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The following is
a short log of my trip on the m/v G L FURR. I would like to thank Bruce Darst at
AEP, Captain Dale Wallace, and the crew of the m/v G. L. FURR for their
hospitality.
10/28/05, time 1620 hrs, mile 317 Ohio River
Boarded the G L FURR at McGinnis Inc.
Here's the boss man himself in the jacket, Captain Dale Wallace
I ain't saying who the short bald headed dude is!
Shortly after I boarded we dropped down to the lower fleet and McGinnis' fuel
flat came along side to load off fuel to us.
We arrived at the Greenup locks (mile 341) at 2300 hrs. Shutout fog caused us
to tie off at the upper cells along side the m/v Marathon and wait till it burn
off the next morning.
10/20/05 At 1340 hrs we finally got our turn to lock through.
Finally headed South at 1445 hrs
Here's Bill Boyd handling the stern line.
10/30/05, Meldahl Locks (mile 436) got caught in fog again with the m/v
Marathon.
Finally started locking at 1010 hrs and headed South at
1050 hrs
At mile 469 we are approaching Cincinnati, Ohio. A surprise visitor from New
Orleans is the excursion stern wheeler Natchez.
Here's the Cincinnati Red's Great American Ball Park at mile 470.5
Mile 531.5, Markland Locks Locked 2315 hrs, out 0000 hrs
While checking out the lower engine room, i discover a small
leak coming from the packing tube on the port shaft. Speculation as to go into
dry-dock or not. Port Engineer will check it out in Paducah.
 10/31/05, 0805 hrs We are sitting in the Louisville & Portland Canal at
Louisville Kentucky waiting our turn to lock through McAlpine Locks.
Here's who we were waiting on, the triple screw boat m/v W W DYER.
11/01/05, 0040 hrs We lock through Cannelton Locks (mile 721) Yes the time is
right, the photo is from a trip back in April. Headed South at 0115 and delivered
15 loads at Rockport Plant and picked up 15 empties at 0420, mile 744. Finished
at 0555
The main chamber was down for repair at the Newburgh Locks
(mile 776) so there was a long delay there. Using the small chamber, a tow
longer than 600 feet has to double lock. We arrived there at 1300 hrs and
finally got our turn to lock through at 0400 hrs the next day. We reached J. T.
Meyers Locks (mile 846) at 1255 hrs and headed on South at 1325 hrs.
We made Smithland Locks (mile 918.5) and locked through at 2000 hrs, finished
at 2035 hrs
This is another photo from the April trip. If you're
following the story, you'll recall we're now pushing empties and at 2000 hrs in
November, it's dark.
11/02/05, 2300 hrs Arrival at Lock 52 (mile 938.9). Don't be fooled by
the bridge in the background. Lock 52 is an old wicket dam and it's between the
bridge and us. It was a windy day, but Scott laid the tow right between the bull
noses perfectly.
Here's the view of the wicket dam from the lock. If you're coming down river,
you can't see the dam until it's too late.
Here's a view as we pulled out of lock 52 at 1651 hrs 11/03/05.
11/03/05 mile 947 We drop the empties at Cook Coal Terminal and pickup 7
loads and 6 MTS empties. It doesn't take them long to load a 1500 ton capacity
hopper.
It was decided the day before that we will go into dry-dock to check out the
leak. We are to take our tow back up to Paducah and wait the m/v CAPT. JOHN
REYNOLDS to exchange the tow while we go into dock for repairs. After all was
said and done we finally made the exchange at mile 932, 1730 hrs on 11/04/05.
11/04/04, mile 4 Tennessee River, 1850 hrs Arrived at Paducah dry-dock for
repairs.
Got her up and out of the water. Here I am standing in front of "Gertie
Lou" as we call her.
Here's the problem! Chief Tom Hunt discusses the crack with Captain Dale
Wallace. Chalk mark is outlining the size of the crack.
Tom checks out the repair. Notice the "strings" hanging down from
the hull. They're believed to be the larvae of mayflies and if one gets on your
neck, they can bite the heck out of you.
Here's Chief Tom Hunt posing for me next to the starboard wheel.
Here are the port coolers. Large one is engine coolers and smaller one is
gear box cooler.
11/05/05 1000 hrs We are leaving dry-dock and heading
light boat back to Cook Coal Terminal to pickup fifteen loads heading back up to
Rockport. Heading back up river we had a bit of a wait at Lock 52 but finally
locked through at 0045 hrs.
11/06/05, 0255 hrs We made Smithland Locks (mile 918.5). Had
to wait there till 0520 hrs finally got North bound at 0600 hrs. 1550 hrs
arrived at J T Myers Locks mile 846 Locked through 1730 - 1805 hrs. Arrived at
Newburgh Locks (mile 776) at 0315 hrs and have a long wait time. finally started
locking at 2230 hrs.
11/08/05 0035 hrs Finally out of the locks and making
headway.
0530 hrs We arrive at the Rockport Terminal (mile 744) drop eight loads and
pick up five empties to head further North.
This is another photo taken in April. The sun was just
coming up as we were leaving (0730 hrs).
We made Cannelton Locks 9 mile 721) at 1200 hrs. No delay and were on our way
at 1235 hrs.
1600 hrs Arrived at Derby, Indiana (mile 692.5) for crew change. This is
where I got off along with six other crew members.
First trip takes the luggage to the shore and brings back the cook, captain,
and mate. Second trip brought the cook, chief, me and rest of the luggage to
shore. This photo is the third trip taking the rest of the crew to the boat and
picking up the pilot and the captain. The chief going on will return to the boat
with the yawl.
Here's the last view of "Gertie Lou" before we hit the road back home. The yawl
has not yet left the shore for the boat. Notice she has not got name boards yet.
She just got the new paint scheme and name boards have not been made yet.
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