#11 Sept. 11 - 16

We left our little anchorage of the 10th and headed up river. Here we are approaching Wilson lock. It is the THIRD largest lift lock in the world.  I know you are getting a little bored with these lock pictures but if you could experience it  --  you would be as awe struck as we are.  These locks and dams are an engineering phenomenon.

That is a 21 ft pleasure craft about to exit as we are going in!!!

Each one of those lines represents 5 foot. Count them.  We were lifted 93 feet!  The holdback of this lock creates Wilson Lake. As the Kentucky dam creates Kentucky Lake, Pickwick Dam creates Pickwick Lake.

Pretty impressive overwhelming sensation inside one of these behemoths, especially when you are alone.  Notice the water roiling behind us as the water rushes in.

This is not a swing gate to let us out.  The picture where I suggested counting the lines? Well, this is that wall and it just slides down into the water, walkway railings and all.  A horn signals us when it is safe to exit.

Again, the view leaving these locks is a totally different look. I think this dam is over 7000 feet from bank to bank.

6 miles up the river/Lake Wilson we encounter Wheeler lock and Dam. We only got a ride up of 57 feet. You can see a highway bridge that was built right over the dam.

Wheeler Lock and dam from 3 miles away. Now are you beginning to see the enormous fete of building these structures. They have created navigable commercial waterways from the interior to the Gulf. If these dams were not here, these great rivers would be only 4 to 10 foot deep!

Here is what our chart plotter showed us.  The dark black line is a "flooded submerged bridge"! and the area is also a "flooded timber" area.  The original riverbed is within the darker lines on the chart.

The next few days, after stopping at Joe Wheeler State Park Marina for fuel and to check on our reservation for leaving the boat for a couple weeks while we fly home;   we just picked nice little anchorages and then ended up in Decatur, Alabama at Riverwalk Marina. Spent two days there just scubbing the water line and washing the boat and other chores.  Carlton and Becky Moore, Gold Loopers (Gold Loopers are those who have completted the loop) came around and befriended us.  Offered to take us to anywhere we wanted to go.  Very gracious and kind and interesting folks.  Another couple to put on our special friendly list.  

16th.  Only went 17 miles today. Found this little river inlet at the town of Triana and tied to the dock at their boat dock ramps. I walked up into town to the library to use internet and get this blog out.  Hate to let too many days go by.
Huntsville is only 20 miles up river where we will meet our friends Pam and Bruce Fritz on the 21st. So we have a few days to just play "Lazy River".  Maybe we'll just hang out here another day.  It is so peaceful!