Day 66 – Little Diversion Channel to Cumberland Towhead Island (upriver from Paducah, KY) - September 10, 2011

Today was our second very long day in a row at 106.8 miles – the first 48 were going with the current on the Mississippi and the remainder going against the current on the Ohio.  We got to “see” three locks on the Ohio River today.  I say “see” because the first lock we encountered is the Olmsted lock which is currently under construction.  So we got to look at it as we motored by.  Construction is expected to be complete sometime in 2013.  When the Olmsted Lock and Dam is complete it will take place of the other two locks we encountered today, Lock and Dam 53 and Lock and Dam 52.  I say encountered because we got to go right past both of these locks and did not have to lock through.  Both of these dams are wicket dams.  In times of high water, which the Ohio is experiencing right now, the wickets on the dam can be lowered and instead of locking through, you go right over the dam.  Yes, I said right over the dam.  However, without the signs and the lockmaster building telling you that you are passing a lock and dam (and a bit of turbulence), you would never even know the dam was there.

We have a new record for number of barges being pushed by a tow – the Carol McManus is the new leader at 34 barges.  She was pushing 7 wide and 5 deep, but missing one barge in the front corner for a total of 34 barges – amazing.

We had a beautiful anchorage at Cumberland Towhead Island with three other boats that we travelled with today.  We are all glad to be finished with the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and into the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers.

            Miles: 106.8    Bridges: 8        Locks: 2 (wickets down, passed over dams)

looking down the Lower Mississippi River just before
we turn onto the Ohio River

our first look up the Ohio River

The Olmsted Lock and Dam construction site.  The dark structures you see are
part of the dam.  They are assembled on land and then moved with the crane you
see in this picture (the light gray structure with the red wheel on top)

The first crane (from the above picture and in the left corner of this picture) moves
the dam parts into position for this second crane.  This second crane is on
barges and moves the dam piece into position in the river.  The red wheels on top operate
the mechanism that actually lifts the dam piece and hold it in place.

In the center of this picture you can see one of the dam pieces being
installed by the two large cranes.

this is the new lock structure

This is Lock and Dam 53.  All you can see of the lock is two round cement
bollards - everything else is underwater.

A picture of the Dam 53 - you can see where the dam is by where the
water changes from calm to turbulent.

Our new biggest tow and barges - the Carol McManus with 34 barges!

This is Lock and Dam 52.  Slightly more of the lock structure is visible than
at Lock and Dam 53.

The sign says it all.

turbulent water as we pass over Dam 53

the sunsets we see when we are at anchor are just amazing