Bollard
At dinner in Demopolis
Our route was north south east west
The scenery for the day with lots of debris on shore
Bollard after the water was lowered.
We had dinner at the Demopolis Yacht Basin restaurant with Patsy and Ray off (PatsyRay) and Pete & Linda (Where’s Linda) and other new acquaintances.
We departed Demopolis Yacht Basin after a one night stay. We chose to be the 2nd wave out of the marina at 7:30 AM. There is quite a bit of debris floating forcing a close observation and dodging floating driftwood. We traveled 50 miles and one lock and arrived at Barron’s Landing around 1:00. With 5 boats setting anchor or rafting we were secured at 2:30, cocktails at 5:00 with Ted and Nancy aboard Aloha Friday who we rafted next to. Tom and Ted had a lot in common since they were both in the Seabees. I was fascinated with the fact that while in the Navy Ted worked with training dolphins.
I took some pictures for those of you who have not seen a bollard in a lock. There are usually only 12 bollards in a lock (6 each side). If we lock with several boats we generally rig both sides as you can’t be sure which side will be available. Tom drives the boat close enough to the wall for me to get a line around the bollard. Not always as easy as it sounds. I think we found the solution using a boat pole that Tom fabricated using some brackets and clamps. One end of the line is tied to a cleat. Leaving several feet of loose line, I then hook it to the end of the pole keeping the other end in my hand. I can wrap the line around the bollard without having to get so close to the lock wall.
But first things first; you must wear a life jacket. Once headed into the lock determine which side to use. When you get close enough to the bollard, check for snakes!!! Then proceed with the above.
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