We met fellow "loopers", John and Susan from Vancouver, Canada, with the boat "Eagle Heart", who were anchored near the marina where we were this morning. Since we were both right next to the lock, and the lockmaster likes to lock as many pleasure boats together (we've had to wait up to twenty extra minutes at some other locks while a boat in the distance would join us in the lockage), we decided to eat breakfast and then go into the lock together. In the middle of breakfast, however, we see this beautiful 85 foot Berger heading toward the lock. So, we set aside breakfast, quickly untied lines, and proceeded to our first of three locks today.
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| What a beauty!!! |
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| We follow "Checkers" as it leaves the first lock. |
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| "Eagle Heart" is right behind us. |
As we enter the second lock today, we see the dam right on the other side of the lock wall.
Waiting for "Eagle Heart" to get secured and as I look out over the gates at the end of the lock, I start to overthink the whole idea of how a lock works . . . let's get this thing lowered and QUICKLY, please!!!😨
Hmmm . . . well, this will take my mind off the very large drop at the end of the lock wall; my own ballard garden and Mayfly friend!😏
As we continue south, we see a mix of industry (very little though),
sporting (fishing traps here),
nature,
a few homes with boats (or even yachts!),
hay bales (boy, I haven't seen these since leaving home!)
and even a train track?!
Oh my goodness, a train!!! Haven't seen one of these since we left the Mississippi River!
At mile 366.3, we enter the final section of the Tenn-Tom Waterway called the "River". This section consists of the 149-mile section from Amory Lock (our second lock today) to the junction of the Black Warrior River at mile 217.0. This portion of the waterway is typical of what you find when a river is "canalized". The river is straightened in some places with man-made cuts, it is dredged where the water is too shallow, and finally, locks and dams are added to keep at least 9 feet of water in the waterway when the elevation drops too fast. These dams create "pools" where you often have water much deeper than 9 feet near the dam, but tapers in depth to near 9 feet at the upper end of the pool. A total of 5 dams were needed to provide the 9 feet of water depth necessary. Four are on the Tenn-Tom Waterway and the fifth is actually part of the next section, The Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway to Mobile, Alabama.
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| The Tenn-Tom that we're following is the white path; you can see the "river" and how it winds around the canal. |
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| Here's part of the Tombigbee River joining the canal. |
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| Here's your "fixer-upper" train bridge on the Tombigbee River.😂 |
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| This is actually right off the canal. An old road/bridge perhaps? |
As we come to the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam, we see Columbus Marina, our stop for the night, to our port side. Wait, we have to cross the water in front of the dam? UGGH . . . not a fan!😲
Made it safe and sound!
We have a welcome committee!
We are excited to go into town with John and Susan from "Eagle Heart" to enjoy dinner at Huck's Place (a restaurant that Midge and Walt went to, so I know it will be great!).
No Piggly Wiggly pizza tonight!!!😄
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