The Sterling Lady on America's Great Loop for the Second time
10/24/09
It's still cold, 40S this am. Went for a 1.6 mile walk on the marked trail in the woods.
Two of our last nites winners proudly displayed their flags.
Jimmy and his Wife of Riff Raft put on a Shrimp Boil for everyone.
and wouldn't ya know it,
Everyone showed up!
<-----Punkin
This boater went all out on Holloween decorations!
10/26/09
Decided to head south, Finally, gotta go where it's Warm! Joe Wheeler lock was ready for us.
We locked thru with a Norhaven from Chattanooga.
Our next lock ,Wilson, has a 95 foot drop. Watch this gate come out of from under the water, and our drop.
The gate comes up from the bottom... then. the water goes out.
and we start dropping,,
and dropping...
about 20 minutes later we are 95 feet lower.
We secure the boat midship with one line, tied to the floating Bollard that goes up and down with the water.
It a chilly, flat calm day, so I drove from below, with the heat on.
Tonite we will sleep at Aqua Yacht Harbor, complete with courtesy car, shopping, and laundry.
The transient docks are exposed to a north wind. tomorrows forcast,, rain.
10/27/09
Another chilly day, in the 40's, so I am driving from below, Honda generator running the heater.
This part of the Tenn Tom is a narrow man made canal. The creeks that enter have these falls to slow the flow.
It's fall in Mississippi.
Tonite we slept at Bay Springs Marina
10/28/09
This AM we stayed at the marina till 10 am, as the lock was putting through a commercial tow.
The river is narrower,and shallower, about 14 feet.
Passing on the "one" whistle.
Just a bit tight!
Today we will travel 21 miles and three dams. After this mornings delay, we lock right through each dam.
We are only 801 miles from the dock at home, as the crow flies anyway.
The Lady @ Midway Marina. $1 a foot, cable, wifi, courtesy car and WalMart. What else could you want??
The view from the aft deck.
The crews of "the Other Woman", "JeJuda" the "Sterlilng Lady" and Spanky the Monkee @ dinner.
Pretty much had the place to ourselves
10/29/09
Another sun less,cold,spitting rainy day today,but luckily, I can follow JeJuda and drive from below, out of the elements.
Passing a tow, I stay right behind JeJuda. As you can see, I can't see much from down here.
Coming into Aberdeen, you go thru a well marked chanel that winds thru a cypress tree stump field.
This is what happens to a turkey breast when the captain, in his feeble attempt to fix the oven dial, managed to make the temperature alot highter than indicated..opps.
Luckily, the two Judy's came to the rescue and managed to salvage the meal. It actually turned out pretty good.
10/29/09
With the fuel tanks full, we wind our way out the well marked chanel.
There is a lot of debree, due to the river being flooded. You can see how Jejuda is making me a clear path.
Now this is real waterfront property!
The white cliffs at Epes.
And the Sun is out!!!
As we headed south,the debris lessened and the barge traffic was light.
JeJuda and cliffs.
The trees are becoming very colorfull.
In places,Cottages lined the shore
It was a long day, but the currents helped us arrive at Demopolis marina, about 5 pm.
11/1/03
The Rivers are still flooded, we left Demopolis at 6 am, and locked right thru. Here you can see the water coming over the dam, giving us an additional 3.5 mph in speed.
As per usual, the shore line continually changes.
I can tell we are getting farther south, the trees are covered with hanging moss.
Some very unusual rock formation along the shoreline.
You can see how the river is "swollen"
The farther south we go, the wider the river gets.
and very very crooked.
Becasuse the currents were so swift, some of the marker bouys, like the one picture here, were forced under water, occasioinally popping up.
<---Bouy just before going under...
<-------same bouy under water
seconds later.
Several flocks of Ganules were on the rivers.
Traffic was light.
It's very much fall.
