Lock 24 - cont

Clarkesville is a tiny town trapped in a time machine. Just the proverbial hound nuzzled the trash in the burning sun while the town stood still. Bobby returned with his smokes and a happy pack of beer. Apparently optimum weight plans exclude having enough beer on deck for a wedding!

Sky greyer now with warm drizzle. 80 miles to go to St Louis.

The pages of "Deception Point" (by Dan Brown, great read if you get it) fluttered wildly. I rolled out of my hammock bracing myself on the pitching deck. The whites of their eyes reflected mine. "Storm coming up river" the cry went up. Lightening tore the horizon up in front of us like a stratospheric sewing machine. The white horses raced towards us. Hurriedly we stowed the gear as thunder shock-waves ripped overhead. The stiff wind had the motor straining to make headway. Bobby headed for the beach as fast as we could go. Beads of sweat dripping into his open can of Busch Lite (knew you'd like that Jerome!).