Columbus, MS to the end of the Tenn-Tom. (June 1-11, 2013)

Our trip north from Columbus was ‘follow the tow boat’ time.   There are 12 locks on the Tenn-Tom Waterway. The first 5 have been open and ready for us as we approached.  Not so much the last 7. 

We left Columbus with 4 other boats, and both Monday and Tuesday were all day  ‘lock and wait’ events, as a towboat ahead of us took priority in the lock chamber. 

The tow and 3 of the 5 boats.  SEA DREAM is behind us.

Even if we’d passed it and arrived at the gates first, the locks are so close together that the lockmaster would ask us to wait till the tow had regained first place. (We know this for sure, as one among us did just that.)  Fortunately, both days we were able to easily reach safe harbor before dark, and the slow travel was a nice change of pace from our usual rip-roaring 7 miles per hour.  

It was actually a good thing that we were slow moving, as the switch between our batteries and inverter (the machine that changes [inverts, that is] DC battery power to AC so the refrigerator, lights, etc., actually most of the stuff on the boat--- can work) failed. We, of course, didn’t know until hours later, (after much diagnostic work) why the navigation computer and all lights went off

Engineers engrossed

…It is all good, as Fred and Mike figured it out and a new switch is on its way.  We love companies like Blue Skies, the maker of the switch, who have such a wonderful ‘if it breaks send it back and we’ll replace it’ policy.

Wednesday was a lazy day, as we moseyed about forty miles to the end of the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway.

We anchored in a delicious spot called Zippy Cove, and once again rafted to our Buddy Boat, SEA DREAM.  The water was ‘swim in me’ clear, and both Mike and I did just that.  Louie the boat dog wanted to swim, too, but he wasn’t allowed. 

Water was great!  Louie would have loved it, too!

Late in the morning a Garmin Survey boat came by, apparently noting the contours of the bottom.  Total traffic for the day: that boat, one snake, 4 ducks, two snapping turtles and a whole lot of jumping fish. 

Next repair item: Mike and Linda’s boat has a leaky shaft seal that must be replaced.  There is reportedly a good worker-bee nearby, Mike and Fred went off to explore and check it out.

So long, Fred and Mike.  Hurry back!

On Thursday, we added yet another repair/replace item to the mix!  Took Chucky down to go for a ride, and as we were zipping along, suddenly there was a screech and then silence from the 9.9hp propane powered motor.  Dead.  It’s less than 3 months old and has had about 5 hours of use, so there is no question (at least in Fred’s mind) about replacement.  Just have to figure out where and how.  Happily, no less than four boats stopped to see if we were rowing for pleasure, or if we needed assistance.  Mike and Linda towed us home with their dinghy.

On Friday we moved the boats to the Aqua Harbor Marina.  Linda and I used their courtesy car to go to the Shiloh Civil War site, a spot I’ve wanted to visit each time we’ve passed this way.  The ride around the battlefield was 13 miles long, with a stretch of the Tennessee River running along one edge, and I saw my first Golden Eagle, sitting above his huge nest.  For real!

See the large bird in the branches?  He's looking the other way....

Given the lay of the land, we were amazed that during that 2 day battle, anyone could keep track of who was where in the rain and mud.  It was not surprising that at one point, Rebel troops were told to hold their fire, as their leaders thought that the approaching troops were part of their own contingent.  Wrong.  It was the Union forces, and they were able to regain lost ground and win the battle. General Beauregard, the Southern officer who took command when General Johnston died, had predicted that if the Confederate forces lost Shiloh, they could not prevail.  And so it was.  The Civil War was a great tragedy---as is any war.  After the two days of the Battle at Shiloh, 20,000 young men were killed, wounded or missing, and it would be three more years of battle after Shiloh---ugly, hand to hand combat--- before the blood bath ended.  Uffda.

On Friday, we met up with Ed and Janice, one of the couples from the 5 boats in the Tow boat parade earlier in the week.  They live nearby, and joined us for dinner.

Linda, Linda, Mike, Janice and Fred

Saturday and Sunday we caught up on some old movies…Linda and I enjoyed taking turns with the ‘every other night cooking’!  Traveling with SEA DREAM was a  very good time. 

Our next step is to head up the Tennessee… We’ll be heading for the headwaters at Knoxville, which is mostly east and a whole lot north of here.   And as usual, I'm running a bit behind with the blog.  sigh.

We will be in touch!  Be well, remember to breathe, and also to smile from the heart!