mvalwayshome

Good Morning!!  We are going into new water today.  How exciting!!  We will be cruising on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.  Or the Tenn-Tom as the locals call it.  This water way starts at the Tennessee River (MM 450.7) down to Demopolis, Alabama.  It is 253 miles of twists, turns, switchbacks and beautiful scenery.

The plan for the Tenn-Tom was to shorten barge travel from Pensacola, FL to Chattanooga, TN from 1541miles to 771 miles.  A grand undertaking by the folks that built the waterway.  Actually, more earth was moved to make this Tenn-Tom waterway than during the construction of the Panama Canal.  Few people know of the Tenn-Tom unless you live nearby.  The Tenn-Tom also has less current for the north bound tows to push their barges as compared to the Mississippi.  A great savings on fuel and time!

We are now south bound!!  Truly.  Going down 341 feet in 10 locks.  Each lock has floating bollards which makes locking through easier.  The first lock will drop us over 84 feet.  Yeehaw!!  Southbound.  Our RDB will be on the right!  Our LDB (left descending bank) will be on our left.

We are planning a 56 mile days today with 4 locks.  Sounds doable except for the locks.  We have heard that once you go through the first lock, the lock master will let the other locks know you are coming along.  Hope so!

Leaving Grand Harbor Marina

The beginning of the Tenn-Tom is at the bottom end of Pickwick Lake and the beginning of Yellow Creek.  The Tenn-Tom uses as much of the current Yellow Creek (River) as the creek wanders around the landscape.  We will see reference to Yellow Creek as well as Tenn-Tom on the charts.  A bit confusing until we remembered that several other water ways have done the same.  This Tenn-Tom is not a straight line south.

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What a gorgeous day to be on the water!

Entering Yellow Creek that becomes the Tenn-Tom

25 miles later….

We saw these raceways several times.  Where Yellow Creek enters the waterway.  We assume the raceway decreases the disturbance of the water near the inlets.  No real surge or turbulence as the water enters the major waterway.  Very pretty as well.

Yellow Creek entering the Tenn-Tom

Yellow Creek entering the Tenn-Tom – what the Chart plotter shows

We aren’t the only boaters enjoying this morning’s weather

Reflections as X marks the spot

Waiting at Whitten Lock

Looking northward inside Whitten Lock – going down 84Feet

We have seen very clean locks lately.  I was excited to see slime!!  Pretty colorful slime.  I know, I get excited by the little things.

“Good Slime” found inside the Whitten lock

Going down!! Inside Whitten Lock

This Whitten Lock is quite tall and we aren’t quite sure why there are these massive doors are for.   Unless they are used to move water in and out faster.  They have hinges on them.  Curious.  Or they are gateways to other dimensions??

Large doors inside the Whitten Lock

Doors Opening – does that look like 84 feet?

Barge being loaded

When they made the Tenn-Tom waterway, they had to flood land.  Stay in the channel or expect to hit a tree!!  There are tree stumps everywhere!!  A bit eery looking, though.

Tree Stumps out of channel

Approaching Montgomery Lock – down 33 feet – 3:30pm

Leaving Montgomery Lock at 3:53pm – quick ride to the bottom!

Scenery along the Tenn-Tom

Entering Rankin Lock – 4:40pm

Going down 31 feet at Rankin Lock

5pm – Scenery along the Tenn-Tom

Approaching Midway Marina – Tree Stumps!!

There were 3 of us cruising boats within the locks today.  We all made it safely to Midway Marina, Fulton, MS.  The Rankin Lock Master called the Midway Marina to let them know we were coming.  The marina folks were kind enough to stay late and help us all get docked and settled.  Very nice.   A wonderful day on the Tenn-Tom!!

Sunset at Midway Marina, Fulton, MS

Good Morning, Loopers, Cruisers, and Fogsters!!  Another foggy day greats us this morning.  We expected it.  However, we thought we would be able to get an earlier start to our day in spite of the expected fog.  You know, the weatherman isn’t always right.  In this case, he was.  We are planning a 60 mile today plus one lock.  We figure we should be able to do this rather easily since we only have a mild current running against us.  The Pickwick Lock is at the end of the day.

Leaving Clifton Marina as the fog was lifting

Or so we thought.  As soon as we were in the river, the fog was thick as … well, thick as fog can be.  We had the radar on.  We chimed our fog horn every few minutes.  Wayne could see something approaching us via the AIS signal but we couldn’t visually see it.  I am standing on the bow keeping an eye out.  THEN out of the fog came the barge!!  We hurriedly moved out of the way.  Oh my goodness!!  They missed us by feet!!

Leaving the entrance to Clifton Marina

FOG!! – can you hear the strange noises in the distance? Scary movie time.

Magically, at 8:30am, the fog lifted.  We don’t know why at exactly 8:30am, but it did.  Yea!!

Blue skies ahead as the fog was lifting

We now can see the houses along the river bank.  Tree houses.  Houses on stilts.

The second barge of the day is going downstream with a small load.  No wakes for us.

This barge looks full!! Too full for the grey tops to pull over it. Full of ??

We always wonder what exactly is being barged up / down the river.  Oil, chemicals, mulch?  Sand, gravel, and what-nots.

Didn’t this day turn out beautiful!?!  I just had to share!

We heard a tow pushing 16 empty barges was on his way down river.  Watch out!!  They looked empty and riding high on the water.  I thought the little “go-fast” boat would help with a sense of size for these barges.  We passed each other as if we were strangers in the night.  He stayed on his side of the channel.  We stayed on ours.  I waved just in case they were watching.

We were so excited that we were finally close to the Pickwick Lock.  At 2pm and we figured we would be at our marina for the night in no time at all!  Yippee!!

Slowly approaching Pickwick Lock

However, that is not how it turned out.  There were 9 Pleasure Crafts bunching up near the entrance to the Pickwick Lock.  They have their large chamber down and were only using the small chamber.  Egads.  There is a tow in the process of locking through up and down so we will have to wait for a bit.  A current saying we have heard a bunch lately:  When the Lock Master says 30 min. he means an hour.  If he says an hour, he really means 2hours.  We were told it’ll be about an hour. ( imagine southern accent on the hour.)  We ended up waiting over 3 hours… ‘ours’…

The Lock master asked us to lock through rafting to one another.  The three largest boats would tie off to the 3 floating bollards.  Then 2 each would raft off the largest boat.  3 by 3. It took awhile to get us all organized and rafted together.  Going Up 55 feet!  From start to finish getting all 9 boats in and out took almost an ‘our’ itself.

3 rows of 3 boats attached to 3 floating bollards

My single line holding 3 Pleasure Crafts – glad we have really good thick lines on these occasions.

I have to admit that having 3 boats on my line was a bit stressful.  3 boats!!!  I did NOT leave my line unattended at all.  I was so nervous.  Those other 2 boats and their faith that I did everything correctly to tie our Always Home to the bollard perfectly to begin with.  Then they rafted to us.  Stress!!  Is it 5 o’clock yet?  anywhere?

The Pickwick Lock door slowly closing behind us.

The Pickwick lock is constructed of steel and concrete.  Pebbles are exposed and really present a nice image.  Especially when you are almost nose to nose with the wall.  The pebbles also hide the slime.  I couldn’t see any!  No critters this afternoon.  No plants growing in the cracks.  Really clean.

Finally leaving Pickwick Lock as the afternoon wanes

Pickwick Lake is gorgeous.  The houses on the mountain side overlooking the lake are gorgeous as well.  They must have million dollar views!

After leaving the lock, the 9 boats peeled off into different directions.

Boats going in different directions – or X marks the spot!

A few went into the Pickwick State Park Marina, a few off to anchoring locations, and the rest to the same marina we were going.  The Grand Harbor Marina, Counce, TN.  The dock master was gone for the day by the time we 4 boats arrived.  The security guard and the help of fellow boaters helped us all dock safely at 6pm.  Wow, what a long day!

Sunset on Pickwick Lake at the Grand Harbor Marina

Good Morning, Fog’ Lovers!!  We were up early but had to wait a bit for the morning sun to burn off the fog.  We are planning a 62 mile day up-bound going south on the Tennessee River.  Still cracks me up.  We are going south geographically but against the river flow going north.  Who does this kind of thing?  Mother Nature!!  Her sense of humor always shows in curious ways.  😉

Early Morning looking out into the TN River

The cold front has passed and the weather forecast is a beautiful sunny day!  Outstanding!

Sunrise clouds and mist at Pebble Isle Marina

We decided to throw the lines and leave the marina as we watched the misty skies clear.  We were in such a hurry that we forgot all about the famous cinnamon buns offered by the marina.  You folks that stop here in the future….eat one for us!!

Leaving Pebble Isle Marina

8am Entering the Tennessee River

The skies cleared.  Mid 60°F – low 80°F is today’s weather expectation.

First barge of the day!

We find it the homes on stilts understandable since the river rises occasionally.  These homes on top if the rocks have perfect river frontage.

Homes along the river

Did you see the tall lighthouse looking house?  I think it is a house.  Has doors, windows, and a porch.  Hope they have an elevator to go UP and DOWN that tall thin home.

Scenery along the TN River’s edge

The other side of the river

Every time I see layers of rocks, I always think of Tree Rings.  What stories do these layers of rock hold?  Were they formed all at once of layer upon layer over time?  Eons?  Minutes?  Only if they could talk.

We arrived at Clifton Marina by mid afternoon.  We barely tucked into a slip next to the fuel dock.  There were already 3 other Loopers.  They welcomed us and helped with our lines.  A 5:30pm Dock-tail is planned.  Dinner afterwards.  Stories for everyone to share.  How exciting!

As I was getting my notebooks off the fly bridge, I spied a new visitor.  We told all the others we passed that they were welcome to stop and rest if they needed to.  We are all going in the same direction, after all.

Butterfly resting on Wayne’s sunglass case

Good morning, Weather Watchers!!  We decided to stay another day at the Pebble Isle Marina.  The weather continues to be Autumn Cool, cloudy, misty, and cold.  We are still wearing our woolens, gloves, and knit caps.  Brrrr.  Grey skies all day forecasted until later this afternoon.  It was windy last night enough to rock Always Home.

We have limited Verizon coverage which means 1 – 2 dots on my phone at 3G reception.  I only have a couple of photos from our day here.

We have spent time with other Loopers. We had lunch that consisted of a huge Brownie & Ice cream dessert and coffee in the marina grill.  They have a high-speed wifi in the cafe so we could catch up on the news while enjoying our ice-cream. We had a warm blanket around our shoulders during our nap and TV watching.

Early morning in Pebble Isle Marina

Around 5pm we finally saw blue skies.  The temperature had warmed.  Folks started coming out of their boats.  I think it was half-time for some football game on TV.

Boat at the entrance

Tomorrow is forecasted to be a wonderful day.  Onward to Clifton, we go!!

Good Morning Campers and Cruisers!!  We have decided to go a quick 30 miles south to Pebble Isle Marina in New Johnsonville, TN. today.  We are expecting cool temperatures and cloudy skies all day.  No rain and a bit of wind that we should be able to handle without too much trouble.  8mph winds in the morning with gusts up to 18mph.  We are hoping for more steady wind and less ‘gusts’ today.  Cool Temps?  Well, it is in the low 50’s and our woolens have found a home on our heads, feet, and hands.

Leaving Paris Landing State Park Marina

It was exceedingly quiet at the Paris Landing State Park last night.  We enjoyed the quiet.  Our lines were squeaking during the night as the wind picked up from time to time.  A rhythm of sorts.  Squeak, squeak…quiet.  Squeak, squeak…quiet.

Danville-Faxon Ferry crossing the road

Then the rail road bridge with a span removed.  What?  A bridge that really isn’t a bridge?  Maybe they should call it an obstruction?!  We cruised right through the bridge opening like it wasn’t even there!

Old Louisville & Nashville Roal Road Bridge

In case we were not sure what to expect after the bridge that wasn’t, there is a dock that isn’t.  It is labeled “abandoned dock” on the charts and books.  I am surprised there is no For Sale sign on it.  River front location.  Right?

The wind is at our back and after leaving the Paris Landing State Park, the river smoothed out.  We were concerned that turning into the Pebble Isle Marina might be turbulent since we were going into the RDB to get to it.  (RDB = our left side )  The turn into the marina entry wasn’t too bad at all.  The marina is in a rather large cove right off the river.

Entering Pebble Isle Marina

We followed 2 other Loopers into the marina.  There were also two Loopers at the marina already.  Before the day is out, another Looper or two showed up.  A popular stop.  The crew from Sweet Sensation told us about a couple of guys playing in the marina grill.  4:30pm.  Perfect timing for an early dinner and a song?!

The Professor and The Bull – sang us a tune or two after dinner

Always Home at dockside at Pebble Isle Marina, New Johnsonville, TN