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I have to agree with Todd's post. Current on the Mississippi can change
drastically from one bend to the next, from one bank to the next and from
one hour to the next. Jane and I have made several such trips in both
directions and I can report very 'general' findings but we have learned that
we can predict our arrival times at various docks and anchorages with some
degree of accuracy.
We have found that when you exit the TN (which by the way is about an hour
shorter for us than the Cumberland) (We used the Cumberland last fall cause
KY Dam was closed for repairs) onto the Ohio at Paducah, you will generally
pick up about 2-3Kts. When you turn up the MS you should count on losing 4
to 5-kts, I don't think we have ever lost less than 4 but we usually make
this up bound trip in late April early May. This year we will be coming up
in early to mid may and it could be different. Last fall on the down bound
leg in mid Oct, the current was exceptionally swift and (running at our
normal 1600 rpm) there were a few times that gps was showing us moving at up
to 15 kts. Heck, Jane even took a picture of the GPS. That's really
something for us 8 kt trawler types.
When we make the turn onto the MS, we usually bump it up to around 1750 rpm
to try to make some time back. Seems like we always have a tighter schedule
in the spring than in the fall. Still over the years we seem to average
about 1.7 mpg over the entire trek down and back
A few tricks we have learned:
Coming up, favor the inside of bends and turns as the swifter current is
usually along the outer banks but if the charts show wing dams then we have
learned that you tend to get knocked off course a bit more when crossing the
current they create (don't get too close). In the spring, the eddies seem
more visible but if there is ever a doubt stay well inside the buoy line.
The CG Cutter Chippewa works the area from her home port in Paris Landing up
to somewhere (can't remember right now) below Hoppie's Marina and you
absolutely cannot depend on the channel markers being where they are
supposed to be. Last I knew, they make the trip about once a month but I
might be wrong about this. We generally see them once each trip resetting
buoys along the way.
I don't know how fast you intend to travel but there could be lots of trash
to dodge so it may not be too good a plan to travel at night. Don't be
surprised to see RR ties, whole trees, 55 gal drums and tires with the
wheels still in them. On the way down last year, a tow driver had come off
the MO river and was reporting a blue Chevy he had seen still floating. No
I am not making this up.
There are a number of good anchorages that we have found along the way.
Charts are on the boat so I can't tell you about all of them but three I do
remember are; Buffalo Bar MM7 is a quite island with plenty of water and a
good place to tuck in if you are running late in leaving, don't remember
the mm but there is an island just below Tower Rock that is wide and flat
with an easy entrance (we always back out the same way we got in so I am not
sure of the depth or any bars at the upstream side).
What's your range? If you can't get all the way to Hoppie's from Green
Turtle, then you will have to stop in Chillicothe at Kidd's. Only open by
appt. and unless you arrive late you cannot even stay on the fuel dock. We
have never stopped there. It's on the west bank and they may have had some
recent flooding so who knows.
The really barren part of the trip is from Green Turtle to Hoppie's. After
that services are fairly plentiful. You will also begin to gain back some
of your lost speed when you hit the IL river. It will take a while maybe
ten miles or so but you will notice the current slowing considerably.
Alton has a new marina and we stayed there for the first time last fall.
Nice. Mel's at mm 21 is a good overnight. No facilities, just a courtesy
dock for the restaurant but a great meal. Tall Timbers marina mm?? has had
some shoaling problems and we have been unable to get in there our last two
trips. We are 48' and draw 4.5 and are about the biggest and deepest Tall
Timbers can handle. Just phone ahead, it's in the Quimby's.
I have probably told you more than you wanted to know and caused undue
boredom to most of the list. If anyone else would like any other info, feel
free to look at www.seaplanetearth.com or email me off list.
As usual, I am not a cruise director and YMMV.
Greg & Jane Bowers
Heart of Gold
http://www.seaplanetearth.com/
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