Smithville and Columbus

Sunday, Nov.6

We left Bay Springs Marina at 7:37am and headed for the nearby lock.  By 8:00am we were tied along the Jamie Whitten Lock wall ready for our 84 foot drop.  Whitten has the biggest drop of all 12 of the locks on the Tenn-Tom Waterway.

That's Passport down there and they are a large boat, so it gives you and idea of how big the lock is

This is called a floating bollard.  They are recessed into the lock wall at strategic places.  You tie your boat up to them at midships and the bollard rides either up or down with you as the water in the lock rises or falls.  It makes locking very nice and easy.

Warren riding the bollard

 

 

 

Jeremiah in front of us

Passport over on the other side

Lock doors opening

and we cleared the Jamie Whitten Lock...only 11 more between here and Mobile, Alabama

9:45am  Montgomery Lock  30 ft drop

Montgomery Lock

Houseboat behind us in the lock as the doors close

In this lock I did a boo-boo and consequently we lost a line (a rope, to any land lubbers).  It got wrapped around the bollard as we were leaving and rather than fool around trying to un-twist the wrap we just cast it off from the boat.  Kerm says the cost of the line will be deducted from my allowance!!!

11:00  Rankin Lock  30 foot drop

Rankin Lock cleared with no difficulty

 
Fulton Lock, drop of 30 ft (no pictures) was cleared at 1:05pm, making it a four lock day...we were all very pleased with ourselves.  We found the lockmasters to be very friendly and helpful, everywhere so far on the Tenn-Tom.

We arrived at Smithville Marina at 3:00pm, after a 37.8 mile day.  The guide books said this marina was rustic.  You be the judge...

 

We all decided that 'rustic' is the new word for trashy!!!  However, the marina people were nice, even if the facilities left something to be desired.

Good night from Smithville Marina

Monday, Nov 7

"The Sun has got his hat on. Hip, hip, hip hooray!!!"

7:10 am    A quick, early morning dash to Wilkens Lock and before you've even had coffee you are 27 feet lower on the Tenn-Tom Waterway.

Wilkens Lock

Big old Heron watching proceedings at the lock

By 8:20 we were tied up to the second lock of the day, Amory.  This one drops 30 feet. Cleared by 8:39.  These are really fast locks.

Amory Lock

In Amory Lock

 
Now this is when things got interesting!!!  We were scooting along famously when all of a sudden the engine quit.  It re-fired right away but the captain was NOT a happy camper.  He decided to bleed the injector pump while we were locking down at the next lock.  All tools in place...it was like a pit stop in NASCAR.  We tied up to the Aberdeen lock wall at 10:21am.  Kerm galvanized into action with me tending the lines and handing paper towels down to him in the engine room as needed.  Finish bleeding the injector, close up the engine room hatch, lock doors open...out we go at 10:37.  Cleared the lock and did the required work in 16 minutes.  Easy as pie!!!  That captain...he's my hero!

Out we go after our 'pit stop'

After this excitement I took a long nap since we were done with locks for the day and just had 3 hours of cruising till our next stop at Columbus Marina.

Tombigbee River joining the Tenn-Tom Waterway

The Columbus Marina was very nice and we decided to stay over a day to refuel, relax, reprovision and plan the next section of the Waterway.  There is also a very good restaurant in town and a group of us plan to go and enjoy some Southern cooking.  ( I had blackened catfish with crayfish sauce and white cheddar grits...very filling and delicious).

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Captain relating the day's exploits 

 

Compare these boats to the one's from Smithville marina last night...

A casserole that should have been good but wasn't

Ducks

Mary and I saw what we think was an alligator swimming across the bay to a nice swampy area.  The marina staff said that alligators are in the area.  Also, there were some huge catfish under one of the boats on our dock.  We will head for Pirate Cove Marina in Pickensville tomorrow.

That's it for now
Christie

First Day on the Tenn-Tom Waterway

Saturday, Nov. 5

Our little Tenn-Tom caravan will be made up of Jeremiah, Passport and Southern Belle.

Jeremiah is in the foreground and Passport is on the other side of the dock

Off we go

Cool Rocks

OOPS!!

 The picture above shows the Italian Yacht "The Good Life" aground.  We don't know how he managed to get on the wrong side of the buoys but he sure paid the price.

Bay Springs Lake

We all stayed at a nice cozy marina tonight

Ribs for dinner tonight...yum

We get to see some awesome sunsets

Good night from Bay Springs Marina

Bye for now
Christie

Pictures from yesterday

Designer Italian Yacht

Our last morning at Grand Harbor

Passport and Southern Belle kissing??

Saturday, Nov 5  Guy Fawkes Day

7:30 am  Foggy this morning but clearing fast.  We are preparing to leave, heading for Bay Springs, first stop on the Tenn-Tom Waterway.  Passport, Southern Belle and another Looper friend, 'Jeremiah', will be traveling together.   We have an option to anchor out tonight or to stay in a marina.  Will decide later today based on weather and how everyone feels.

Gotta go, now.  Happy Saturday to all.
Christie

Tuesday, Nov. 1

We departed Grand Harbor Marina at 12:15 pm  heading for an anchorage called Bear Creek.  It is on the Mississippi side of the Tennessee River south of Whetstone Creek, which I've written about before.

Waterfall Cove entrance

Bear Creek

Bear Creek Anchorage

When we got to the anchorage it was too narrow, too shallow and too stumpy for us to stay the night.  We turned around and headed for Panther Creek, where we have had good luck before.  By 4:10pm we were safely anchored.  It's a great spot.

 

Made a good dinner and went to bed with the sun.

Good night from Panther Creek

Wednesday, Nov. 2

A little foggy and cold this morning but it cleared up shortly after 9:00. 

Sunrise in Panther Creek

I worked on planning for the Tenn-Tom Waterway for most of the morning and Kerm worked on wiring all day.  When he works on wiring it get real interestin'...
 

This is the hailer that Kerm installed.  With it we can communicate during docking and anchoring without having to shout to each other.  It's very civilized.

At about 3:00pm Kerm got a phone call which turned out to be from Passport...Mary and John tracked us down and steamed into Panther Creek.  Hooray!!  They rafted up with us and we had a great reunion.   Cocktails and Shrimp soup and good stories!!

Thursday, Nov 3

Rainy and cold, really gross weather.  We decided to weigh anchor early at 8:47am and head out for Grand Harbor.  In little more than one hour we were back at Grand Harbor Marina.  Kerm did a very excellent docking in tough conditions.  The wind got even worse for John and Mary and they got blown around but they got in safely, docking right in front of us.

I have noticed a small area of rash/sore on my back and am going to a urgent care clinic in Savannah, TN.    As many of you know, I had shingles several years ago and this feels like the same thing.  I want to get it taken care of asap so it doesn't get any worse.

Later:

Yuck!!!  It is shingles.  The doctor prescribed some medicine and I hope we caught it in time.  Now it's time for rest and taking the pills five times a day!!  Kerm is taking good care of me and

Mary Morgan is a nurse... so I have my own private health care squad..

Friday, November 4

Been sleeping most of the day and the shingles seem to be getting better already.  Keep all fingers crossed..  

We are planning to leave tomorrow morning if everything continues to go well.  Tomorrow's navigation is very easy so I'll be able to sleep along the way. 


Today, a $5-6million yacht docked across the way from us.  The weird thing is when they came in they were all wearing camo fatigues.   Even the face masks...it looked like Al Quada was invading Counce, Mississippi...although I can't imagine.why.  Anyway, I stopped over, asked them where they were headed and they said West Palm Beach .  I guess that answers that.  
Ok... it takes all kinds to make the world spin around.  I took some pictures but they won't upload tonight...I'll try again sometime soon, but now I have to go to bed.

Love to all friends and family
Christie

And thanks for all the supportive good wishes I have received on this stupid shingles thing 

Maintenance update

Kerm here.
Except of the teak and paint we're finally ahead of the maintenance curve.  The wiring is / has been a challenge.  These old boats were never designed for all the instruments and accessories.  Also, this boat was made a year or two before international electrical standards were adopted.  I still cringe at some of the methods used and additions over the years.  Case in point is the instrument array in the cabin.  Some of the fuses are in the fuse panel and others are behind a panel that is screwed on.  Oh, and the radar unit has to be taken down before the panel can be unscrewed.  We did buy some panel mount fuse holders yesterday and I'll be digging into the project in the next couple of days.  There is a similar situation up in the flybridge but at least I can crawl back behind the panel if need be. 
We installed a hailer / fog horn that the O'donnell's gave us.  With the unpredictable fog banks on the Gulf it's another good tool in our bag.  Speaking of good tools,  we regret not getting AIS.  It's a vessel overlay on the GPS or Radar that identifies commercial ships by name and location.  It's nice for rivers as you can call tow boats by name to get passing instructions. It was an $70 option when we purchase a new marine radio.  As a stand alone it's like 300 bucks. Mea Culpa.
All the outdoor lights now work. OH, and all at the same.  Salt water, worn sockets, bad switches and twist connectors.  I probably have replaced 15 or 20 twist connectors on the boat since we started and I only see them when I open something up if there is a problem.  I now use heat shrink crimp connectors. 
That's it for now.  We're headed for an anchorage for the next couple of nights and the Admiral is anxious to spool up.

One Week at Grand Harbor Marina

Tuesday, October 25 thru  Tuesday, November 1

What started out as an overnight stay at Grand Harbor Marina turned out to be a week!!  We had lots of chores to take care of and some planning to nail down.  Plus, it was really cold at night and we don't like to freeze.  When we are hooked up at a marina we have our nice heater but out on the hook we rely on blankets and the heat from the oven/stove.  Coffee in the morning, at anchor, is a double delight...caffeine and warmth.

Our home for the past week

It has been fun to watch the stream of Loopers and other boats heading south.  We have reconnected with old friends and made new ones. One of the plans we firmed up this week is that we are waiting for Passport to come back from their side trip to Chattanooga and we will go down the Tenn-Tom Waterway together.  It is really nice to have a buddy boat on this next stretch to Mobile. We couldn't hope for a better traveling partner.

Right now we are now going to anchor out for another two nights.  Then we'll meet up with Passport back here at Grand Harbor on Thursday.  Then Friday it's Southward Ho!  I can't wait...

 Love to all friends and family
Christie