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