Big Mess On The Tennessee River!
Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2011
by Bob Alexander
http://www.bluemarlinbob.com
I look back upon my life and see where a big mess here or there added spiced to an otherwise ordinary existence. While I didn’t think so at the time, I call those momentary lapses in sanity God’s gift to me. He let me survive my mistakes.
I recall one night in particular that still sends cold chills running down my back after 50 years, proof that you can’t outrun some memories. Almost every detail of that evening is forever etched in my mind.
The stripes, white bass, were running at the mouth of a creek just across the river only a quarter of a mile away. Though the water was getting choppy and darkness had over taken us, we weren’t apprehensive because at 19 and 20 years of age, we were seasoned in the way of the river. I made the mistake of trying to make it to the other side.
On the river at night, it gets cold. After putting on our jackets we didn’t think about strapping on our life preservers. We stowed them under the seats, underneath the Styrofoam inserts that was supposed to keep the boat from sinking if the wind turned it upside down. We were young and full of John Wayne movies, so we didn’t have a second thought about life vests. The Duke wouldn’t have worn one!
There was a solitary light above the bridge that overlooked the little creek that flowed into the river. It would have been no problem to make it there in the dark if the wind hadn’t started blowing harder, making whitecaps on the black water.
It was our plan to fish under that old bridge, attaching our lanterns to the railings so we would have plenty of light; hoping to attract fish to our minnows. Sometimes your plans go awry. Ours surely did.
As dark as it was on the river so many years ago, we couldn’t see the big storm heading our way. We could just feel the wind picking up and then right in the middle of the river, the rain came down in buckets full.
As we were trying to keep the boat headed for the opposite bank, a mighty gust of wind hit us. The boat capsized and sailed upside down before it landed a few yards away on the water. We were both good swimmers, but the boat ten yards away, always seemed to be just beyond our reach as it was swept away by the wind and the current.
Knowing that the only way to go was down if we didn’t reach the boat; we swam like mad for the vessel. The hull was too slick for us to hold on to, so we grabbed onto the motor that kept trying to sink due to its weight and ours.
We tried grabbing to the bow of the boat, but we kept sliding off and would swallow another mouthful of water as we fell. After a few unsuccessful tries to hang onto the bow, we drifted back to the motor. We had to float and try to keep the blowing water out our mouths while we gently held onto the motor.
One could never imagine the relief we felt when our feet hit the muddy bottom. We had no choice but to drag the upside down boat and motor with us. If we had left it the weight of the motor would eventually have forced her down to the mud below.
Finally we came to the bank and fell to the ground near where we launched. After many minutes resting in the rain, we took our bearings and saw the lights from a cabin about a half mile down the river. After the couple that lived there heard our story and then fed us, they helped us pull the boat farther up the bank.
They didn’t try to find out who made the decision to attempt to cross the river in a thunder storm. Some questions are best not asked.
Bob Alexander is a son of the south. He has gained expert status in eating barbeque, telling fishing stories and leisure living.
Visit his site at: www.bluemarlinbob.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)19, 20 is the most dangerous age. You do things in a jiffy and think later. I was terrified by your story because I am one who is scared of deep water or darkness in the middle of the sea etc etc.
Messy though yet enjoyable read.That is a dangerous age. So is 20,40,50, 60 and up.Haha.....whole life is dangerous..
That was an exciting story! I always wondered what it would be like living in that area. You write well.
You came our of that adventure safe and sound, how lucky you were.
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