Oct 23rd - Oct 28th: Tenn-Tom Waterway

UPDATE - Port engine was repaired late Friday, Oct28th.  We are back underway.  Should be in Demopolis, AL on Tuesday, Nov 1st.  Will update than.


We are now on the Tenn-Tom waterway, heading toward Mobile AL.  You might wonder why there is no end date on this post.  It will be explained in a moment.


We stayed the evening of October 23rd at Grand Harbor Marina which is at the start of the Tenn - Tom.  A waterway from Pickwick Lake in Tenn/Mississippi/Alabama (the boarders of all three states meet here ) down to Mobile, AL.  The Tenn-Tom travels 450 miles and drops in elevation (heading south) 341 feet through 10 locks.  Although it had been proposed and studied over many years (starting in the 1700's), construction did not begin until 1972.  Completed in December of 1984 and dedicated in June of 1985, the construction moved more earth than was moved during the construction of the Panama Canal and shortens the water distance from Pensacola, Fl to Chattanooga TN by 720 miles since vessels do not have to travel the length of the Mississippi River.


The first night from Grand Harbor was spent at anchor in a nice little cove we had used during our 2007 trip.  Underway on the 25th, we noted the port engine was emitting a good deal of smoke.  After entered the first lock, we shut both engines off.  When we got ready to depart, the port engine would not start.  The next 18 miles and two locks were done on a single engine.  Teresa did a great job maneuvering in both locks and making the docking at Midway Marina in Fulton, MS, our present location.


After discussion with a diesel mechanic and looking at some other indicators, the verdict was blown gaskets on the engine cylinder head.  As our friend Larry Hayde would say - A trip stopper !!


The engine cylinder heads were removed by the evening of the 25th and are presently in the shop to be cleaned and checked for flatness.  We are hoping they will return tomorrow, the 27th and with any luck we will be underway again on Friday the 28th.   We'll keep you informed.

The Tenn-Tom still has a good deal of barge traffic on it, although the tows
are generally not as large as those encountered on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers

The northern section of the Tenn-Tom is quite similar to the Tennessee River and the fall colors are starting to come out

This is the third or fourth time we have seen eagles on the trip.  In this
case there were two in trees very close to one another

A majestic bird

A tow passing the Midway Marina.  When the Tenn-Tom was constructed,
the main channel was dug out, but many trees and stumps remain
just outside the channel

Midway Marina

This is what our normal engine looks like

This is the port engine with the cylinder head removed.  Don't worry,
I'm sure there'll be no bolts or washers left over when it's put back together.

Oct 20th - Oct 22rd: Completion of Tennessee River

  For those following the blog, I am going to make two posts today.  The first, the one you are reading, will complete our travel on the Tennessee River, going back to the beginning of the Tennessee-Tombigbee (Tenn-Tom) waterway.  The second will cover the first few days on the Tenn-Tom.
    
We left Chattanooga on the Monday, October 17th with Teresa's mom Bailey on board.  Traveling west, we stopped at Hales Bar, Goose Pond, Ditto Landing and Riverwalk Marina in Decatur.
    
The night before Bailey's departure, we hosted a little dinner party on GREAT ESCAPE with Bailey and the friends we met at Joe Wheeler State Park who keep their boats at Riverwalk.  Once again, Dr. Joe Backe and his wife Kathy were gracious enough to let us use their slip while their boat is undergoing repairs.
    
Teresa prepared a wonderful dinner and we managed to squeeze 10 people on board for dinner - a new GREAT ESCAPE record.  The only downfall of the evening was that Donald had lost a wager over the Florida-Auburn football game and had to wear an Auburn Tiger jersey all night (his skin is still itching).  
   
Teresa's mom departed for home on Friday, October 21st and we returned to have another wonderful dinner hosted by John and Jan Clemons on their boat DAZE OFF.  John smoked chicken on his $10,000 smoker (hey, that's what I was told it cost.  John is a precision machinist owning his own company and made the smoker himself and it is amazing).  


Saying goodbye was difficult, as always, but Shipmate went into a depressed state because he missed the attention provided by Bailey and John.  We stopped for one night at Joe Wheeler to say hello to fellow loopers gathering there for the fall rendezvous and than continued on to Iuka, MS where we joined the Tenn-Tom, which will be continued on the next post. 

Heading toward Decatur, we locked down with this 52' vessel, which was being delivered by a captain single handed.  He only had fenders rigged on is port side, so he needed to enter the lock and turn around.  In this picture and the following sequence, we are leaving the lock and you can see him turning again so that he can follow us out.

Does Bailey feel the vultures?

John Clemons telling a story and Kathy Backe not sure if she
believes him 

The Boyz with their new best friend

JoAnn Hyde and Jan Clemons enjoying a laugh

The men enjoying a beverage

Mufasa telling John a secret

Auburn 17 - Florida 6

The ladies and Stan Hyde 

Joe Backe and John 

Please, take me home with you

Please do not count the dead soldiers

Bailey at the airport.  Why can't all travelers look so good?

Heading for the plane

Teresa and Jan the next evening on the dock

John, Bob and Stan - It was a little cooler this evening

It was a little foggy up river when we left Decatur. Luckily
we were heading in the opposite direction

Oct 7th - Oct 19th : Tennessee River to Chattanooga and back

Since the last post, we have traveled up the Tennessee River to Chattanooga where we were joined by Teresa's mom for a week visit.  We spent four wonderful days exploring Chattanooga and the surrounding area.  We are now headed back toward the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway to continue our trip toward Mobile, AL.


This side trip has been great.  Travelling to Chattanooga, we traversed four locks which raised us a total of 220 feet to the highest elevation above sea level we have had on the trip.  Most of the trip has been through northern Alabama with the last day (about 30 miles) in the state of Tennessee.  The river, dams, locks, and a lot of the land bordering the river is owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).  TVA uses the dams and locks to control the water level during the spring rains and to generated electrical power.  The views have been spectacular, with the leaves changing color.  We probably missed the peak colors by week or two, but the leaves have still been beautiful.  The city of Chattanooga was a terrific stop, with world class attractions, a free public transportation system, fine dining, great pubs, etc.  You get the idea.
    
During our trip we met a group of boaters from Decatur, AL with whom we had the opportunity to spend a fun-filled weekend.  See their pictures below.
    
We will say good-bye to Teresa's mom this coming Friday (the 21st) and proceed with our travel down toward Mobile.  Right now we are looking to be in the Florida panhandle about a month from now.

Our first stop was Florence, AL which had a bass tournament the
morning we were leaving.  Over 100 boats started prior to these.

This is the Wilson Lock.  With a lift of 93 feet, it is the tallest
lift we will experience on the trip

Turbulence while they are filling the lock

This tow was waiting at the top of the lock to lock down.
A little tight passing him on our way out.

At the top of the lock, the depth beneath GREAT ESCAPE
was 128 feet

A nice little cottage along the river

At the Wheeler Lock, when the lock emptied the water
went into this "diffuser" which looked like a huge water fountain

Tug ADDI BELLE was ahead of us going into the Wheeler Lock

Our next stop was Joe Wheeler State Park which was a beautiful location. While there we were adopted by three other boats
who operated out of Decatur, Al. 

Jan Clemons, JoAnn Hyde, John Clemons, Joe Backe and Don

JoAnn Hyde, Jan Clemons, Joe and Kathy Backe

This is the Brown's Ferry Nuclear generating plant, operated
by the TVA.  When it was built in1974,
it was the 4th largest in the world

Scenery along the river 

Although it may be hard to read, this is a Gray Bat Sanctuary.  During the Summer, 20 to 40 THOUSAND bats live and roam out of this cave.  Since they are a threatened species, the cave is fenced off to keep people out

Passing under a bridge when they were in the process of lifting
steel support beams for another span.  Obviously, NO WAKE

Getting close to Chattanooga, the river runs through a narrow gorge.
This morning the hills were shrouded by the clouds

Another little cottage

The SOUTHERN BELLE, which operated out of the Chattanooga waterfront

Teresa's mom Bailey arrives at the Nashville airport for a week visit

GREAT ESCAPE at the Chattanooga waterfront

One attraction we took in was the Lookout Mountain inclined
railway.  This is from the bottom looking toward the summit

The rail house at the top

On a clear day you can see forever at the top of Lookout Mountain

The rail car approaching the top

This gives a perspective of the steepness of the rail at the top -
approaching 76 degrees

Lookout Mountain was the sight of a civil war battle during which
 there were 34,000 killed or wounded.  This memorial in the park, is the only one of its kind with a Union and a Confederate soldier shaking hands

Pathways through the park.  Can you imagine fighting a battle here?

Views of the Tennessee River from the top of Lookout Mountain

This boat pulled into the pier when the wind was blowing
a little and got cross-ways in the small canal.
Not what he had in mind for a landing.

As new grandparents, we have been dubbed Papa Don and T-Bone.  Who ever thought we'd actually find a place by this name!

Another Chattanooga attraction was Ruby Falls, a cave system
 within Lookout Mountain with a spectacular waterfall named after the
 discover's wife, Ruby

Many of the rock formations resembled a more common item

This is to prove that Bailey actually went underground into
the cave with us.  She is in the striped blouse in the background

Ruby Falls (Bailey is right of center in blue going behind the falls)

Taking a short break.  It was almost a mile walk through the cave

Two beauties with a beauty in the background

We think Shipmate has a new allegiance

Fall colors

This guy was swimming across the river 

No fish today (peanut butter for dinner).  Temperature was near 80.  Two days later it the temperature did not break 50.