Bye Bye Cows

Once we departed our private little anchorage just after seven this morning we called Wilson Lock when it was in sight.  The lock master informed us it would be about 25 minutes for him to turn the chamber around and have it ready for us.  For some reason the 93 foot drop does not seem so ominous when you are locking down.  I guess because when you enter it full it looks the same as any other lock.  Entering it from the bottom to lock up however looks like you are entering a huge prison cell with no way to get out of there.  We got through just in time as once we were passing Florence, Alabama there was a tow going to lock up and we heard another planning to lock down after that.  Ray made a wonderfully big breakfast, leaving us no need for lunch before arriving at our favorite anchorage, the waterfall on Pickwick Lake. 

We forgot we carved our name in
"the fallen tree" a long time ago

A few miles before our destination we crossed into Mississippi leaving Alabama behind for a while.  Immediately after our 2:00 p.m. beaching of the boat we set out on the dinghy to collect firewood for the evening.  Once that was piled up on shore we took a break to have a little snack.  Then it was off in the dinghy again to collect water from the waterfall to fill the water tank on the boat.  Two trips of ten gallons each seemed like it would be enough to last until we make landfall at a marina sometime in the distant future.

The next order of business was for Linda to carve her pumpkin leaving the scraps on shore for the animals.  We tried roasting the seeds in the pie iron once the campfire was started, but neither of us were crazy about them so we left the seeds for the animals too.

Enough fire wood?

What is it about a fire that mesmerizes you?  We sat out there until quite late for us enjoying Reuben sandwiches in the pie iron and s’mores for dessert.  Spike also enjoyed nightfall as usual by jumping off the bow to explore.  We were tickled at him sitting high upon the fallen tree like he was king of the mountain enjoying a bird’s eye view.  We did not find a plank for him to walk back up this time though so Linda had to lift him back aboard when he was surprisingly ready even before we were.

More never hurts