Hello, faithful readers. I appreciate your interest and feel like there are more people on 'The Belle' than just Kerm and I. It's wonderful knowing we have support on shore. Thank you.
Wednesday, Nov 9
We left Columbus Marina at 6:40am after another early morning 'scramble' caused by information from the next lock master that we could get an opening if we made it to the lock before a tow boat with barges needed to lock down. 'Jeremiah' decided not to rush since Jeff is single handing due to Linda's ruptured disc. Also, Kadadi had a little problem backing out of their slip and they have to stay behind for some welding repair on their dinghy davits.
By 6:55am Southern Belle and Passport were tied up to the Stennis Lock wall.
Passport tied up and waiting for locking down in Stennis Lock
We cleared that lock by 7:30.
At about 10:30 we entered Alabama and I noticed these 'River Villas' on the banks
Hey, I'm not knocking it. A place on the river is a place on the river!
Also, we were surprised to see this unusual sight...
Phone booth on shore
Then this popped up soon after...
Totem Pole
There are lots of tows working these rivers...
Bye
At 11:30 we pulled in to this little cut and by 11:35 we were docked at Pirate Cove Marina in Pickensville, Alabama. Today we traveled 28.9 miles.
This was a marina with less than stellar facilities...not one where you ask for the health club key or the hot tub location. But the people were nice and friendly.
The office at Pirate Cove Marina
A short walk from the marina was visitor's center dedicated to the Beville Lock/Tenn-Tom Waterway and Congressman Tom 'Bring home the Bacon' Beville. The visitor center was a re-creation of an Antebellum mansion. It had interesting displays and mementos concerning river life and the building of the Waterway.
Visitor Center
Staircase
Taken from the Balcony
The Snagboat Montgomery - steam powered paddle wheeler that worked clearing logs and debris from the rivers for many years. Now it's on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Paddle wheel
The Pilot House
The crane that was used to lift debris had its own boiler for generating steam power independent of the huge boilers that powered the paddle wheel.
This was a very interesting side trip and, to top it off, on the walk back an armadillo walked across the road in front of Mary and I.
Good night from Pickensville, Alabama
Thursday, November 10
Every morning Kerm performs his safety and maintenance chores in the engine room before we get underway...here he is tending to the engine.
We woke up early and left the marina at 6:20am with Passport, Jeremiah, Raydiance and the sailboats Nemo and Seahorse.
Snagboat Montgomery and the Visitor Center from the river
Heading into the Beville Lock
It has turned quite cold and we are bundling up
brr-brr chilly
Beville Lock drops 27 feet. We tied up to the wall at 6:35am and were clear by 7:07. We are heading for Sumter Landing anchorage for the night. It is about 40 miles down river. The scenery is pleasant but it's so cold that most of us are pining for palm trees..hehe.
Raydiance blasting by us...show offs!!!
We pushed pretty fast today because we wanted to get to the anchorage before it filled up with other Loopers. The places to throw out the hook are few and far between on this section of the river. At 12:30 we arrived at Sumter Landing after traveling 38.5 miles.
Entrance to the anchorage
Sumter Landing...no other boats yet, hooray
We rafted up with Passport, Raydiance and Jeremiah, setting stern and bow anchors for security.
Here you can see some of the burgees that Loopers fly. AGLCA stands for American Great Loop Cruisers Association. When you complete your Loop you can fly a burgee that has a gold field instead of the white seen below. We have to order our gold flag pretty soon.
After we got situated some other boats came along. Spirit Dancer from Texas anchored beyond us further into the anchorage. Lifestyle II anchored in a little nook over by the other shore. We were happy when Kadadi poked their nose in and threw out a hook across from us. Their repairs went well and everything is fixed.
Kadadi
Spirit Dancer
Southern Belle snuggled up with Passport
We had a good afternoon and evening touring each others boats, talking and planning for the next day. It was an early night since we all want to push ahead to Demopolis tomorrow which is 53 miles and one lock away.
Friday November 11
COLD, cold night.
Ice on the cabin top
Frost on the canvas
Everybody was awake early and had to be careful not to slip on the decks as we peered out into the freezing fog. At 6:00am we started up our engine so it could warm up. The weather was cold but look how beautiful...
Kadadi
Passport was the first to leave our raft
Passport leaving Sumter Landing
When we pulled up our anchor it had snagged a big fir tree, 3 to 4 inch stump with a load of branches...good grief, we pull up weird stuff. Kerm had to saw if off our anchor. But by 7:17am all of us rafters were out on the Waterway.
Then we got a call from the lock master ahead saying that if we poured on the coals he would hold the lock for us. And as John Morgan so eloquently put it, "and we're off...like a herd of turtles"... (referring to our stately trawler speeds). We made it and cleared Heflin Lock by 8:10am.
At mile marker 249.8 we were treated to the white cliffs of Epes.
Jeremiah bring up the rear
At 1:05 we cleared daymark 225 which is the half way point between the Tennessee River and Mobile Bay. Another milestone is that I spotted my first palm tree/bush on the port bank, signifying our return to the South.
At 2:30 we arrived at Demopolis Yacht Basin.
Today we traveled 53.2 miles. Our total so far is now at 4,562.3 statute miles!
We were directed to the marina's brand new docks. Very nice facility. I even took pictures...
showers
Scrubatorium
Laundry and lounge area
We got together with several Loopers for a little refreshment and snacks. I was wished happy birthday by these friends and many friends and family on facebook and telephone today. I was also surprised to have some bday cards waiting for me at the office when I checked in. What a great birthday present.
Saturday, November 12
Today will be a long one. We are aiming for an anchorage called Bashi Creek which is 71miles and one lock away. We were up early but disappointed to see fog...
Spooky...but cool
By 7:19 it had cleared so we could head to the lock. We were first out and I looked back to see this procession.
Demopolis water tower
I thought I'd try to explain some of the locking procedures so I took some little videos...
Floating Bollards 101
Lock Gates opening
Leaving the Lock
After a long day we finally made it to Bashi Creek at 4:35pm. Here is a little movie showing how small this anchorage is. We are going to raft up next to Passport as soon as John gets his lines situated.
So here we are all nice and safe, out of the way of barge traffic that goes by at night.
Boat Chums
Boat ramp for local anglers
Cozy anchorage, looking out to the River
John's anchor chain trapped a big snag
After dark another boat came into the anchorage. There wasn't much room but they set a hook out of the river channel and said they'd be gone early in the morning. They are heading up river.
We don't have to wake up early tomorrow because we only have to get 25 miles down river to Bobby's Fish Camp. Nice to know it will be an easy day. Good night from Bashi Creek.
Sunday, November 13
Woke up to warmer temps, no frost and no fog. Only problem is that there is a big floating log (snag) in the middle of the channel where we need to leave. No problem... Kerm took our dinghy down, rowed right out there and manhandled that thing out of the way. Captain Kerm to the rescue. Also, our dinghy, Tinker, is now a bona fide snag boat!!
Re-entering the river from Bashi Creek
Kerm had to perform some good boat handling skills to get out of the anchorage. Well done, capt.
Look carefully...that's a big tow on Passport's tail
Special kind of river gauge but I can't tell you too much more... as we approached water was gushing out but my camera missed it
Twisty River Bends
Rock outcroppings
We arrived at Bobby's at 11:05am . It isn't too much to look at, just a long dock jutting out parallel to the river bank but Bobby's Fish Camp is a Looper tradition. Not only is it the only place to stop for fuel for miles and miles, it also has excellent catfish dinners served up with hush puppies, fries and cole slaw. Lora Jane (Bobby's daughter) was nice enough to open up for us even though she's usually closed on Sunday.
Bobby's Fish Camp
We had dinner with the crews of Passport, Seahorse and Nemo and a good time was had by all.
Monday November 14
"All hands on deck" shouts the captain. Stunned, the plucky first mate bolts out of her berth fighting to come awake. Pulling on clothes as she struggles up the stairs to the main cabin, she grunts "What!??".
" We're leaving... now!!! "
This was the fastest bug out yet. There are are two barges coming and we can save at least two hours if we all book it to the lock RIGHT NOW. Otherwise we're stuck.
Passport, Nemo and Seahorse behind Southern Belle
Blurry camera or eyes still half closed in sleep??
We left Bobby's at 5:50am and were tied up to the lock at 6:10. By 6:25 we had cleared Coffeeville Lock, the last lock on the Waterway and the last lock of our Loop. We are at sea level now!!!
This is a spot called Lover's Leap.
Don't Leap ...it's too pretty
Bally Steam Plant-lots of barge traffic
Radar showing how curvy the river is around here
At 3:05 we cleared the Tombigbee River and entered the Mobile River. At 4:25pm we anchored and then rafted with Passport in the Tensaw River, right off the Mobile River but out of the way of traffic. While trying to anchor, Kerm and I pulled up a sodden log that was at least 8 inches around and it was wedged in our anchor so tightly we had a hard time getting it off.
Traveled 39.1 miles today through twisty, tight channels...glad to hit the sack.
Good night from Tensaw River anchorage
Tuesday, November 15
Weighed anchor at 6:25am. We want to get to Mobile Bay today!!
Lots of fog and logs this morning
Rain started to come down lightly early this morning and it got progressively worse all day. Because there was so much debris in the water we had to drive from upstairs to see the deadheads. It was wet, wet, wet. Warren got into the swing of things...
Swampland now predominates the topography
At 11:28am we cleared mile marker 00...the end of the Tenn-Tom Waterway. We did it!! And it spat us right out into Mobile Bay, a very busy port.
it was really pouring
Looking back
We arrived at Dog River Marina at 12:45 wet but very satisfied with ourselves. We negotiated the Tenn-Tom Waterway safely and had a great time doing it. Now it's back to salt water, tides and pelicans and dolphins.
Look who caught up with us...Kerm's sister, Mary and her husband , Cecil. They are on a road trip going to Jazz festivals in New Orleans and Clearwater, Florida. It was great to see them on the dock in Mobile and we had a great visit.
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