November 2, 2013 Pirates Cove Marina Pickensville, AL

We hosted another planning meeting at Columbus Marina where we decided to skip my idea of running 58 miles to the Warsaw Cutoff and instead run 30 miles to Pirates Cove marina.  And as it turned out the winds we far stronger than forecast so lying in an anchorage with 5 boats rafted together would have presented a potential problem.

But before any meeting that evening we spent the late morning shopping.  We hopped into the marina van and ventured into Columbus where we saw a little of the historic sections of the town.  And of course made several stops including the Walmart, a liquor store and a Krispy Creame establishment to satisfy certain individual's cravings.

The next morning Bob gave us the word we could lock through without a wait if we left soon!  So as per usual with this group, we all got off around 8:45am.  We of course brought up the rear.

The lock was only a mile away but it was very windy especially in the lock which acted like a wind tunnel.
We missed lassoing the Bollard we were aiming for and the wind almost had us sideways in the chamber.  It took me a few minutes to pivot the boat around and back down to approach the Bollard again.  Second times the charm but even after we were secured we waffled around in the wind.  It was at this lock where we had to provide all our vessel's pertinent information such as home port, documentation number etc.  We finally skidded out of the lock fighting the wind all the way.

Look closely

Once out  it was another slow, scenic lazy day tootling down the river with a few interesting if not surprising sights along the way.  

Pickensville is where Pirates Cover marina is located.  We were informed that this was a perfect example of a rustic, backwater marina.  The entrance was off the main river channel marked by slender buoys.  We were in the area of the buoys when our depth sounder alarmed went off so I just shut it down and proceeded through the channel.  The shallow spot was only maybe 20 yards wide but you could see the mud billowing up from where we churned it off the bottom.

The marina itself is in a little tree-lined cover with plenty of depth once in the basin.  The docks are not floating but offer weathered wood planking with a spectacular array of splintered sections.  The dock hands were helpful but with that heavy southern accent I could only figure out every other word.

Our dock had two bent poles one of which you had to duck under when getting off the boat.  The other was touching the side of the boat and we had to adjust lines to angle the boat in the slip to avoid the pole.  They did have 50 amp power receptacles. First impressions can be deceiving.  We were only getting 20 amps which was marginal for any heating or other high draw electrical needs.  So we roughed it without heat!

Pieces, the other boat on our pier turned out to be from Wisconsin too.  They are also doing the loop but at a pace well beyond our speed potential.  It's a Viking 60 which is fast!

Down Yonder

Some of us decided to go out for dinner instead of cook on board and took the marina van (broken strut and all) a few miles down some back roads to a place called Eat Down Yonder.  Quaint place, but no alcohol.  Oh well.

Inside Down Yonder

We made it back to the boat and basically watched a bunch of West Wing episodes before going to bed early.  It is Daylight Savings Time tomorrow after all and we have rise earlier.  Or is that later?  Well, we have to get up before 10 whatever that really means.

October 30-31 Columbus Marina, Columbus Mississippi

Jostled around a bit this morning after a peaceful nights sleep but finally everyone had their engines running and ready to leave.  Just Fakin It and Good Grief were rafted a short distance away, and since Jeff didn't have an operational port engine he and Good Grief left together with Good Grief acting as a tow boat with Just Fakin It tied along side.  Just Fakin It had some maneuverability problems with only a single engine and in the tight confines of this river/creek it was just prudent to be towed out.

After Field Trip and Arin-E un-rafted from us we got our anchor up and ran out of the creek with out an issue.  Although I should mention that the previous night we put out our stern anchor and over the course of the night we must have drifted back and over it since I was able to pull it up this morning from the swim platform.  Basically, it didn't serve any purpose other than soaking the line and chain in fresh water.  Oh well....

We ran the 30 miles through one lock and lovely river scenery.  Fall colors you know.  Ended up running with a boat, Easy, which is a Great Harbor 37!  They came from up river and we ended up locking through with them and ultimately staying in the same marina.

Entering Columbus marina

Got to Columbus marina around 2:30 and after navigating the rather weed chocked channel, were tied up and secure at the dock.

The owner threw a little party for us this evening with free barbecue and fixings.  Really nice! 

There are about 9 transient boats in here, all heading south on Friday which may present a problem since the marinas and anchorages are few and far between for the next hundred miles and none of them can accommodate 9 boats.  So we may be here an extra day.  

Tied up in the marina

We have a van for tomorrow at 10am so we can go shopping and stock up.  It supposed to be an interesting town but with the rain forecast for tonight and tomorrow we maybe limited in what we can see.  And tomorrow I will squeeze myself into the bilge and try to permanently re-attach a bilge outlet hose to the pump nipple.  I'm giddy with excitement at the prospect of splashing around in 3 foot high bilge compartment with a few inches of unsavory bilge water.  Oh the joys ...  

October 29, 2013 Canal Cutoff mile 366 Tom-Bigee Canal

We left at a reasonable time this morning.  About 9am and the lock was ready and waiting.  In fact we had locks ready and waiting all day.  Ok, there were 3 locks, but still!

Pretty river again.  Do I keep saying that?  The fall colors are just beginning to be prevalent down here and combined with the calm river it's really scenic.  We didn't see any tows and other than a few fisherman no pleasure craft.

Armory Lock

We went through three locks.  All were locking us down which is much more relaxing than up locking.  We did have one potentially scary issue in the last lock where we had to grab a bollard very near the lock gate.  Turns out I had to back the boat up to make sure the lock gate cleared our bow.

Just Fakin it and Good Grief coming into anchorage

Our goal today was the Canal Cut-off anchorage at mile 366.  Its a basically a river flowing into the bigger river.   We nosed in and, with some advice from some local duck organization guys, sneaked our way into the river (river is more aptly described as creek) .  We anchored pretty much where some of the cruising resources we rely on said we should.  Our anchor and three boats.  But calm current and I thing I have the boat oriented between the wind and current according to the data NOAA has published.  We'll sleep well tonight!


We rafted with 3 boats this time.  Just Fakin it had an engine over heat problem after the last lock so they anchored near us with Good Grief, but not rafted to us.  Bob from Good Grief was able to lend some expertise to Jeff in solving the problem.  Turns out to be either  bad hose or bad circ pump.  So now instead of 5 rafted boats we have only three. Seems rather lonely!  And  less of a party aboard, but a party none-the-less!

We'll be heading to Columbus marina in the tomorrow and stay there a few days to wait out some storms passing through.

And still hoping for more of Diane's chocolate chip cookies!

October 28, 2013 Midway Marina near Fulton Lock

Leaving the anchorage

Our group of 5 boats remained plunked where we were.  No dragging!  We had agreed to leave around 9 but since we did have to contend with a lock we actually were able to leave abruptly at 8:30.  Did I mention aside from a few earlier risers the majority in our group favor the mild light of "not-so-early" over the harsh brightness of sunrise.

Speeding to the Whitten lock with its 84 ft. drop

But we were all in line and making speed to the lock and just behind us was a commercial tow.  Commercial tows do have priority over us puny recreational craft but in this case the tow boat captain was gracious and elected to wait while we locked through!  .

Down 84 feet from where we entered

After another lock we were lucky enough that Acapella, who had left well before us, was in the lock and told the lock master we were all coming and they'd be willing to wait.  So we were able to lock right through again.

Entering Midway marina

We had debated the anchor out or marina question on the radio and ultimately decided to just stay at Midway Marina.  Old place, with some sad looking wooden docks but the dock guys were simply great!









So here were are, 17 miles from Elvis Presley's birth house in Tupelo and no easy way to get there.  So instead of seeing where Elvis was born I fixed a loose bilge pump hose and started investigating an anchorage close to here.

In a few hours we will be having cocktails on the upper deck of Good Grief where Dianne has freshly baked cookies waiting.  Rum and cookies?  Well, we'll see!

October 27 2013 Five Fingers anchorage in Bay Springs Lake

Down the channel and entering Pickwick Lake

Sunday morning we (5 boats including us) started preparations to leave.  All of us needed a pump out and some took on fuel.  So we had  a little line of boats leaving the dock and moving over to the fuel dock.  This took awhile but we were all finally out in the channel and proceeding south by 10am

Passing a barge

Through Pickwick lake it was really stunning scenery now that the tree's are all turning.  We passed a barge or two and a few power boats went by us.  One, a boat I helped in late last night remembered our boat name and commented on my fish blue felt pants which have been serving as my only long pants during this dismaying cold snap.  I'm becoming famous for my individualistic fashion styling I guess.

Anchored in 5 Fingers Palm

Our destination was an anchorage in Bay Springs Lake and the best choice for us was The Five Fingers, which is a bay with 5 or more branches projecting off of the main bay in a finger fashion.  We anchored in the Palm of the bay in 20+ feet of water and stellar scenery.  Only one other boat was anchored there already.  Lo and Behold it was Jeff and Karen on Acapella.  We rafted up 5 boats on our anchor in 20+ feet of very still water.  Wonderful!

We initiated our usual planning meeting and then ate dinner.  I fired up the generator and made water and had the satellite on so Mary could watch the Packers for a while.  At half time everyone left and we, die hard partyers that we are, went to bed.

October 26, 2913 Grand Harbor

We spent the last several days either driving the ice "cream truck" van they lent us to various places or cleaning and working on the boat.

We did spend a half a day going to Rogers Propane to fill out grill propane tank and then on to two liquor stores and a grocery store before heading into Walmart.  But we purchased everything we needed.... or didn't need but we have them now.

$6.49 for a 5 gallon propane tank refill aint bad.

I changed the oil in both main engines and during one of our Van excursions stumbled upon a 1 inch swing check valve at Lowe's!  I can now replace the corroded one(s) we have on the bilge system.  To refresh your memory every time the bilge pumps water, the old check valves start up a staccato clanking until I let a little air in the system via a access screw.  Fun!

Course they only had one of them.  And it only took me 18 states to locate one.

Field Trip with Bob and Martha

Tonight we witnessed a boat name ceremony, a somber occasion where-in someone reads a bunch of  well worn phrases and we toast a few times and then break ranks for a party.  Somewhere in there, the previous boat name was spirituality banished and the new name was recorded  as its replacement.

The night before we were surprised to see Barefootn rolling the marina.  We spent a few wonderful hours with them remembering previous encounters (back in June/July).  Old friends equates to good times.

After we left Barefootn we stopped in briefly to see Pat and Chip and the rest of the boaters we were traveling with.  Another few hours of fun.

I was taking my late night stroll tonight and ran into the security guard who was waiting for a boat to arrive  at the marina.  He had no radio so I ran back and got one of our handhelds for him to use as a boat emerged from the dark heading in towards the marina.  Turns out it was a delivery skipper looking to stop for the night.

Ready to take off at 9 am tomorrow.  Yes we are all  wooses  waiting these last several days for the cold air to move east.  We're planning on anchoring somewhere in Bay Springs Lake before tackling the 5-6 locks the next day.

October 21-23, 2013 Grand Harbor marina

Looking out the entrance to the marina

No one in our little group rose early except Jeff so we didn't get ready to leave Pickwick Landing marina until almost noon.  Since we had pulled into the slip bow first, backing out of the slip and turning would be a trifle difficult with the dinghy hanging off the swim platform.  We were going to tie it off to the starboard side but in tight quarters getting the lines in and the tow line played out can be difficult.  So we decided to just haul it aboard.

It was in its cradle and I finally noticed what Mary mentioned before.  The prop.  It was superbly mangled.  Most likely a consequence of going aground twice while running over to the little swimming cover we found a few days earlier.  We have a spare though and I got it changed out in ten  minutes hanging 15 feet above the dock.  Nice view from up there.

Heading down Pickwick Lake

We, along with Arin E, pulled out leaving Just Fakin It and Good Grief behind since they needed to fuel.  They joined us later in the day along with Castaway. 

Pickwick Lake is really gorgeous.  It reminds me a little of the Wisconsin river near the Dells. Numerous little coves and inlets with high bluffs of what appears to be sandstone.

Grand Harbor

It took us about an hour cruising down the lake to get to Grand Harbor.  Very crowded but a marvelous place.  We're tied up near the fuel dock facing the marina store.  Convenient for sure.  Just Fakin It is tied up right behind us and Good Grief is across the dock behind Once Upon a Time.  Party dock!

Tied up

The next day we took one of the courtesy vans to the local grocery and hardware store.  Even went to WalMart.  The van is a little Ford pseudo mini-van that reminds one of those ice cream trucks that grind around a neighborhood enticing small children and blaring insipid music.  We stuffed 6 people in there and then returned with 6 people and 17 bags of groceries.  But not before we made a stop at the local hardware store where I bought a battery charger for the dinghy battery.   Six squished seniors and 30 minutes later we were back at the marina with all 17 bags of groceries intact.  Then four of us embarked on a 30 mile trek to Walmart.  We bought a lot but I cant remember why we needed to buy anything at all.

Larry talking to us at Pittsburg Landing

We made plans to visit the Shiloh Battlefield with several other boats that we've met along the way.  Two vans, 14 people.  We started out and ended up in the Corinth visitor center not the park service battlefield park.  Ooops.   We all know how to navigate the waterways.  Roads in Tennessee, not so much.  But we finally managed to find the correct place and pulled up just in time to see the 40 minute movie prelude.  Then we met Larry, the tour guide, a private guy we collectively hired to take us around and provide some detailed history.  He was great and incredibly knowledgeable with obscure little factoids about individuals involved in the battle as well as the battle itself.

Sunken road at the Hornets Nest

An even more startling realization for me was suddenly discovering I was standing on a fire ant nest while listening to Larry describe the battle at peach orchard.  He interrupted his talk briefly while I danced around the parking lot in bare feet brushing off fire ants.  Thankfully I was wearing shorts.  And yes, I ignored the many helpful suggestions regarding ants and underwear.  There's a rule against mooning in National Parks.

The Catfish Hotel restaurant 

All told we spent about 4 hours at the battlefield.  After Larry departed we all were getting hungry and headed over to Hagy's Catfish Hotel  restaurant which is really just a place to eat on the river.  Ribs and Catfish.  Pretty good too!   We all came back and ran into our boats to fire up the heaters.  A crisp clear evening on the river.




The next few days are forecast to be frigid.  As in  27 degrees frigid at night.  Maybe all these navigation instruments are broke and we're really traveling North?   Well anyway we're debating on whether to stay here another two days and endure the worst of it plugged in and running heaters.  Even though our mail arrived I think the consensus of the group is to stay warm here for a few days before venturing out into the cold river.  Well ok, the river water is a balmy 73 degrees.  But the air temperature is in the 40's.  Even rum cant dampen the chill!