Columbus MS to Grand Harbor MS

Aug. 1 to Aug. 2, 2016 total miles 116

  After arriving at Columbus MS in May we took a 2 month hiatus from the boat and went to MI to visit family and friends. Now we are back on the boat and moving north as far as Knoxville TN. It is good to be traveling again but it also means we are back in the land (water) of Locks & Tows! We are traveling on what is called the Tennessee- Tombigbee Waterway (Tenn-Tom), which was built between 1971 & 1985. This waterway is 234 miles long and goes from the Tennessee River south to Demopolis, AL.

 

4 day old baby birds at Columbus MS.

  Our first day on the water we passed/met 4 tows and went through 4 locks. Those locks combined raised us a total of 107 feet above sea level. The temperatures this time of year are just plain HOT. The average is in the mid 90's and then you add 90% humidity on top of that. Needless to say we are not doing our usual with anchoring out but instead going to marinas for AC. We will be traveling back this way in Sept. which will be cooler and less humid so we can anchor out then.

Tow with barges.

 

 blue & white herons

Some of the scenery along the way.

 

 Approaching Rankin lock early in the morning.

  The second day took us through 3 locks and we only met 2 tows. Those locks combined raised us 114' above sea level. One lock alone (Whitten) raised us 84'. We also passed through another piece of history today called the Divide Cut. This section of the waterway is a man made ditch which is 24 miles long, 280' wide bank to bank and is lined with stone called riprap.

Whitten Lock waiting for doors to open. This lock will take us up 84'.

Going into Whitten Lock.

 

Waiting for doors to shut. (If you look at the lock wall, the dark cement is wet.

That is how far up we will be raised.) 

Traveling thru the Divide Cut.

 

 Coyote on the bank.