Rain, Rain, GO AWAY–Midway Marina

Day 178 … Sun, Oct 15, 2017 … 19.7 miles; 6:15 hours

Bay Springs to Midway Marina

3 Locks today. The first is right by the anchorage, so somewhat easier to plan for … the other two will take as long as it takes depending on how many commercial vessels have to lock before us.

The first lock, Jamie Whitten Lock & Dam, is an 84’ drop!!! We went thru with 2 sailboats that anchored near us last night.

Each lock has a stop light; do NOT enter when it is RED, even if the doors are open for you. When it turns GREEN, we can enter and tie to one of the floating pins on the wall.

There is also a wind sock, to help you know how to enter & tie up

This lock has several places where it was leaking; Rip got wet hold the boat in place

We are now on the Tennessee Tom Bigbee Waterway (AKA the Tenn-Tom); it connects the TennesseeRiver to the Tom Bigbee Waterway. The Tenn-Tom is a modern marvel … it cost more to build than the original Panama Canal and moved more earth than the original Panama Canal.

By the 2nd lock, Sonny Montgomery Lock & Dam, 3 power boats joined us; making 6 to lock thru the 2nd & 3rd locks (Rankin Lock & Dam) of the day; each a 30’ drop.

Doors open and ready for us to enter … see the waterway way, way out there past the closed front doors?

Looking out the full lock … to the waterway below us

Another lock looking out to the waterway below

Rip handling the line to hold the boat in place

Power boats entering behind us

Power boats secure along the lock wall for the ride down

and … down we go

See the doors at the top/center? that part opens and closes. the solid portion below the doors (the sill) is what boats pass over when the lock is filled and they are leaving having gone up to the next waterway level.

Lab Partners secure along the wall; waiting to go down

We waited for the 1st 2 locks to be ready for us; the 3rd lock was open and ready when we arrived!!

As soon as we came out of the 3rd lock storm clouds finally took over. The other 4 boats were going into a marina, so we called them & secured a spot for the night also.

Docking in a driving rain storm is NOT fun. Rip did a great job, though it was a bit ugly at times. This pic is seconds before the torrential downpour.

We are docked, but you can see another boat coming in the channel to the marina

That is the narrow path into the marina

About 90 minutes after arrival, the rain finally let up and Cally could get to shore

Sunset at Midway Marina

Bay Springs has a Park for Shore Dooty

Day 177 … Sat, Oct 14, 2017 … 42.6 miles; 5:15 hours

Dry Creek to Say Springs

No locks today!! it makes for a much easier time to plan departure & arrival when you do not have to wait for locks to take you through.

We had to wait for this tow to get on a straight away so we could pass him

Rip picked this anchorage because it is just 1 cove over from the 1st lock we do tomorrow AND it has a park with boat ramp, dinghy dock and trash can for us to use.

Not particularly scenic, but quiet and easy for shore dooty.

Also, easy to plan when to leave in the  am. We will call the lock and go when they say they are ready for us.

Beautiful Anchorage at Dry Creek

Day 176 … Oct 13, 2017 … 42.1 miles; 8 hours; 1 lock

Swallow Bluff Island to Dry Creek

Sights along the way …

House made of shipping containers; bottom 2 rows perpendicular to the top 2 rows

Wildlife along the way

Only 1 lock today!! Pickwick Lock & Dam is a 55’ rise to Pickwick Lake. You can see the water boiling out as they drain water from the lock to lower to our water level to let us inside. then, we ride up.

Good night at Dry Creek anchorage; this was a beautiful spot. Not great for shore dooty (acceptable), but so serene.

Swallow Bluff Island … has goats

Day 175 … Thurs, Oct 12, 2017 … 43.6 miles; 5:30 hours
Densons Island to Swallow Bluff Island
Very overcast and cool this morning. Below is the anchorage we left this am; Scott Free is still there.

Scenes along the way today …

What do you think it took to create this beach volley ball site?? And, why??

Often, one side of the river is granite/rock cliffs

While the other side is low; here with a home made boat ramp for locals

Often there was a “town” comprised of camper sites.

Big tall sheds where you pull the RV or camper under to protect from heat & sun. Many have beaches or floating docks

Wildlife along the way today …


Our anchorage for tonight … another island we ducked behind to separate us from the river traffic.

Below, Cally’s little island for shore dooty is left. the big island to the right has goats on it!!

There is a terrific beach FINALLY!!!! Cally gets to go off leash and run to her hearts content. Well, she gets to run on the small island. The big island has GOATS. We saw 3 as we entered, but haven’t seen any along the shoreline by the boat to take pics of, yet.