Time Out

Viridian took on 100 gallons of diesel fuel yesterday and is now tucked away in a slip for the weekend.  A cold front is predicted to pass Friday and Saturday, so we decided to stay put as the next two days require anchoring somewhere on the Tenn-Tom.  This stop worked well for us because a couple who are good friends of ours has a daughter who is getting married this weekend and we are able to rent a car and take a short 3 hr. drive back to Huntsville, AL to attend the wedding.  Can also pick up a few more things we think we need.

Yesterday while we were taking on fuel a man came by while I was pumping and said, "I bet you don't remember me.”  I looked up and the sun was directly over his shoulder so I had to shield my eyes in order to make out any features.  Well, I didn't recognize him at first but quickly realized that he was the captain of the pirate ship Good Fortune who helped us get up the Tenn-Tom last Fall.  He just so happened to be taking another yacht upriver for the last time.  This is where we met last year, at Columbus Marina.  I have a big section in this blog about our voyage north in 2016. 

I'm very excited to get to go to Amanda and Will's wedding tomorrow.  I do love weddings, and we've been friends with the Schrenks since our children were born.  We'll head back to Viridian Sunday morning.  

 

That's the news and here's the views:

This is the first thing that must be done every morning

 Tied up at Columbus Maria, MS

 Early morning in Mississippi

 Columbus Marina store and fuel dock

 Taken at maximum zoom with a Panasonic Lumix 25-600 digital SLR

Another at max zoom

 Finishing up morning walk

 A different kind of bird  (one of the ever present USAF training aircraft)

 Columbus Dam

Cleaning those nasty fenders!

South to Columbus, MS

We were on the River at 7:00 AM to start the trip South to Columbus Marina, MS.  It felt like we were standing in a freezer on the fly bridge this morning so Meg went downstairs to do some "stuff" till it warmed a bit.  There were 7 Looper boats in our flotilla today, all headed for Columbus with the exception of Corsica Lady, who always anchors out whenever possible.  Three of the four locks were standing open waiting for us to load up.  The last lock had a tug doing down river in it so we had to drop anchor and wait about 45 minutes for the Lockmaster to cycle back up to get us.  So, we were able to cover 60 miles today and get tied up before we ran out of daylight.

By looking at the photos one might think that all there was to the Tenn-Tom were locks and barges.  That's for sure one of the things that demands our undivided attention, but between these events there are hours of incredible scenery that I can't do justice to describing, and our cameras only capture a small slice of the real-time experience.  So, here again are samples of some small slices of our voyage to Columbus, MS today.

That's the news and here's the views:

We are here

Today's route from Midway Marina, MS to Columbus Marina, MS

Pre-sunup cruising through light fog toward the lock at Midway

Here comes the sun!

Doors not closing correctly on this lock

This is what most of the Tenn-Tom looks like so far.

Look softly and carry an aluminum stick

Anchoring above the lock waiting for tug to clear below

Good time to blow soot out of the diesel getting past these tugs

Going south

Dancing with Tugs

Today we spent as much time dancing with tugs (sitting at anchor waiting on tugs to clear the locks) as we did actually moving.  Our plan was to get to Smithville Marina and tie up out of the wind.  We had to settle for plan B and stay with 13 other Loopers at Midway Marina.  On the positive side, we got to practice setting and retrieving our anchor, so now we feel more confident in dropping it whenever we need to.  As usual, the Loopers self organize and make locking through and filing into marinas smooth.

That's the news and here's the views:

We are here

Today's route from Five Fingers to Midway Marina, MS

Sunrise on the Loop

 Locking Loppers at Whitten

Tucked away for the night at Midway Marina, MS.

First Anchorage of the Trip

We enjoyed a relaxing stay at Grand Harbor and were able to go shopping and secure our new driver's licenses that William mailed to us.  Taking our time and practicing to become "laid back Loopers", we departed GH after getting a pump-out and helping fellow Loopers get away in the 10 mph west wind that was blowing off the beam.  Our cruise to 5 Fingers anchorage was about 32 miles with no lock to pass through.  This portion of the Tenn-Tom is called "the big cut" because it is a ditch the Corps of Engineers dug to connect Yellow Creek to the headwaters of the Tombigbee.  The wind blew all the way and made for a rather cool ride.  We detected a tug meeting us in a 90 deg. bend with the aid of AIS (automatic identification system) so we idled back and waited for it to come around so we could pass in a straight portion of the ditch.  Several tugs were sitting still on the waterway so I asked one why were they not moving.  He said that they had been given a stand-down order and were not told the reason.  The ditch gave way to Whitten Lake, where we moved behind the dam and turned to port into a slough that is shaped like a hand (5 Fingers).  All fingers are running north so we would be protected from the winds coming out of the west (we picked the forefinger to anchor in).  The anchor didn't stick the first try, so we repositioned and it took hold the second time.  Once we got situated we lowered the dinghy and started exploring the area.  The "finger" had sandy beaches all around and the wind was calm.  After some hiking and taking photos, we dinghied back to Viridian and Meg prepared a wonderful Italian meal using fresh seasonings she got in Corinth, MS.  The sunset and the view were stunning.

That's the news and here's the views:

We are here

Today's route from Grand Harbor to Five Fingers Anchorage, Lake Whitten, MS

Heading from Grand Harbor down Yellow Creek toward "the big cut"

Passing Goat Island to starboard

Goat Island Recreation Area

Tugs too big to get in a single photo frame

Hwy 72?

Inside the "Cut"

Runoff Control

Stationary Tugs

Detected this tug in 90 deg bend with AIS.  Waited for it to come through

And there she goes!

More Stationary Tugs

First Mate taking the helm for a while

Down the "Ditch"we go

Illinois Central Gulf RR Bridge

Manicured Banks all the way down

Leaving the "Ditch" for the open waters of Whitten Backwater

Our first anchorage on the Loop.  Great place called 5 Fingers.  A slough shaped like hand with five fingers running north and south.  Kept us out of the strong westerly winds.

Viridian at anchor in 5 fingers

Went exploring on the sandy beaches around the index finger

Hello Everybody!

A view from Viridian

Best Italian meal ever!

The day comes to an end

And so does the meal

Most peaceful place on earth!