11/5/2010 DEMOPOLIS TO BOBBY'S FISH CAMP

FRIDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: NM

TODAY’S LOCKS: 1

DEMOPOLIS LOCK MM 213.2 40’

After Squvot made the 6:30 AM call to the Demopolis Lock for instructions, the encamped boats began to pull in ropes, disconnect power and make tracks to the open gates. It was like a perfectly executed ballet performance with fourteen boats (yes, I did say 14!) entering the lock, some tying to the floating bollards and the others rafting off the secured vessels. By 7:30 we were all in our places and locking down. Here is a list of the 14 boats that occupied the lock this morning:

Image via Wikipedia

THE DEMOPOLIS LOCK AND DAM

Craw Dad - Dream Fever – Drift Away – Finally – Ganymede – GonCruzin III – High Spirits

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia – Monkey Girl – Sea More – Sleeping Bear – Squvot – 30 Below – Quest

ENTERING THE LOCK AND FINDING OUR PLACES

THE GATES ARE LOCKED AND THE WATER IS LOWERING

FROM THE AFT DECK AS THE WATER LEVEL DROPS

After an orderly exit directed by the efficient Lock Master, the caravan of vessels arranged themselves according to their cruising speed and continued our journey south. Some were hoping to make the 88 NM to Bobby’s Fish Camp while others set their sights at Bashi Creek, a much shorter distance.

THE VESSELS PARADE OUT IN AN ORDERLY FASHION

We experienced the beginning of another stunning day with the sun’s rays reaching upwards over the eastern horizon as we left Demopolis. What can I say? It was just breathtaking. The day developed into a stunning example of what autumn can hold in store for the boaters heading south. Watching the sun’s luminous rays creating the diamonds on the water, I could almost hear Louis Armstrong’s reminding me to “Say to myself, what a wonderful day!”

"WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY"

Following the twisty path of the river, we wove in and out.  Sometimes the sun shone on our port and minutes later it would be coming in the starboard windows.  Take a look at this convoluted path.

A PAGE FROM OUR CHART BOOKS

TWISTS AND TURNS ON THE GPS MAP

We finally made it to the famous Bobby’s Fish Camp which consists of about 150’ of dock and a cat fish restaurant. The 65’ to 70’Andiamo, Sqivot and Ganymede tied to the dock with Quest, Finally and Sleeping Bear rafting off of them. We all had catfish dinner together, telling stories and laughing at our own follies, then rushed back to our respective boats in the freezing night. We have freeze warnings for the next four nights!! What’s the deal? We are heading south to get away from the winter’s cold fingers.

CATFISH DINNER AT BOBBY'S

11/4/2010 SUMTER ANCHORAGE TO DEMOPOLIS

THURSDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 41 NM
MM 270 TO MM 216.7

TODAY’S LOCKS: 1

HOWELL HEFLIN MM 266 36’

What a difference a day makes! We started out with the sun’s bright rays waking us and continued to enjoy the gift all day. Thank you, thank you Mr. Sun!

The Howell Heflin Lock had a tow with its barges locking up but the four pleasure crafts waited only a few minutes before he cleared and we were welcomed into the chamber for our lock down. When the gates opened at the other side we were met with another tow and barge ready to enter.

Image via Wikipedia

         THE HOWELL HEFIN LOCK AND DAM

We would see a few homes and camps along the bank but this one really made us chuckle. If you look closely you can see the original trailer (with wheels still on) elevated and then the building attached at the front. We thought that maybe the refrigerator underneath was there to help support the house if it dropped any more.

LIVING ON THE EDGE
NOTE THE WHEELS STILL ON THE TRAILER ATTACHED TO REAR OF HOUSE

Rounding the curve around MM 249 we gasped at the impressive sight of White Cliffs and the old Alabama Greater Southern Railroad Bridge. We are truly blessed with the spectacular sights we see each day.

WHITE CLIFFS AND THE AGS RXR BRIDGE

MM 217 brought us to the official end of the Tenn-Tom Waterway when the Black Warrior River, which originates near Birmingham, AL, joined in. We will now be traveling in what is known as the Black Warrior & Tombigbee.

THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER JOINS THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER

 Image via Wikipedia

THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER WATERSHED










Today was trailer day. We saw them hi and we saw them low and we saw then ready to take the position in between. I am sure this is a busy place during the summer months with boaters zipping around and guys fishing the river.

TRAILER HOMES BOTH HIGH AND LOW ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER

Fighting a strong wind that suddenly developed as we snaked around the corner, we tied up alongside Drift Away at the Demopolis, AL Marina by 2:30.

HERE WE ARE, RAFTED ALONG SIDE DRIFT AWAY IN DEMOPOLIS

Since the courtesy car was available, we snagged it and made a quick run to downtown Demopolis. The beautiful Gaineswood Mansion is a remarkable example of the Greek Revival architecture with its imposing portico. The antebellum Bluff Hall overlooks the Tombigbee from its perch on historic White Bluff. The statue dedicated to “Our Confederate Dead – 1861-1865” stands tall near the center of town.

GAINESWOOD

BLUFF HALL HISTORY

BLUFF HALL

OUR CONFEDERATE DEAD

Wandering away from the business district and the streets lined with higher end homes, we found ourselves in a lower income area. This old abandoned gas station beckoned to Dan and Richard. How much fun would they have working to restore this site? Some of the sights were not so inspiring, leaving us more than grateful for all our blessings and good fortunes.

PERFECT JOB FOR DAN AND RICHARD

"REAL" FOLKS LIVE IN THIS "REAL" HOME

WE LOVED THIS OLD TRAIN BRIDGE

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11/3/2010 COLUMBUS TO ANCHORAGE AT SUMTER (MM 270)

WEDNESDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 54 NM

TODAY’S LOCKS:  2

     JOHN. C. STENNIS LOCK MM 334.7 27’

     TOM BEVILL LOCK MM 306.8 25’

Up and at ‘em , boys! We readied the boat to leave in the early morning rain and followed Monkey Girl into the open and waiting John S. Stennis Lock situated just around the corner from our marina home for the last three nights. Then we spent the morning navigating in the pouring rain.

We had more tow traffic today though we didn’t meet our first until two hours into our journey. Pelican passed us heading up river with his two barges. Later we passed others as well as several working dredges. Bless those dredgers! One barge was being offloaded of its monster cargo of scrap metal. This is manly business!

THAT'S A L0T OF SCRAP METAL, SCOOP BY SCOOP

A LITTLE LOP-SIDED

We drifted from Mississippi to Alabama and then back and forth for three miles before we entered Alabama at MM 310.5 for the rest of our trip to Mobile.

WHAT THE HECK IS THIS THING ON
THE BANKS OF THE WATERWAY?

YEP, ON CLOSER INSPECTION WE FOUND IT WAS A
LONELY, OLD FASHIONED PHONE BOOTH.
WHO KNOWS WHY?





The regal Tom Bevill Visitors Center, which serves as a museum of folklore and history of the area, overlooks the waterway at Perkensville. The U.S. Montgomery, a 1926 snag boat is in drydock here also. This is one of the last steam powered, stern wheel boats used in the southern waters.

U.S. MONTGOMERY

By the time we got to MM 334.5 and tied up in the Tom Bevill Lock Driftaway and GonCruzn III had caught up to us and the four boats locked down together. And yes, it’s was still raining. A dreary, damp and dismal day all around. Guess it takes few of these to round out your life and help you appreciate those glorious days we have been experiencing.

Image via Wikipedia

BOATS FOLLOWING US OUT OF THE TOM BEVILLE LOCK
ON THIS DISMAL, RAINY DAY

At MM 281, Dan made the grand announcement that we had traveled 10, 800 NM on the Quest since leaving Portland, OR in January. That puts us at a distance traveled equaling half way around the world!! Cool!

Upon reaching Sumter Recreation Area at MM 27, we pulled in and anchored by Craw Dad. Drift Away and GonCruzn III joined our little group and we all enjoyed the comfort of the ample, yet cozy little anchorage.

Before we leave the Tenn-Tim Waterway, here is a quick story about how the Tombigbee got its name.  The Choctaw Indians called the river "Itomba Igaby", not emphasizing the "I" .  Thus Tombigbee was adopted into the English name. 

11/2/2010 COLUMBUS, MS AND COMPANY ARRIVES

TUESDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKIE!!!

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM

LOCKS TODAY: 0

The traveling troops were off to an early start this morning with Tally Ho leading the mass exodus. I think eight of them left and locked down together. The faster boats will be trying to make it the 118 miles to Demopolis while others will be anchoring along the way.

FROM OUR BOAT YOU CAN SEE FIVE OF THE BOATS WAITING
LOCK DOWN THE NEARLY ADJACIENT STENNIS LOCK

By 10:30 it was raining “cats and dogs”. Guess they should just call us to do windows when ever rain is needed.

Image via WikipediaColumbus is home to the busy Columbus Air Force Base which is charged with training our young pilots. The base began its training program during WW II, graduating its first class in March of 1942. It lay stagnant after WW II only to resume its important job in 1957 as it produced fit pilots for the Korean War. The next phase brought the base under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Air Command and was home to the famous B-52s. In 1970 the base returned to its original mission, producing highly trained pilots for the US and is now home to the 14th Flying Training Wing. This is where Debbie’s son-in-law, Jason, did some of his training.

Pulitizer Prize winning playwright, Tennessee Williams, hailed from Columbus and will long be remembered for his works like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Streetcar Named Desire and the Glass Menagerie. Later in the evening we did pass by the original home of Tennessee Williams which is now the official Welcome Center.

Cover of The Glass Menagerie. 

THE GLASS MENAGERIE 

 Image by Roger Smith via Flickr

            BIRTHPLACE OF       TENNESSEE WILLIAMS       
             MARCH 26, 1911








We lucked out and someone canceled their request for the courtesy car and we acquired one hour of its use to make a fast trip to the marked to provision for our next few days with guests. We were a vision of efficiency as we zipped through the Krogers, filling our basket with necessary items.

Richard and Barbara arrived at the marina by 3:30 and dodged the raindrops as they made their way aboard the Quest. The drops abated and we waded over to the transient dock to find out who might be leaving in the morning. Feeling confident that our plans were coordinated, Richard and Barbara found their way to the darling little Golden Triangle Regional Airport where they dropped off their rental car and we picked them up. We had a great dinner at Hucks in downtown Columbus then drove around a bit, taking in the sights and finding some of the big old homes.



       WELCOME ABOARD!



11/1/2010 COLUMBUS, MS

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED: 0 NM

TOTAL LOCKS: 0

"CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?" WE'VE GOT 3 BARS OF SERVICE
IN DESCENDING ORDER
TALLY HO, TORTUGA AND QUEST

What a nice leisurely day we had ahead of us. At least that’s what I thought until the day began to unfold. Dan washed the disgusting river “schmeg” mustache off the Quest which led to other outside cleaning which led to our doing the windows, inside and out. Now pop that between changing the linens, laundry, another coat of varnish on the wooden railings, vacuuming and oiling the kitchen wood. Oh yes, I did a full system back-up with my new hard drive that Debbie installed and did a 2 year renewal of my Norton Anti-virus program. Dan also found a reasonable marina for boat storage while we travel to Vermont at Thanksgiving time. OK, by now its 4:30 and we both need showers!!

Cleaned up, we set off to meet today’s new comers. There were 11 boats on the transient dock, with several boats rafted to another and the gas dock full. Quite the sight. Richard and Jill on Finally (we met them in Mackinac Island and they were my neighbor in Green Turtle Bay) were there and rafted to another and we met Carlton and Becky on Seamoore that are just starting their journey around the loop. How exciting!

ITS A FULL HOUSE

MAKING THE ROUNDS

Columbus has a long and rich history, incorporating in 1821 and cashing in on the flourishing times with the Southern aristocracy developing their successful plantations and building their grand homes. The town was a major hospital facility during the Civil War because of its prime location on the railroad line and never became a military target. Thus the historic homes were kept mostly intact and preserved for their historic significance.

Memorial Day originated here when a group of Columbus women gathered on April 25, 1866 to place bouquets on the graves of both the Union and Confederated soldiers that were buried in Friendship Cemetery.  The Weeping Angle monument stands guard here over the grave site of the Reverend Thomas Cox Teasdale

Image by NatalieMaynor via Flickr

FRIENDSHIP CEMETERY IN COLUMBUS, MS

Image by NatalieMaynor via Flickr

WEEPING ANGLE MONUMENT

10/31/2010 THE RIVER SECTION OF THE TENN-TOM WATERWAY

Image via Wikipedia


 FROM ABERDEEN TO COLUMBUS, MS



SUNDAY


HOPE Y’ALL HAD A SUPER SPOOKY HALLOWEEN!


TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 24 NM


TODAY’S LOCKS:

      ABERDEEN LOCK    MM 357.5      27’ LIFT












Before departing the dock, Dan called the Aberdeen Lock on this chilly Halloween morning and was told they would be ready for us in about 30 minutes. This gave us just enough time to finish our departure prep and head out. We followed Sleeping Bear out the spooky, twisty channel and, sure ‘nuff, the green light was on and the lock gates were open.

WE FOLLOWED SLEEPING BEAR OUT THROUGH THE SNARLED
TREES LINED CHANNEL FROM THE MARINA

SLEEPING BEAR IN THE ABERDEEN LOCK

Since we were only traveling 24 NM to our next dock at Columbus, both boats just poked along. We are now traveling in the River Section of the Tenn-Tom. It is 149 miles in length with four locks and a channel depth of 9’. More than thirty cutoffs were created to eliminate some of the more severe bends and we could see the river connecting with the dredged channel over and over again.

THE RIVER WEAVES IN AND OUT OF THE RIVER SECTION OF
THE TENNESSEE-TOMBIGBEE WATERWAY

Sunday or not, this grain facility was loading its goods onto the waiting barge. The dust was flying and the barge was sagging under the weight.

LOADING UP THE BARGE AT THE TOM SOYA GRAIN ELEVATOR

Sleeping bear had to throttle way back as we got behind this tow and barge raft that we came upon just before arriving at the turn for Columbus.  As the tug proceeded to enter the John C. Stennis Lock, Sleeping Bear made a hard to port into the Columbus Marina and we followed.  Quest was fueled, pumped out and tied up before 2:00. Ganymede, who left Aberdeen yesterday, was there and also Tortuga that we had seen in Drummond when we checked back into the US from Canada. Several more boats came in as evening neared and the place filled up nicely.

OUR ONLY TOW TODAY AND WE DIDN'T COME UPON
THEM UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO OUR TURN FOR COLUMBUS

THE LOVELY TORTUGA
WE TIED UP IN THE EMPTY SLIP RIGHT NEXT TO HER

We ended up sharing the courtesy van with David and Mary (Ganymede) with Ron from Irish Eyes joining us in the search for dinner. During our short drive to town we came upon several deer, a fox zipping across the street and a cottontail by the roadside.  Now I know it is Halloween but, believe me, these were no costumed kids but the real McCoy of the Mississippi wildlife.  We found our way to Mi Hacienda for a pretty good Mexican meal before retiring to our respective boats for a “ghoul-less” night.