Mile 366 on the Tenn-Tom; October 29, 2011

Link to anchorage in the Tombigbee River's old channel via Google Maps

Today we went through three more locks on the Tenn-Tom and completed the 

"Canal Section" of the waterway.

Tomorrow begins the final section called "The River."

Although we are only one mile off the main channel,
it feels like we are in the Mississippi outback.
Marina's are nice, but gazing out big windows watching the leaves turn
and listening to woodpeckers, frogs and who-knows-what is priceless.

We began our day by going through the Fulton Lock: 25' drop
On weekends, the locks are on restricted schedules and locks every
two hours. No wait time if you plan it right.

We followed these boat into the Wilkins Lock: 25' drop

Amory Lock: 30' drop

Tow boat waiting when the lock gates opened

Lots of  leaves are still on the trees - 

pretty.

Fulton, MS ; October 26 & 27, 2011

Link to Midway Marina via Google Maps

The Tenn-Tom Waterway is divided into three sections.

We have completed the first section know as the "Divide Cut."

The next 52 miles are referred to as the "Canal Section" and takes you down 341 feet.

 So far, we have gone through the first three locks.

Whitten Lock: 85' drop
This is the tallest lock on the loop. We had a 45 minute wait.


NOTE TO SELF:
Check VHF radio setting so lockmaster will hear you call!!!

This part of the canal is held in place by a man-made levee,
since it was built on the side of a hill.

Going down stream, the green channel markers are on the starboard side.
 Red should be on the (left) port side.....
except when the buoy is out of place.

Montgomery Lock; 30' drop
10 minute wait when your radio works

Heron on the top of the lock gate - a good place to fish

Big gates open and you see whats on the other side.

Relaxing, interesting and scenic

Wind picked up which keeps the turbine turning!

Rankin Lock: 30' drop

ole' coots

Rain day at Midway Marina.
Wheres Lollygag?
Enlarge the picture and look close.

Looking out his window - Captain watched a long time.

Tenn-Tom Divide Cut; October 25, 2011

Link to anchorage in Bay Springs Lake via Google Maps

Completed the 24 mile long section of the Tenn-Tom called

the Divide Cut.

Today definitely made the top 10 list!

Follow the buoys for right turn into the Cut.

Just around the corner

At first I thought this was a snag, but it was moving.....

If you want to get to the other side, you gotta swim

The Divide Cut is 280 feet wide, bank to bank

Even though both sides are covered with rock rip-rap,
Mother Nature has given the whole area a park like appearance.

It's illegal to anchor in the Divide Cut

Even though the Divide Cut was fairly straight, it does have a few bends.
We met our first tow in this narrow bend - can you see it's nose?

We quickly moved to the inside of the bend

After you say goodbye to the rip-rap shoreline, 

you say hello to wide water in the Bay Springs Lake.

You need to stay in the channel to avoid snags from where
timber was cut or there were standing trees before the lake was created.

We headed into a cove where our only company is trees.

Our buoy on the end of a trip line. The other end is rigged on
the anchor in case it gets hung up on a snag.

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 :)