Sunday, November 01, 2009
From Somewhere to Columbus, Mississippi on the Tenn Tom Waterway
November 1, 2009
We FINALLY have a good Internet connection. Pictures will come later.
The Fulton Lockmaster (the lock just a few miles past Midway Marina, wherever that is located)called bright and early to say that he would be ready for southbound boats within the hour. Since I was still in bed, that meant some fast moving for so early in the morning. Dew was heavy, so we had to wipe down the flybridge seats and all the Isenglass just to be able to see as we drove. Running a few mintues late, we tried to cast off, but the boat didn't move. All of the "greens" held us hostage until Bob gave a quick blast with the engines forward and back to clear the props. Fish may love the aquatic weeds, but boaters don't! This action was repeated several times until we got to deeper water. By 10 a.m. we had gone through Fulton and Wilkins locks and were entering our third one, Amory. Somehow along the way we grabbed granola bars for breakfast and finished dressing.
The terrain has changed now. It is flatter, and the fall foliage is not quite so far advanced. We see lots of cyprus trees and very little development. The waterway probably looks very much like it did when it first opened in 1985. We are still cruising with a flotilla of south-bound boats. Many of us have stopped for the night at the Columbus Marina, where the WiFi actually works! Tonight we'll join the Levines, the Suttons, and a sailor named Pete for dinner at the marina restaurant, which is open for boaters only (being Sunday). The dockmaster "T" indicated that they are happy this time of year when all the Loopers and snowbirds are coming through. I'm sure marinas have really felt the economy too, and having so many transient boaters stopping for overnight dockage and fuel certainly helps.
I doubt that we will have much Internet access for the the next few days. I'll catch up again whenever we do. Pictures won't be posted until we go home for a short visit mid-November.
We FINALLY have a good Internet connection. Pictures will come later.
The Fulton Lockmaster (the lock just a few miles past Midway Marina, wherever that is located)called bright and early to say that he would be ready for southbound boats within the hour. Since I was still in bed, that meant some fast moving for so early in the morning. Dew was heavy, so we had to wipe down the flybridge seats and all the Isenglass just to be able to see as we drove. Running a few mintues late, we tried to cast off, but the boat didn't move. All of the "greens" held us hostage until Bob gave a quick blast with the engines forward and back to clear the props. Fish may love the aquatic weeds, but boaters don't! This action was repeated several times until we got to deeper water. By 10 a.m. we had gone through Fulton and Wilkins locks and were entering our third one, Amory. Somehow along the way we grabbed granola bars for breakfast and finished dressing.
The terrain has changed now. It is flatter, and the fall foliage is not quite so far advanced. We see lots of cyprus trees and very little development. The waterway probably looks very much like it did when it first opened in 1985. We are still cruising with a flotilla of south-bound boats. Many of us have stopped for the night at the Columbus Marina, where the WiFi actually works! Tonight we'll join the Levines, the Suttons, and a sailor named Pete for dinner at the marina restaurant, which is open for boaters only (being Sunday). The dockmaster "T" indicated that they are happy this time of year when all the Loopers and snowbirds are coming through. I'm sure marinas have really felt the economy too, and having so many transient boaters stopping for overnight dockage and fuel certainly helps.
I doubt that we will have much Internet access for the the next few days. I'll catch up again whenever we do. Pictures won't be posted until we go home for a short visit mid-November.
