Pickwick Lock and the start of Tenn-Tom; October 24, 2011

Link to first anchorage on the Tenn-Tom via Google Maps

This is Pickwick Lock: 55 foot lift
Fun fact: it was named after the Pickwick post office that was named
by the postmaster in 1883 after a book by his favorite author, Charles Dickens.

Link with info about the Pickwick Lock and Dam

Pickwick Lake - After the confines of the Tennessee for 7 days,
the openness of the lake was a welcome change. 

We ended our travels on the Tennessee River and entered the state of Mississippi via the Tenn-Tom Waterway. 

The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway connects the Tennessee River at Pickwick Lake with the Black Warrior  River at Demopolis, AL

I was surprised to learn about this waterway and was blown away by some of the facts.

Like....did you know that it was completed in 1984? Seems like just yesterday!

Political factoids:

President Johnson budgeted the funds in 1968. President Nixon included it in the budget in 1971, but President Carter tried to stop construction. Public opposition won and it was finally completed. 

Interesting, huh?

Changing landscapes

It's all down hill from here..... There are 10 locks on the waterway - all going down. Another thing is that the current will be in our favor as we are going down stream - The current on the last few miles up the Tennessee had us watching the bank to be sure we were still moving!

Here's an interesting link that can explain the Tenn-Tom.

Don't believe everything you read :)