#10 Sept 5 - Sept 10th

These next few days we anchored in little inlets or behind islands along the river. Here are some scenes we observed along the way.

An abandoned Dock. This dock was busy and accessible before they damned the river.

Cypress trees spreading their roots deep in the ground t o secure their spot when things get a little dicey in the spring and during floods.

This particular anchorage Densons Island MM125 gave us a little trouble the next morning. The River channel is on the left and the anchorage behind the island on the right; but, it was 40 foot deep. we wanted a little shallower due to  current etc. So we positioned ourselves at the end of the island. Next morning we discovered we had hooked a huge dead tree and NOT the bottom. Half an hour of wrestling we escaped. The chain was wrapped around this tree better than Bill could have done if he wanted to drag it home. Of course, I didn't get a picture!

Oh Wow!! Pickwick Lock and Dam! MM206.7 Holding back the Tennessee River some 63 feet; we are a mile away.

 

The chamber is 1000 feet long and we are moored to its side in the middle.  Pretty intimidating!
We will pass through Wilson Dam in the next few days and it has a lift of 93 ft!!!!

We continued up the River to the entrance to Yellow Creek at Tennessee River MileMarker 215 and turned right into the Tenn-Tom waterway which was Tenn-Tom MM450. We went at far as MM457 to an inlet for anchor on the 8th Monday.

Our plan for the 9th and 10th is to tour all the historical sites at Corinth, Shiloh where the first most strategic battles of the Civil War took place. Grand Harbor Marina lent us their car.  

Ice Cream anyone?

We visited Corinth, the site of the Siege and Battle involving "the Crossroads"; rail lines East and West from Memphis to Charleston on the Atlantic and North South from the Ohio River to Mobile Alabama. These rail roads were vital backbone of the Confederate States for supplies and moving troops. The Union forces set out to take control and cut off their supplies.

While we were at the actual crossroads a train went by . . . .

and not two minutes later one went by on the other track.

In 1861 there were two lines of rails each way.  In those days they did not have side or switch tracks.
Battles at Corinth handed occuation back and forth until the Union succeeded/

A bonus at the Corinth Museum was a Coca-Cola museum. One of only 70 independently owned and operated bottling facilities licensed by Coca-Cola. Although they don't bottle anymore, they do service many vending methods.

On the 10th we borrowed the Marina Van again and traveled to Shiloh. I can't begin to explain how impressive the displays and the Battlefield affected us.  It was very interesting and at the same time, very depressing. As many as 200,000 men from different convictions fought violent, bloody battles. At that time there were 34 United States. 11 of those States wanted secession from the Union. Regiments from Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan were heavily involved in the Union advances.

This monument was erected by the State of Michigan. I think you should be able to enlarge it to read the plaque.

Thought my brother Mark would enjoy this picture.  He is very involved in keeping the music and history of Fife and Drum Corps alive and teaching an appreciation of Military Music.

"Catfish Hotel"
We ended our day of History with a supper of Catfish (our second, and it was better than the first) before doing a little shopping and heading back to the Marina.

We will return to the Tennessee River tomorrow and travel upstream to eventually meet up with friends in Huntsville, and then to Joe Wheeler State Park where we will leave the boat and fly home for a few weeks.