From Pine Bluff Tuesday morning we motored 52 miles along Kentucky Lake choosing a marina that was only briefly mentioned in the newer cruising guide and not at all by another. The 1991 version of Quimbies had a half page ad with a nice picture, as well. About 10 miles away I placed a call to Birdsong Marina. The automated switchboard read off 7 choices before stating” for the marina, dial 7.” I was greeted by Danielle, who stated that the person in charge of marina reservations was out to lunch. To ad to the illusion, Danielle asked for my phone number as well as size and type of boat in which we were travelling. Fearing that this was such a busy place and that we may not have accommodations, I asked “when might I expect a confirmation?”
Danielle replied “Oh, we have room and I have all of your information.” She indicated that someone would be monitoring channel 16 if there were any questions as we approached.
About 2 miles before and once again as we approached the sign on the main channel announcing the Birdsong Marina we tried to call on channel 16 on the VHF radio. There was no answer both times. Luckily when I dialed the number, the “dial 7” instruction was recalled. This time Danielle informed me to “just follow the channel markers. Some will be at the dock to direct you in.”
The one small mention of the marina in the cruising guide did include a note that the marina was about two miles off of the main channel. It neglected to indicate that it was a winding 2 miles that seemed to go back and forth at random. Drunken Indian, perhaps? It further neglected to say that even between the markers, depths got very shallow, or that the markers were the smaller kind that were difficult to distinguish until practically next to them. It took steady concentration from both of us to insure that we followed them without incident.
It took nearly ½ hour of nail biting to reach the entrance of of the marina. It was marked by several “no wake” signs. Still, no one from the marina in sight and no one answered on Channel 16. Picture this for a moment. There was a row of covered slips on the left, as well as two rows straight ahead. All were less that 12 feet tall and filled with deck and pontoon boats. There was a rusting old relic called “Memphis Bell” aground off of the main pier and an old channel boat tied on the end of the main pier. Once again the modern age of marine travel provided back-up to traditional means as still no one answered channel 16. The phone number was dialed, number 7 was pressed and another conversation with Danielle began. “Where do I need to go?” I asked.
She replied, “Bob, the owner is on his way down. He will guide you in.”
Five minutes passed as we hovered in 5 feet of water waiting for Bob. Al sees Bob approaching in an old golf cart. Bob is now on channel 16 and begins a conversation. “ Is there enough water here I ask?”
“Plenty” he replies.” Let me get down to the end of the dock to figure out where to put you.”
Bob gets out of the cart a ambles down the dock. After all this is Tennessee. Unless it’s a bass boat chasing some carp, no one moves real fast. On his was down to the dock he call to ask. “Now who’s travelling with you?”
I reply that it is Al, Kona and me.
Bob says, “That’s fine, Pearl, my friendly chocolate Lab and my fiancee are with me. The dogs can play together.” Nothing else was said about the fiancee, nor was a name ever offered. I guess Bob was just happy to have fiancee.
As we begin final docking maneuvers, a problem arises. Kona is tethered in the fly bridge where see is able to see what is going on, but not let her natural enthusiasm get in the way of locking and docking. This is a standard procedure. Catching a glimpse of Pearl sends Kona into an uncontrollable loud, yapping session. This complicated docking a bit as no one could hear themselves think let alone talk. I let Bob know that Pearl’s presence is an issue. Bob did nothing. Fortunately fiancee took Pearl somewhere. Things were quite again.
Later in the store as I was checking in, a process that takes every bit of 10 minutes anywhere else, but was 45 minutes at Birdsong Marina, Kona was with me on a leash. Fiancee returned with Pearl. Let’s just say that Pearl is not as friendly as Bob let on. Fiancee once again needed to step in and control Pearl, as Bob did not. Good to have fiancee, Bob!
All of this being said; they were very nice people. The marina was rustic and the overall stay was pleasant. It is all part of the overall experience. I paid for two nights even after the incident with Pearl. Birdsong provided a free loaner car, “just put in more gas than you use.” We were able to replace a portion of the Rum that Ed drank last week as well as get some fresh bread and produce. Two final points on the Birdsong Marina are as follows.
First is the picture. Bob said that he took pictures of everyone who stayed at the marina and updated his website with them. He took two pictures of Al and me on Sleeping Bear. Since Pearl was lurking somewhere down the dock, Kona was down below in the cabin. Out of curiosity that evening I went to Birdsong’s website. The last pictures of transients were taken on 5-29-09. Only time will tell if there have been lots of other visitors and posting is behind due to Bob’s hectic work schedule, or if we were the first visitors since.
Next, as we were leaving yesterday morning, we briefly saw a 2 foot reading on the depth sounder (4 feet overall) and felt the boat slow momentarily as part of its bottom touch a sandy river bottom. Fortunately, it was a brief encounter and not a propeller or rudder that hit ground.
All part of the experience!!
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