river somewhere.