Beech Creek TN. to Bay Springs Lake MS.

Oct. 9 – Oct. 18

We left our anchorage with Annies Song, and passed a little town of Clifton with a population of around 2600. Back in 1843 when the vote was taken for the location of Tennessee’s capital, Clifton lost by only one vote. That sure would have changed the scenery along this section of the river. Farther up river we went past Shiloh National Military Park. This is the site of the Civil War’s first major battle where the lives of 23,000 men were lost in just 2 days.

Never know what kind of animals you are going to see!

 

 Here is an interesting mode of transportation to get your boat in the water.

 

We went through Pickwick lock which took us up 55 feet and put us in Pickwick Lake (still part of the TN River). This will be our last lock going up. (It’s weird traveling south but going up stream). We pulled into a gorgeous bay called Dry Creek to anchor for one night. Now this bay was definitely not dry. It was several hundred yards wide, ½ mile long and 20+ feet deep all the way in.

 

The morning we left Dry Creek we traveled 7 miles to Aqua Marina MS. leaving behind the TN River and joining the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (it’s usually called the Tenn-Tom). We ended up staying at Aqua marina for 4 days because of strong thunderstorms and one day we even had tornado warnings. While here we borrowed the courtesy van and drove to Savannah TN. for groceries, the Post Office, and a hardware store, and Corinth MS. to tour the Civil War Interpretive Center where we learned about the battles that happen in that area.

Aqua Marina.

 

 

 These items were found at this site and put into the cement walkway.

 

On Tues. the 14^th we finally got a chance to move on. We travelled south through the Divide Cut which is a manmade canal 24 miles long & 280 ft. wide that connects the Tombigbee River to the Tennessee River. Once thru the Divide Cut, we arrived in Bay Springs Lake and then anchored in Piney Grove Bay. This anchorage is one of several dozen that can be found in this lake.

 

 Bald eagle.

 

While anchored here for 3 days we took the dinghy out exploring and found several boat launches to get off the boat and go for walks. One ramp led us to a State Park and the other had a Visitors Center which was near the next lock we will be going through. It was a great time for some minor boat repairs and R&R.

 

 Randy & Lou looking at our anchorage from the State park.