Columbus Marina, MS to Bevill Lock & Dam, AL

October 28^th, 2015
Wednesday
Miles Traveled 28.5
Total Miles Traveled 881
Days 48, 49
 
We were not the only loopers that decided to leave the marina today, there were 6 of us locking through this morning at the John C Stennis Lock and Dam.  The forecast was light wind and 15% chance of rain, so we had our 15% as soon as we all entered the lock chamber.

After an hour or so, the sun popped through the clouds and the temperature made it to the mid 70’s this afternoon. We have seen very few houses since we entered the Tenn-Tom Waterway;  I’m not sure why this telephone booth was located next to the river?

This is our first lighthouse since starting the loop, I hear they get bigger as you head South.

We arrived at our anchorage at the Tom Bevill Lock and Dam.  There is a visitor’s center located here and the US Snag Boat Montgomery.  Built in 1926 the Montgomery was the last steam-powered sternwheeler to ply the inland waterways of the south.  For nearly six decades, the Montgomery labored to keep seven of the South’s major rivers navigable.
 

This diagram is a representation of the water elevation drop on the Tenn-Tom Waterway.

 

We asked at the visitor’s center if we could tour the lock and were told that since 911 no one was permitted in the lock area.  We walked around looking at the exhibits and decided to try our luck at the lock.  We walked several hundred feet to the Dam and Lock area enclosed with chain link fence and a security gate and I pressed a button to call the lockmaster.  After two attempts we didn’t get a response.  I was ready to give up, but Joe (Firebird) tried again and the lockmaster answered.  Joe explained that we had called him earlier in the day for permission to anchor next to the Dam and we would like to tour the lock.  He said they don’t normally allow it but to come on in.  He opened the gate and we walked to the control room and met Herman the lockmaster.

 
We had a great visit and while we were talking, a tow approached the lock, so guess who operated the doors and valves in the lock chamber? 

 

 

After the tow locked through, and Moni didn’t push the wrong buttons, Herman told us that he was an avid hunter and is going to retire in about 6 months.   He is going to build a place in the Mobile Alabama area, and took us to a room that he is storing some of his hunting trophies.

Herman is a great guy and we really appreciated him explaining the lock operation and sharing his personal story with us.  This country is full of really nice people, and we have met a lot of them during our adventure.
 

The end of another great day on the loop!