Starting the Tenn-Tom

Sunday, Oct 19, 2014

This was a beautiful, cool day cruising down the Tennessee to familiar territory at Grand Harbor Marina where we had stayed before. This time we are right at the gas dock for the night and lots of loopers that we haven’t met yet are here.



Lovely harbor sunset crisscrossed by con trails
 

Captain’s Log October 19, 2014

Departed: Florence Harbor, AL 8:45 a.m.
Engine hours: 4.9 hrs.
Actual hours: 4 hr. 45 min.
Miles covered: 41.54     total miles so far: 2,539
Arrived: Grand Harbor Marina, TN 1:30 p.m.
Wx: nice morning, a little cool but calm winds and clear sky – cruised downstream – no issues  - refuel and pump-out  

Monday, October 20, 2014

The Tennessee-Tombigbee water was our next section and we were ready to go early in the morning, but the conditions weren’t right for an early departure. A very thick fog rolled in during the night and we could hardly see across to the next dock, let alone across the water. A few boats left, thinking it was rising but turned around and came back when they hit a dense bank around the bend. Finally the sun broke through and we were off.

This is one reason we didn't want to leave in fog - rocks on both sides
 

The Tennessee -Tombigbee Waterway is a 234-mile man-made waterway that extends from the Tennessee River to the junction of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River system near Demopolis, Alabama, United States. Until this was completed in 1984, the only way to complete the great circle was to go all the way down the Mississippi to New Orleans and then along the Gulf Coast.

Grounded - going nowhere fast!
 

One of the first parts of the waterway is called the "Cut" which is about 25 miles long, entirely manmade and is lined by rocks on both sides. We met a Tow coming up with a huge load of wood chips or mulch. We passed him on the one whistle. A little later we passed the chipping plant - southern pine logs being shredded - sure smelled good!

Meeting a barge in the cut
 

 

Where a creek flows into the cut - baffles look like a lovely fountain
 

We stopped for the night at Bay Springs Marina with Roger and Mary on TA TA and Bud and Sue on When I'm Sixty - Four. It was an isolated spot and they had covered slips there.  When we gathered for docktails we had a small celebration for Sue's birthday. She surprised us with the announcement and a pan of fresh homemade cookies!

Captain’s Log: October 20, 2014

Departed: Grand Harbor, MI 9:15 a.m.
Engine hours: 5.3 hr. – 38.79 statute miles
Actual hours: 5 hr. 51 min.  
Arrived: Bay Springs, MS 2:20 p.m.
STBD eng got warm again as we docked – added antifreeze to engine
Wx: Delayed due to fog – once underway all went well

Tuesday, October 21

Serenity tied up at Midway - this is their fall color
 

When we were at Midway we were told that we were in a dry county. No one is allowed to sell alcohol or bring it into the county. As one of the dock hands put it - the county is dry but the marina is wet so we decided that as long as we were out on the docks in the water we were ok to imbibe a bit. This is a moot point because many of us drink water or soda but the "blue laws" are very controversial right now in the county. While we were there a local TV station was doing interviews because the whole issue is up for a vote in the upcoming election about whether or not to allow alcohol sales - some things take a long time to change, especially in the deep south.

Gathering on the dock - a looper ritual
 

Clockwise from far left: Roger, Sue, Mary, Kathy, Bob, Bud,
Martha and George from Aunt Aggie     

Captain’s Log
Departed: Bay Springs 7:25 a.m.
Engine hours:  3.2 hrs
Actual hours: 4hrs.  25 min
Nautical miles covered: 21.21
Arrived: Midway Marina, Fulton, MI 12:50 p.m.
Wx: A little foggy on departure but passable, locked through with 8 other loopers – 3 locks, not delays, no issues. Engine temps all normal. Happy Captain. Traveled with TA TA, When I'm Sixty-Four and El Nido

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

It was not quite such a rush to get off this morning because we didn’t plan to go very far and we just had three more locks to transit. John called before we even untied and the lockmaster said he was ready and waiting for us. We went through a total of three locks today as we go down the waterway getting closer to sea level.

We had to anchor out for the night and there was a convenient location in an old channel of the Tombigbee river that was protected and out of the way. We rafted up with When I'm 64 and another Mainship, Aunt Aggie, dropped her anchor nearby.

View from our boat while we were rafted up with When I'm 64
 

 

 

Aunt Aggie at sunset
 

Captain’s Log: October 22, 2014

Departed: Midway Marina 8:25 a.m.
Engine hours:4.2
Actual hours: 5 hrs.
Nautical miles covered: 28.11
Arrived: Anchorage at mile 366.62 – old channel of the Tombigbee River, 1:25 p.m.
Wx: cool, clear, on departure, all three locks went smoothly – wind picked up a bit around 11 :30, north at 5-10. Engine overheating is solved – needed more antifreeze

Thursday, October 23, 2014

One lock to go through today - beautiful and sunny. By midday we were approaching the Columbus Marina near Columbus, Mississippi. We decided to stay here for three days and one of the highlights was visiting Waverly, an antebellum home which was once part of a 4,000 acre cotton plantation. It had fallen into disrepair after the last heir died and the remaining family squabbled over what would be done with it. It was finally purchased by the Snow family in 1962 and they have been lovingly restoring it ever since.

We were asked not to take photos of the interior but it was full of period antiques and the amazing thing was that original light fixtures, mirrors and woodwork had not been vandalized over 50 years of neglect.



Cupola on top of Waverly mansion
 

Lovely entry and balcony in this 4 over 4 home - the front has been
scraped in preparation for painting this fall
 

Miss Melanie, owner on the left, gave us a wonderful tour -
Bud and Sue from When I'm 64 went with us
 

Captains Log: October 23, 2014

Departed: MM 366.6 Anchorage at 8:25
Engine hours: 4.2
Actual hours: 4 hrs.  25 min
Nautical miles covered: 32.27
Arrived: Columbus Marina, Columbus, MS at  12:50pm
Wx: cool, clear, very little wind, sun warmed us and hot by the afternoon no issues