10/31 Well, we are excited to get on with our trip after a visit home, the rendezvous and side trip to Chattanooga with brother Fred. The day is a bit breezy and a little overcast. I decided to do my last blog this morn so we didn't get away until around 11. We are going only 22 miles today to Florence, but we have two lock to go through. 3 boats left at 830 am and we discovered that it is a good thing we didn't leave with them because as we approached the second lock we needed to traverse - - there they were tied to a barg off to the side of the lock when we arrived at 1:30. They had been awaiting to traverse for 2 hours and we were just told we would have to wait for 2 1/2 hours. We all finally got in the lock at ten to four. Sometimes the tows just get in your way and they have priority. It just gets tough when the tows have to be split and need two cycles of the lock to get through. We have really been lucky -- of the 15 or so locks we have gone through we have only had extended delays twice.
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| I know you are probably getting tired of seeing these locks. BUT, it is such an incredible fete of construction and holding back so much water creating huge lakes. This is the Whitten with a 93 ft lift. Third highest lift in the world. There is another in Washington State and one in Africa that is higher. We are tied to a floating bollard that slides up and down the slot you see. |
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| Just another perception from the boat. I promise not to do anymore pics of locks! :) |
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| After leaving the Tennessee River We have finally headed South again. Now on the Tenn-Tom Waterway and this particular section is 280 foot wide and 24 miles long. No stopping or anchoring allowed. When meeting one of these tows it wants to be intimidating but really no different than passing a great freighter on the St. Mary's River near Detour. |
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| Baffles are built where streams and smaller rivers spill into the 24 mile straight ditch to stop erosion and blocking the waterway. |
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| Again the scenery changes as we leave the restricted section and realize that --- Nope, you don't want to leave the channel. There are stumps and fallen trees just waiting to give a boater a big headache! Also, some if not all of the stumps are trying to grow again. Miracle of life! Always striving to go on. |
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| 11/6 anchored just past Heflin Lock at mm265. That's the moon on the right. The other "moons" are lights of the lock. A nice quiet place off the main waterway. |
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| Limestone Cliffs near Epps, Alabama |
Bill and Tom from Greek's Folly. They are on their way to pick up a courtesy car for us and Colletta, togo to the grocery to stock up for our trek South to Mobile, Alabama. We arrived here at Demopolis Yacht Basin on 11/7. Halfway to Mobile from the Tennessee River. From here to Mile 0 at Mobile there are no marinas and only one fuel stop at 'Bobby's Fish Camp" in the next 216 miles so we need to have all the provisions we'll need. Should take around 5 days with one day at Bobby's, the rest anchoring. Will be fun to travel with Greek's Folly.
We are looking forward to reaching the Gulf, exploring Mobile, then find a place on the Panhandle of Florida and sit for a while.
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