We all slept late this morning, even Striper.  We must have needed the sleep.   It was 49 degrees and overcast as we weighed anchor at 8:00 AM.  We locked through the Coffeeville Lock just before noon. This is the last lock on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

Around 2:00 PM we passed our proposed anchorage, deciding to press on to a popular anchorage at Three Rivers Lake.   It's been cold and gray all day with the wind picking up intermittently and I wonder if this might have something to do with Hurricane Sandy, now known as Frankenstorm.  I've stayed inside writing most of the day and when we had internet, catching up on email, our blog and Facebook.  

We arrived at Three Rivers Lake at 6:00 PM in the near dark and anchored.  It's cold and blustery.  We traveled83 miles today.

I like it so much better when the sun shines. Here are a few of today's dreary photos:

Three Rivers Lake, tonight's back yard

Coffeeville Lock

Along Black Warrior - Tombigbee Waterway

Friday, October 26, 2012

At daybreak we departed Kingfisher Bay Marina in Demopolis downbound now on the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway.  We locked through the Demopolis Lock with three other boats.  It was 80 degrees and sunny all day and we passed gators sunning themselves on the shoreline.  

We arrived at our destination, Bashi Creek late afternoon. We traveled 70 miles today.  Bashi Creek is quite narrow and we anchored across from it along a little scalloped shaped sandy beach.  We had two tugs pass by upbound -- one as we were finishing dinner and the other around midnight.

Our internet connectivity and cell phone coverage was nil in this area, but we were blessed to have follow-me tv coverage via satellite so we can keep up with what's going on in the world.  We are aware of Hurricane Sandy and concerned for our family and friends in the NJ, VA, MD and NY areas where Sandy is expected to make landfall.  

As an update on Ralph's mom, earlier in the week she was experiencing chest pains and was transferred from Bacharach Rehab to the Atlantic City Hospital next door for an EKG.  The EKG was normal, so they gave her a nuclear stress test which was questionable.  The doctor who had done a heart cathartization and inserted stents into her artery several years ago performed another catharization which he found to be only marginally changed from the one he had done previously.  She was transferred back to Bacharach Rehab yesterday afternoon to continue her acute therapy.  As of today, she has been in the hospital or rehab facilities for 83 days.  It has been a long old road for her with many set-backs. Thank you for your continued prayers on her behalf.

Here are a few of today's photos:

Inside the Demopolis Lock, elevation 40'

Our route on the Black Warrior-Bigbee Waterway

A gator sunning himself on the river bank

"Oh my good dawgie, Striper!"

Tonight's back yard  -- note the moon and its reflection

An upbound tug and tow passes by our anchorage

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Today we traveled 54 miles "downbound" on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway to the new Kingfisher Bay Marina at Demopolis, Alabama.  We locked through the Howell Heflin Lock -- named for an Alabama State Senator.  It was a beautiful day and this particular section of the Tenn-Tom is stunning with beautiful limestone cliffs along the way known as the Demopolis Chalk Formation.

At the marina, I did a load of wash in a beautiful new laundromat.  This is a lovely marina and THE last marina before we arrive in Mobile. We will be anchoring out the next four or five nights so internet connectivity could be spotty. 

We borrowed the courtesy car -- and once again the speedometer immediately went to 80 mph and we were barely out of the parking lot.  What is with these courtesy cars anyway??  We drove about a mile into downtown Demopolis which sadly is affected by the poor economy similar to Columbus, MS.  

We had dinner at the New Orleans Bar & Grill on the marina premises with a couple we just met, Cie and Ron on Reality Check -- mode of transportation was a golf cart.  Coming out we saw some turtles and a gator.  Uh oh...we were warned to not go in the water on the Tenn-Tom south of Demopolis.  Didn't think we'd see one so soon.  

Some photos from today:  

One of several empty store fronts, Demopolis

A beautiful old home in the historic section

I like the lines of this house

Beautiful fountain and flowers

Speedometer goes to 80 while barely moving.  Arrrghhh!!

This plaque commemorates a sale of roosters in 1919 to build what became known as Rooster Bridge -- the first contributor is President Woodrow Wilson

Rooster Hall - we believe this is now the Opera House

Downtown Demopolis, Alabama

Memorial to Confederate Soldiers, Demopolis, AL

Whoa!

Waiting for the Howell Heflin Lock to open

Demopolis Chalk Formation

Beautiful fall foliage against the stark bluff background

Daybreak this morning

Early this morning, we departed Columbus Marina "downbound" -- in ten minutes' time we were secured in the John C. Stennis Lock.  It was a beautiful fall day and we were amazed at how colorful our route along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway has become in the two weeks we'd been gone. 

Several hours later, we locked through the Bevill Lock and continued to the Sumter Recreation Area to anchor.  The nearby town is Aliceville, Alabama.  We had spotty internet connectivity, but excellent television reception.  When we arrived three other boats were already anchored and about an hour after we arrived a sailboat came in, as well.  We've traveled 49 miles today.  It's good to be back on the water. 

Here are a few of today's photos:

Home in the woods along the Tenn-Tom Waterway

Tom Bevill Lock

Beautiful fall foliage along the waterway

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

A beautiful home along the waterway

Limited commercial traffic today

Late yesterday afternoon we arrived back at the Columbus Marina in Columbus, Mississippi. We were gone 14 days and traveled 2,200 miles.  We had a relaxing dinner onboard, watched the last of the presidential debates and all enjoyed a good night's sleep.  

 

This morning,we all woke up happy in the knowledge that today didn't mean another 10-hour car ride, Striper hates the car and has to be tranquilized when we travel by car, so she was happiest of all.

 

I did a load of laundry and Ralph washed the boat this morning, then we went grocery shopping.  After lunch we drove to Historic Columbus and took a nice walk through this lovely little town before returning the rental car. 

 

Tomorrow morning we resume the Great Loop adventure and head south again on the Tennessee-Tombigbee River. Here are a few of today's photos:

 

Main Street, Columbus, MS

One of the lovely shops along Main Street

Main Street, Columbus, MS

Shops on Fifth Street, Columbus, MS

City Hall, Columbus, MS

A lovely old home, Columbus, MS

We say "Hello!" to Say Good-Bye

Tonight's back yard

 

 

 

 

 

Today is our last day in New Jersey.  We met Betsy and the cherubs for breakfast at the "spot" we used to meet when the cherubs were little and they were coming to my house or going back home which was halfway between their house and ours.  We loved the opportunity to visit with the kids and grandkids while we were here. 

We visited with Lorraine and Jimmy around noon, then took Striper for a walk on the Atlantic City Boardwalk this afternoon.  We returned to the hospital late this afternoon to say good-bye to Lorraine.  We'll be keeping in touch by phone as we have been doing.  

 

We're heading to Mississippi tomorrow morning very early.  Ralph's mother will remain in the acute rehab facility until October 27, then be transferred to the sub-acute facility until she is ready to go home. She's doing well so we hope she can go home soon.  She's been in the hospital 77 days as of today.  Thank you for your continued prayers for her recovery.

Our thanks to Ken and Debbie for allowing us to crash at their house since we arrived 10 days ago and thanks to April, Matt and Aaron and Betsy, Jack and Reese for spending time with us -- we love you so and eagerly look forward to your visits this winter.

Here are a few photos from today:

Reese Betsy and Jack and PopPop the birthday boy

Ocean view from the Atlantic City Boards

Steel Pier

Ralph and Striper near Garden Pier

Revel Casino Hotel from the Boardwalk

Reesie Pie always makes us the sweetest cards

PopPop's birthday card fromThe Traveling Wilburys

Our Halloween card

 

Today we received our forwarded mail, including our Florida absentee  ballots.  We each got two -- so I advise all of you do to as the Floridians do:  Vote Early And Often.

 

Seriously, be sure and vote Tuesday, November 6 -- it's a privilege we Americans are blessed to have -- there are many around the world who are not so fortunate.  

 

God Bless America.

 

Vote Early And Often