Day 15 Oct 29, 59 miles Columbus Marina, Columbus MS

39 degrees...NNW 8 mile per hour wind....leaving at 7:30AM for the Fulton Lock
We are traveling with the Lady KK in the lead, Last Resort, Boot Scootin.

Futon Lock is @ 3 miles from Midway Marina.  Way too COLD to take pictures.  I was wishing Gerald would just do the locking but no luck.  I told you we had 414 feet to drop going downriver.  Yesterday we dropped 144 feet plus the 30 foot drop for this lock makes us at 174 feet (240 feet to go)

One Whistle or Two Whistles

Saw our first Eagle fishing this morning.  Believe me it was quite a sight.  Again the Eagle was too fast for me and the camera.  Then we saw 5 plus Eagles (may have had some birds in the group but I'm telling the story) fishing.  The Eagle had his claws set to catch a fish.  I'm sure it was a bass.

Talk with Jim and Claire...they are coming to visit us at the Columbus Marina... A trip to the grocery store and lunch out.  Bet we will find a restaurant open and some homes with columns.  You all know Claire, our southern guide.

15 miles to Glover Wilkins Lock which was again a 30 foot drop (210 feet to go).  Thinking locking is becoming easier but this is a cold morning.....glad we are headed south

Long Train coming across

Dorie...we are in Mississippi....mark your map....study the United States.

According to the Lock Master we are a RV (recreational vessel)  Think they call us all kinds of names.

Loves the Sunshine

5 miles to Amory Lock...again a 30 foot drop (180 feet to go).  Capt. put us right at the bollard.  Can't get any better than that.
The Port of Amory is another noisy reminder that forest products are responsible for much of the industry along the Tenn-Tom.  Large machines grind up about 30 trees at a gulp.  We would see it working in the distances but the picture didn't take...no it wasn't the picture taker...

Met two barges coming upriver...Leader and Honest Bob.  We passed on the "one whistle" (port to port)

14 miles to the Aberdeen Lock and Dam....again a 30 foot drop (150 feet to go)  This is where we had to wait.....wait....wait....The Roger G Stone Jr. barge was coming upriver and had to put two loads together before he could move out of the lock.  Downstream vessels were at a stand still turning round and round watching the wind blow and checking the chartplotter for skinny water.  Our group was joined by Jade and Dragonfly.  Jade is from Brazil and Dragonfly, a sailboat, is from Grand Rivers KY.

Roger G Stone Jr

 

Hurricane Sandy is doing her thing to the US...25 foot waves on Lake Michigan, Snow in Michigan and WV and NJ, NY and East coast being destroyed.  We are getting the wind and cold temps

We were close to Columbus Air Force Base and could hear the planes taking off.  This base now trains a third of all new US Air Force pilots.  The number of landings and takeoffs at the base not only makes this the Nation's busiest Air Force base but also ranks it right up there with Chicago's O'Hare and Atlanta's Hartsfield, the two busiest commercial airports.

22 miles to Columbus Marina.  We will stay two nights and let this weather settle down.  The Gulf is rocking and rolling so you know what Mobile Bay is doing....No Thank YOU.

Loading Grain

When we got to Columbus Marine they brought us in one boat at a time because of the wind.  Lady KK, then The Nanseann, followed by Last Resort, Boot Scootin, Jade and Dragonfly.  Lots of deck hands to help us in.....boy was Saddi glad to be here.  Too cold for Docktails.....left-overs for dinner.

Boot Scootin Coming In

59 miles today and 4 locks....Capt Rik tells me we have traveled 431 miles...average.. 1.13 miles per gallon....average... 7.56 miles per engine per hour.  Those are the facts.  Blog is UP-TO-DATE!!!

Day 14 Oct 28, 56 miles Midway Marina, Fulton MS

We departed Grand Harbor Marina at 9:30AM....full of fuel ($3.89 special to loopers)...Sunny...no wind...40 degrees...still in long pants, sweatshirts and socks

We are traveling the Tenn-Tom Waterway to Mobile AL.  The first time I looked on a map for the Tenn-Tom I expected to see a river....not so...looks like a creek.....so,  here is some history because some do not know it exists...

Construction on the Tenn-Tom project began in 1972, it would go on to become the largest civil works project ever undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers, which spent $2 billion to make it happen.  More dirt was moved to build the Tenn-Tom than was moved to build the Panama Canal.  By connecting the Tennessee River in Mississippi and the Black Warrior River in Alabama, it provides a direct water route from the Tennessee River to the ICW and Gulf of Mexico at Mobile Bay.  In June 1985, the ribbon was cut and the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway was open for business.  When Rik brought the boat up the Tenn-Tom from Jacksonville FL in 2010 the 25th Anniversary was being celebrated.

Officially the Tenn-Tom is only the 234 miles between the Tennessee River and Demopolis.  The 217 miles between Demopolis and Mobile is the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway.  Most boaters just call the entire 450 miles the "Tenn-Tom".

Once we passed mm 443.7 (Mississippi Hwy 25 bridge) we are approaching the 24-mile long Divide Cut.  The channel with rock riprap is 280 feet wide bank to bank.  To be specific the cut here is about 1,300 feet wide and 175 feet deep.  Every bit of what was once here, all 150 million cubic yards of it, had to be dug out and hauled away.  You can not anchor anywhere in the Divide Cut.

Approaching The Divide Cut

 

mm 427.5 - there is an orange and white marker that indicates the former location of Holcut, the only town that had to be moved for the building of the Tenn-Tom.

Straight

We meet up with Lady KK, Last Resort, and Boot Scootin and travel  with them the rest of the day. 

Lock One  was the Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam.  With a drop of 84 feet, it's the ninth highest single lift lock in the US.  We are going downhill from @ 414 feet above sea level to the Gulf of Mexico.  It takes eight flights of stairs to walk to the top of the chamber rim from the lower approach wall.  (Not me!)

Whitten Lock and Dam

Gates opening

Bit of trivia -- The first  10 locks are identical, the horizontal seams or joints in the lock walls in all of them are 5 feet apart.  Combine that fact with the depth of the lock and as you are being lowered you can easily calculate how much father down you must go before those big doors swing open.

mm 410.8 The Natchez Trace Parkway crosses over the Tenn-Tom.  I didn't what the Tenn-Tom even was when we crossed the bridge in the motorcoach.

 

Mulch and Sawdust Industry

Lock Two was the Montgomery Lock with a 30 foot drop.  This was easy...still have wind tho...

Lock Three was the Rankin Lock with a 30 foot drop.  Yes, the trivia information was helpful as we went DOWN.

J Ward Barge going upriver

We have reservations at Midway Marina(mm 394.0). All  four boats are going in. The wind is blowing.  We were met by several helpful hands to help us tie up and get Miss Saddi off the boat.  This was a 55 mile day.  We are looking forward to a catfish dinner at the local restaurant.  But NO....the restaurant is closed....amazing what one can do with frozen chicken breast, wild rice and carrots as long as the scotch and crown don't run out. 
You know it was windy...cold....no pictures of Midway Marina...

Day 13 Oct 27, 41 miles Grand Harbor Marina, Counce TN

I have been having trouble getting my days in the right order....only have ten toes....

Left Florence Harbor Marina at 9AM...Temp 50 degrees...Light North wind @ 7 miles per hour...long pants, sweatshirts and socks

Eva, manager...neat lady

 

A dock Slip 1 same dog next door

 

We are downriver and bound for Grand Harbor Marina today....no locks
Saturday night...steak night on the "Nanseann" and Alabama football cuz Gerald is on board.

We leave the Tennessee River today and enter the Tenn-Tom Waterway.  Grand Harbor Marina is at mm 449.7 and has two addresses...Counce TN and Iuka MS...  We are following our "bread crumbs" to TN mm 215, the three-state junction to enter the Tenn-Tom at mm 450.5.

Two world famous personalities...W.C. Handy and Helen Keller are from Florence AL.  In case you didn't know Handy "Father of the Blues" wrote "The St. Louis Blues".  Plus one of Frank Lloyd Wright homes - the Rosenbaum House (the only one in Alabama) is here.  Of course, all we saw was Smith Animal Hospital but that was good.

One last story to share @ mm 237.5 is Colbert Park (just south of the Natchez Trace Bridge) in case you want to visit.  The unique Coon Dog Cemetery is not far inland (reason for no picture).  It was originally started by Key Underwood of Tuscumbia for his dog, Old Troope.  To be eligible for burial in Coon Dog Cemetery, a dog must be either a hound or a coon dog.  The dogs are buried side by side in the shade of the pines with individual tomb stones marking the graves.  I did tell you I was in Alabama.  Saddie said "No Way"

Arrived at Grand Harbor Marina @1:30PM.....we'll rock and roll tonight....wind and bassboats....should be interesting.  Marina is full...think we got the last spot and we had a reservation.  Janice and Wendy...you are right....green grass is a mile away...Saddi was on a dead run dragging me along... See why the front pier has golf carts.

Coming In  See that big boat on the end we are next to it

 

Neat Barges going by

 

This one is headed toward the Tennessee

 

Sunset at Grand Harbor

 

Sunset at Grand Harbor

 

Nanseann in front of the Paddle Wheel

 

 

This is the end of Leg One -- Green Turtle Bay Marina to Joe Wheeler State Park Marina -- then followed our "bread crumbs" back to the junction of the Tenn-Tom/Tennessee River

 

3 locks....Pickwick Lock and Dam, Wilson Lock and Dam and Joe Wheeler Lock and Dam

 



7 days on the water

6 days at Joe Wheeler State Park

 

13 Days into the Loop

Traveled 316 St miles

 

 

 

 

Day 12 Oct 26, 21 miles Florence Harbor Marina, Florence AL

Early morning departure....pumpout at 8AM....Rik had to fix the hose at the pumpout so we were slower than our buddies.

Gerald is learning Pumpout 101

Joe Wheeler from water

 

Joe Wheeler from water

 

A week ago today we were going UP the river....today we are going DOWN the river and following our "bread crumbs".

Capt Rik and Gerald

 The lock master at Wheeler Lock and Dam let us go ahead of a barge coming down the river.  We were lucky...could have been a two hour wait.

Upriver side of Joe Wheeler

 

Locking Class

 

I will say locking "downriver" is much better than locking "upriver".  Wilson lake is pretty clear today and you can see the beautiful homes.

 

 

 

 

 

Gerald handled the bollards at Wilson Lock and Dam.....Again, we were lucky...we could see the barge coming but the lock master let us go thru first.  He gave us a ride going down...."FAST"

Wilson Lock and Dam

 

Please open the gates

Had a call from Gerald's brother, Bobby.....raining in Mississippi as they came across the Natchez Trace Parkway bridge....We are starting to get the effects of hurricane "Sandy"....wind and rain forecasts for Florence....hurry

When we arrived in Florence Bobby and Betty were at the marina to say hello.  They took Gerald to Lowes...more jobs

Short day...left-over spaghetti was good last night....we'll see what the weather brings....but plan on heading SOUTH.....could be 40 degrees tonight

Day 11 Oct 25, Joe Wheeler State Park Marina Rogersville AL

Boats are going everywhere....Chattanooga...Huntsville and the Ten-Tom....
We will stay one more day....Gerald will be joining us for the trip down the Tenn-Tom to Mobile and on down the ICW to Panama City.  Faye will meet us there.  Who's smart in this deal??????

Their friend Ms Linda brought them over so Faye could take the truck back home.  EACH had a load when they arrived at the boat.

Dock Tails and Potluck dinner on our pier tonight.  Word was put out and loopers appeared so...we met more folks.

World Series Tonight!!!!  Paul was in 7th heaven when he found out we had direct TV and Gerald could find the game.  He and his son John are on the Great Loop in a wooden motorsailer.  John, who is 18 yrs old, has taken a year off of school to cruise with his dad.

 

 

 

 

 



Day 8-10 Oct 22 - 24 Joe Wheeler State Park Marina, Rogersville AL

We are learning new things, meeting new friends and hearing all kinds of stories about the loop.  There 250 loopers here at the Rendezvous with 55 boats.  If you were looking for a boat you could find many different brands.  We had several stop by to see our Mainship.  It appears that many are new, looking for boats and information plus quite a few just starting the loop.  You have a blue tag when you are a want-a-bee, white tag when you are on the loop and gold tag when you have finished the loop.

Sunrise

 

Saddi has been to Florence to get her booster.  Gerald left Saddi his truck to do this little chore so we wouldn't have to walk from the Florence Harbor Marina.  Thank you Gerald.  Smith Animal Hospital went out of their way to help us out.  Plus...."no charge"....can't beat that

 

Smith Animal Hospital

 

Joe Wheeler State Park Marina

 

Looking at our dock

 

Sunset

 



 

Wine and dinner this evening and the AGLCA Rendezvous is over.  Everyone has different ideas for tomorrow morning

Saddi met more friends on the pier and was just OK



 

 



Day 7 Oct 21 Joe Wheeler State Park Marina Rogersville AL

Today is the day everyone is getting ready for the "looper crawl"....pink jobs, blue jobs, clean the boat....a bunch of busy bees on the piers.  The crawl is when you open your boat for people to visit.

Then we hear music and here comes this boat around the bend.  They cruised our marina and everyone had their cameras out wishing this boat was on the "looper crawl"

 

 

 

You could even keep "all your stuff" on this boat.....oh well they went on down the river and we all we back to the pink and blue jobs.

Day 6 Oct 20 Joe Wheeler State Park Marina Rogersville AL

We are at Joe Wheeler State Park Marina, the site for the AGLCA Fall 2012 Rendezvous and Reunion which begins on the 21st.

Rik and Gerald have many chores to do which includes Direct TV so that (when we have service) we can watch NCIS and Alabama football.

Meeting lots of loopers who are friendly and very helpful.

Gerald and Faye fixed steaks for dinner....nice fire....good food....good friends....just a REALLY NICE evening.  Saddi says this is OK

Gerald/Faye's motorcoach

Saddi's wheels

 

Nice campfire Rik

 

 

Fenders for the locks

 

 

Day 5 Oct 19, 21 miles Joe Wheeler State Park Marina, Rogersville AL

We wondered last night why a guy was sitting in a Bassboat with an American Flag flying and going nowhere....well, little did we know Florence was having a "big time" Bassboat Tournament with big time money

So this morning we are up at 5:30 AM looking for the 142 bass boats who were here.  I know it's not a good picture but think...just up...looking out the aft and you see this

The fishermen were waiting for True Light (7AM), someone sang the National Anthem and then the boats left every minute

Rik visited with a gentleman from KY and he told us all about Bass boats and Bass tournaments.  In exchange we gave him a "hot" cup of coffee.  Steve you would have loved this....

 

124th to leave

 

We are departing at 8:45 AM today as we are waiting for a barge to lock thru Wilson.  8 Loopers will be locking thru at 9AM....the rest at 11AM...Here we go....with Water Music behind us...

 

 

 

 

We have a very good friend with us today.  Miss Faye has joined us for our cruise to Joe Wheeler.  You can see Saddi is showing her the ropes

 

 

OK now for Lock Two....Wilson Lock and Dam....we are leaving Pickwick Lake and will be entering Wilson Lake

Wilson Lock is the world's highest single lift lock.  It now ranks sixth in the US...built in the 1950s.  This is a 93-foot-high lift, has an unstream gate that lowers.  Oh me I'm ready with my gloves, life jacket and fender out, lines ready to catch the bollard.

 

coming in

 

gate closing

 

Bollard....looking up.......

 

Waiting for the gate to lower

 

 

30 minutes from the time the gate closed to the time the gate opened....tells you how FAST we went UP...  Wilson Lake is the shortest of all the lakes on the Tennessee.  It's one of the deepest with water depths up to 125 feet.  Beautiful homes surround the lake but the haze on the water prevented pictures.

 

Lock Three...Joe Wheeler Lock is a 48-foot lift.

Joe Wheeler Dam is only 72 feet high and is the lowest of all the dams on the Tennessee.  But, with a length of 6,349 feet it's the third longest.  Construction began in 1933 and was completed in 1936.

 

Going In

 

Closing the Gate

 

There was lots of wind in the lock but I'm getting this locking down....Took over 30 minutes again

 

Wheeler Lake is 74 miles long but we are just going to the First Creek (on the port) to Joe Wheeler State Park Marine where we will be until October 24th.

We arrive with the wind blowing, loopers everywhere and it is a stern docking...plus we were sharing a dock....Well, Capt Rik put the Nanseann into her slip and with the help of fellow loopers lines were tied and we were docked.  This was a 22 mile day.....four hour run from Florence...and the boat we are sharing the slip with are from KY Lake Dam Marina...

 

Gerald and Faye fixed dinner at the campground that evening...Chicken on the Grill with all the trimmings.  Faye fixed a "new" dessert called SIN and it was sinful.  Saddi came along (in Gerald's truck), walked the loop, watched the campfire and rolled in the dirt.  She even had bites of chicken but no dessert. (watching her weight)

 

Beautiful day....the best of two worlds....Boating and Camping....