What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been

Happy Halloween!

The Island Flag and the Pirate Girl!



Tricks for us with another early wake up only to be delayed by a tow boat, "Hazel", beating us to Fulton Lock.  Once we heard "Hazel" tell the lock master that they were secure, we called the lock master to let him know we would like to lock down when "Hazel" was done.  It was a drizzly morning with a 100% chance of rain predicted for the day. 

On the Tennessee River we went with Bill and Rita's technique of trading jobs in the lock every other one.  One tends the lines, the other drives obviously, then switch for the next lock.  First day of locks on the Tenn-Tom Linda decided it would be trade every other day of locking instead.  So far that has put Linda out tending lines when it was raining, freezing cold, and raining again. 

We pulled up anchor about an hour later than intended at 8:00 a.m.  A half hour later we were in Fulton Lock for 15 minutes.  About half way to Wilkins Lock we had "Hazel" in sight so we asked their opinion on us falling back or pulling ahead of them.  They were kind enough to suggest we get ahead of them, so we bumped up the RPMs for about an hour to overtake them and get some time between us so we did not delay them at the lock.  The winds were increasing enough to make about one foot white caps near Smithville, Mississippi, where the lake is only marginally wide.  This made driving the boat into the locks not the best of jobs either.  We were in Wilkins Lock at 11:00 a.m. and out in 15 minutes again.  Amory Lock is only about seven miles downstream, so we were in and out of there a little over an hour later with this lock running slower and the rain falling harder.  The Amory Lock master also failed to inform us that the bollard we were heading for was not there, so that took a few extra minutes in the rain and wind to find the next one.

We thought we were having deja vu in the time warp of locking.  About half way to Aberdeen Lock there was another down bound tow ahead of us.  This time it was "Mr. David", whom we saw on the Tennessee River and heard him behind us yesterday.  It is amazing to realize they travel 24 hours a day, yet we can overtake them after we have been moored at least 12 hours or more.  So again, we got permission from "Mr. David" to overtake them.  It was another hour of revved up RPMs, but so worth it after our delay yesterday.  The rain subsided, but the winds picked up just at the right time for our last lock of the day.  We bounced down the lock wall a few times but finally got tied in on our third attempt.  The rain and wind continued to pick up more than ever upon our departure.

A few hours more of traveling through these conditions made for an extraordinary long day looking through a spotted glass.  Not much to be seen.  About ten hours after we lifted the anchor we dropped it once again, this time at the Dewayne Hayes Recreational Area near Columbus, Mississippi.  This is one of the more enjoyable anchorages on the Tenn-Tom, but our late arrival and weather conditions forced us to stay inside.  We lit the jack o' lantern and sat her by the back door to enjoy since we were sick of sitting in the soggy sky lounge all day.  We are planning on going to shore in the morning, just not sure how long we might stay and enjoy it.