9-21-16 We got us a convoy

We left Hoppie’s with four boats and a fifth not far behind.   We had a pretty uneventful trip. There are very few places to stop on this part of the Mississippi.  We knew we could tie up on a lock wall and the barges docked there and raft off of each other if need be.  When we arrived there was already one boat there.  We did some precision docking.  We came in last and with Scott’s skill at the wheel and lots of people on the dock we shoehorned our way between the first boat and a large cement pillar. Our dinghy was actually under Sanctuary’s anchor and our bow only had a little over a foot clearance.

Needless to say we used lots of line fore and aft to make sure we didn’t move.  The Corps of Engineers even let one of the boats tie up on the gas barge.  Two boats came in later and one had to tie off to a different barge but had to move at 6 am to let that barge out.  It was a happening place with 7 boats in a tiny space.

It was in the high 90’s and there was no shade and very little breeze.  We all sat on the gas barge in front of a sign saying don’t dock and keep off (but we had permission) It was the only place with a little shade.

At dinner time we fired up the generators until night to use our air conditioning to cool the boat down before bed.  We all slept well.