Demopolis, AL to Grand Rivers, KY

Total Miles Traveled 3460

After waiting at Demopolis a couple of days to let the river levels drop, we continued north on May 8^th to an anchorage at Cooks Bend.  This section of the Tenn-Tom waterway has less current and debris than our cruise to Demopolis.

The white cliffs at Epes, Alabama

Although we only had a 10% chance of rain, the clouds were building about 3 miles from the Stennis Lock at Columbus, Mississippi. Luckily we only had a light sprinkle after exiting the lock and anchoring at Waverly, Mississippi.  We could hear thunder southeast of us so we just caught the edge of it.

On May 10^th we made it through 4 locks without any delays and anchored just past the Fulton Lock.  The next morning we continued on to the Rankin Lock.  I called the lock on the radio about 3 miles out and was informed that a southbound tow was approaching the lock so we reduced speed and arrived at the lock with only a 30 minute delay before entering the chamber.  After exiting the Rankin and Montgomery Locks, we approached the Jamie Whitten Lock, the last lock on the Tenn-Tom waterway and the largest at 84 feet. 

My best mate is getting a little nervous.

That small white speck on the top right of the photo is a full size pickup truck.

Hooked to the floating bollard, I always keep a razor knife handy in case it sticks.  Fortunately we haven't had that happen in any of the hundreds of locks we have passed through.

If you look close, you can see a man walking across the lock door on the left.

After exiting the lock we entered Bay Springs and decided to make a short day of it and anchor in a cove on the lake, the temperatures have been around 90 degrees since leaving Demopolis.

We haven’t seen water this clear since leaving the Gulf and had to celebrate our last lock with swim and a steak dinner.  You can’t beat Florida in the winter, but we really enjoy the inland lakes and rivers in the summer.

No wonder I have been sneezing so much, you can see the pollen on top of the calm water the next morning.

We left our anchorage May 12^th and stopped at Iuka, Mississippi at the Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina to visit our friends Charlie and Robin on “The Lower Place”.  They were a few days ahead of us and have a new house near the marina.  We had a great visit with them and are looking forward to meeting them again this fall.

On May 13^th we left early to get through the Pickwick Lock, about 9 miles from the marina.  This is the last lock we will go through before reaching our home port at Grand Rivers, Kentucky.  I contacted the lock by radio and was informed a tow was in the lock and another southbound tow was approaching the lock.  We were instructed to go to the auxiliary lock and tie up close to the lock doors.  It would be about an hour and a half before he could lock us through, it ended up being a 3 hour delay from the time I called to the time we exited the lock. 

The lock chamber is currently empty, a 55 foot drop on the other side of the lock doors.  My best mate is taking advantage of the delay by swabbing the deck.

The lock wall was covered with muscles.

We’re now on our home stretch on the Tennessee River and we anchored at mile 149 behind Double Islands.

There are some nice homes built along the waterway.

This contractor didn’t plan very well.

On Monday May 14^th we continued to an anchorage at Richland Creek at mile 88.5, the temperatures are still hanging around 90 with very little breeze........ and I was worried about getting back too soon before it warmed up.  When we were at Mobile, the lows back home were in the 40’s.  

The river is now opening to form Kentucky Lake; this ferry is crossing the channel ahead of us.

Hundreds of ducks are in taking a break in the channel.

Arriving at Green Turtle Bay May 15^th.

This will be our last blog until we start our next adventure this Fall.

Roberts Bayou, AL to Demopolis, AL

Total Miles Traveled 3030

After a relaxing anchorage at Roberts Bayou, we set course for Mobile Alabama April 29^th and arrived at the Dog River Marina.  We met our friends Charlie and Robin on “The Lower Place” and also met our other looper friends , Byron and Cynthia on “Bright Angel”.   

We took the dinghy to the Turner Marina and met Tom and Marsha West on “Faith”.  I met Tom several years ago when he was building his 60 foot, 35 ton, sailboat on his tennis court in Poland, Indiana.  Yes, he built this sailboat almost single handed from scratch.  A feat in itself, but Tom also cut timber from his land and made the cabinetry for the boat.  We were lucky to catch them as Tom and Marsha were packing to go home the next day.  They gave us the grand tour, what an amazing accomplishment!  When I saw this boat last, the outside structure was almost finished but the inside was just a shell.  If you Google Tom West Sailboat, there are several stories about “Faith”

We left the Dog River Marina April 30^th with “The Lower Place” and planned to visit Fairhope, Alabama across Mobile Bay for a couple of days.  We had a mix up in communication as we were both going to the city marina and had called ahead for reservations.  We found that Fairhope has two marinas operated by the city, we went to one and The Lower Place went to the other.  I could not get a response from the marina by radio or phone when we arrived and saw two sunken boats in slips.  The Lower Place arrived at the other marina and the dock attendant couldn’t say how deep the water would be in the slip they tied to.  The sailboat next to him said he would be sitting on the bottom the next morning.  We decided to cancel the Fairhope visit and continued north to a dock at the Mobile Convention Center.

When crossing Mobile Bay we were approached by a low flying plane, it appeared the Coast Guard was practicing supply parachute drops to targets in the bay.

Entering Mobile harbor

We always see unique vessels here.

Our plan to leave the next morning May 1^st was delayed by fog.  We planned to leave at 7 a.m. and at 6:15 we had clear skies, 30 minutes later we were fogged in.  Fortunately it cleared out about as fast as it came in and we were on our way by 8.

Rain up north has caused the inland rivers to exceed flood stage in some areas during the past few weeks.  The levels have returned to below flood stage but are still higher than normal.  We have been monitoring the pool levels, and flow discharge rates from the upstream locks before heading up the river system.  The biggest problem that we have encountered is floating debris.  We may travel a mile or so with very little, and then hit an area that has several pieces.

This is the one that can ruin your day, floating just under the surface. 

We have encountered a few long days, not because we are in a hurry, but anchorages from Mobile to Demopolis are far and few between.  There are no marinas, fuel, or docks between Mobile and the first lock at Coffeeville, Alabama about 117 miles.  From Coffeeville to Demopolis is another 100 miles without services. Since passing through the Coffeeville lock, we are now in fresh water.  The first thing I noticed was my hands are not sticky from salt water after pulling up and cleaning the anchor and chain.

Our entourage after leaving Coffeeville Lock, "The Lower Place", "Bright Angel", and "Huckster"

Boat-tails anchored in Bashi Creek, pretty much the middle of nowhere.  Cell phone and television signals are non-existent except for an occasional text that will make it through. 

I sure like the AIS I installed before leaving on our loop in 2015 (Automatic Identification System). We are a couple of miles from a southbound tow, both of us heading into a bend in the river with hills and trees between us.  I can see him on the chart plotter and he can see me on his and he tells me which side of the river he would like for me to be on when we pass.  He tells me by radio that he would like to see me on the two, which means two whistles, passing starboard to starboard.

We passed this wild boar on the way to Demopolis, the first time we have seen one during our travels. 

Demopolis Lock and Dam May 4th.