Columbus, MS to Coffeeville, AL

Total Miles Traveled 529

A light breeze was in our favor as we departed the Columbus Mississippi Marina keeping the fog at a minimum as we approached the Stennis Lock at mile 334.7.  At river mile 306.8 the Tom Bevill Lock chamber doors were open allowing a quick passage on our 60 mile cruise to the Warsaw Cut Off anchorage.   We continue to travel with “Portofino” and “Further”.  “Portofino” is being delivered to Florida by a delivery boat captain and “Further” has a crew of four from northern Michigan planning to sail around the world.  “Portofino’s” only crew member had to return home as they were coming down the Mississippi River.  The captain worked out an agreement with the “Further” crew to rotate one member of their crew members each day until Mobile Alabama. They are all great people and we have enjoyed traveling with them.

From the Warsaw Cut Off anchorage we passed the White Cliffs of Epps.

We traveled 58 miles to the Demopolis Yacht Basin in Alabama.  There is a large commercial fuel dock here which serves the towboats transporting goods up and down the waterway.  By selling a high volume of fuel, the diesel prices are one of the lowest in the country, we topped off our fuel tanks at a very reasonable price of $2.38 / gal.  Located just up river from the fuel dock is the Kingfisher Bay Marina, this is a very nice facility and one of the best onsite Laundromats we have used during our great loop adventure. 

We departed Demopolis with our cruising buddies and entered the Demopolis Lock then continued on to the Bashi Creek anchorage.  This is a very narrow anchorage, but deep enough for several large boats.  (“Further” has a 7 foot draft) 

It was 32 degrees this morning at daylight, the coldest morning we have had since starting our journey south.  We had hoped we could stay ahead of the freezing weather but we are in for another cold night tonight.  The daytime temperature warms up pretty fast and although we have had cool nights, the cruising and scenery has been awesome.  We had a short 27 mile cruise today to Bobby’s Fish Camp, located about a mile from the Coffeeville Lock and Dam.  Bobby’s Fish Camp is known for their locally caught catfish dinners.