Nashville

Pirate's Marina Cove

 Mississippi University for Women

Tennessee Williams Home

We had a restful day yesterday at Pirate’s Marina Cove. Cooked breakfast, went to internet church- Calvary Chapel Gulf Breeze, did laundry and planned next legs of trip. It rained all day off and on. The cook was off last night so we had peanut butter sandwiches and watched CSI Las Vegas on the internet. We went to bed early. Only travel 30 miles today. We are now docked at the Columbus Marina in Columbus, MS. Columbus has over 200 antebellum homes. It was not destroyed during the Civil War because both sides had hospitals there and the local residents took care of them. This, also, is the site of the first Memorial Day celebration in 1866. We went downtown this afternoon to the Columbus Visitor’s Center which is housed in the house where the playwright Tennessee Williams was born (March 26, 1911). Columbus is also the home of Mississippi University for Women. The first public college for women in America (founded 1884). Tomorrow we are going to Waverley Plantation Mansion (Built 1852) and some others homes if time permits. We stopped by Wal-Mart for some food and water. We had Wendy’s for dinner. You can have fast food on a slow boat to Nashville.

Nashville

Sumter rec Area

Snagboat montgomery

Friday, August 27, we departed Demopolis and anchored out at the Sumter Recreation area.

http://www.recreationparks.net/AL/sumter/sumter-recreation-area-gainesville

Again we had no cell or anything. Had a brief thunderstorm – mostly wind and lighting, very little rain—anchors did fine and held. Wake to the sound of woodpeckers and crows. It was a very beautiful anchorage. We departed about 10:30 am Saturday ( August 28)  and got to Pirate’s Marina Cove, Pickensville, AL – about 20 miles south of Columbus, MS-- around  1:30 pm. The marina is near the Tom Bevill Lock and Dam. It is a nice small marina about a mile from the visitor center and snagboat.  We were in luck that we got here today. The reason we stopped here was to see the Snagboat Montgomery (http://montgomery.sam.usace.army.mil/ ) at the visitor center. The center is closed on Sunday and Monday. We borrowed the marina’s car and hurried over and got to see the boat and visitor’s center which is built like and old antebellum home. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-2937  .  Tomorrow we will be leaving for Columbus Marina and are planning to stay a few days to see the city of Columbus, MS.

Bluff Hall Built 1832

Demopolis Marina

Gaineswood --built 1843-1861

Today has been a relaxing day- book reading and naps. Our family came and got the car (what a blessing-we really enjoyed it-- Thanks Ila) about 10:30 this morning and took it back to Linden. It has been Hot Hot all day. Yes, A/C is great!!! I finished planning our next leg of trip and programmed our GPS’s with the routes. We are ready to leave in the morning August 27th.We will be anchoring out at Sumter Recreation Area, docking at Pirate’s Marina Cove in Pickensville, AL, and Columbus Marina in Columbus, MS. Football season starts September the 4^th. Hope we can either see some games on the internet or the marina’s/our TV. We may have to call Columbus Marina to find out about their football TV schedule!!! Jo Ann has cooked chicken breasts, green beans, and mac and cheese and cookies with drink. We cook with a microwave, toaster oven and an electric skillet which will run on our generator or shore power.  Yesterday we toured the town and ate in Demopolis at Mister G’s. They have great pizza. After dinner, it will hopefully cool off a little. We can then fill our water tank (26 gallons) with water and give Adventure a bath. She still has some Gulf sea salt and mud from anchoring on her. I also post pictures on Facebook (Carl Woodall) - Gulf Breeze. Sometimes there are more pictures there then here on the blog. You will have to become one of our Facebook friends to see them however. Up early tomorrow and off we go. There is a good map of Tenn-Tom which may help with some of our locations at:

http://www.tenntom.org/MAINPAGES/ttwmaps.html

Nashville

We had a good day off. We had lunch here at the marina with our sister-in-law (Ila Wallace) and her niece Joan. Then went to Linden, AL to Ila's home and visited awhile. She have been really gracious and loaned us a car while we are here. Did laundry, went to Wal-Mart and had ice cream. Jo Ann  loves ice cream. For you that haven't been to a marina, they are like little towns on the river. They have fuel, pump out sewage service, electric service, water, store, showers, laundry, courtesy car, TV room, wifi, motel, restaurant etc. Not all marinas have all this. Bobby's just had gas. Cost to dock is from $.60- $2.00 a boat foot per night. Today we will become tourist of Demopolis. Also, need to work on what we will be doing next week.  We are planning to leave Friday (Aug 27) going north. For sure we want to stop at Tom Bevill lock and dam visitor’s center and tour museum. It has an old paddle wheeler on display. Oh no!!! We have ants. They came in over the dock lines. A new thing to learn --getting ants off the boat. 

Nashville

Nashville

No entry last night. No Cell phone, No Internet, No CNN,-- only frogs, owls, and bass a jumping. We anchored out at Bashi Creek. Tonight we are in Demopolis, AL at a marina. We had to wait 2+30 hours to lock through Demopolis lock. Pleasure boaters are at the bottom of the list after military, passenger, commercial. We had two tugs with 9 barges each in front of us-- one with coal and the other natural gas- that 's the way it go.We plan to stay here 3 days because we have been on the move for five days. See a few old homes, visit family, and shop for food and etc at Walmart.  Our plan is to only travel 3-4 days a week. We are trying to slow down. Also, now there will be marinas and gas about every 50 miles instead of one at 136 miles between Mobile and Demopolis. It is amazing what you see at 12 mph going up the river. We get (not an fuel saving car but it is a fuel saving boat) a little over 2 miles to a gallon of fuel and we have 100 gallon fuel tank. We are now 216 miles north of Mobile, AL and have only about 600 more miles and 14 more locks to cross to Nashville.  I worked on uploading some images but they will not take right now . I will send tomorrow. Thanks all of you who have
 e-mailed you are following us.

Nashville

No entry last night. No Cell phone, No Internet, No CNN,-- only frogs, owls, and bass a jumping. We anchored out at Bashi Creek. Tonight we are in Demopolis, AL at a marina. Had to wait 2+30 hours to lock through Demopolis lock. Pleasure boaters are at the bottom of the list after military, passenger, commercial. We had two tugs with 9 barges each in front of us-- one with coal and the other natural gas- that 's the way it go.We plan to stay here 3 days because we have been on the move for five days. See a few old homes and shop for food and etc at Walmart.  Our plan is to only travel 3-4 days a week. We are trying to slow down. Also, now there will be marinas and gas about every 50 miles instead of one at 126 between Mobile and Demopolis. It is amazing what you see at 12 mph going up the river. We a little over 2 miles to a gallon of fuel and have 100 gallon fuel tank. We are now 216 miles north of Mobile, AL and have only about 600 more miles and 14 more locks to cross to Nashville.

Nashville

One lock and dam down only 14 more to go. Had some learning experiences last night  in the heat. It was the the end of alligator hunting season and all the hunters were  out last night. Had six bass boats with bright lights  go speeding by us  and then two shotgun blasts. We thought it could be a drug raid. No! They got them a gator. Also, anchor practice was practiced about 10 pm at night --not fun having to redrop a anchor at that time of night. We are at Bobby's Fish camp- a great place to eat if you like fried food- catfish.  It was wonderful. Tomorrow we anchor out again at Bashi Creek( mm145) south of Demoplis, AL Tomorrow pictures of Coffeeville lock and dam, Bobby's and more. Kevin if you are following us -- the top is working great-- Thanks for the great job. Night all

Nashville

Had a great day today. We left Mobile- Grand Mariner Marina about 12:30 pm and arrives at Alabama Cutoff anchor at 6:00. Hot today. The river is great. Very few logs and smoooth not like Pensacola Bay. We were able to get a car this morning and go to West Marine and Walmart for some things.Tomorrow is our first lock and dam at Coffeeville, AL and stay at Bobby's fish camp--Close to Coffeeville, Al (on Highway 64 for you land lovers-- we are told they have great catfish??? Pictures:  sunset on Tombigbee River at Alabama cutoff

Nashville

Now in Mobile at Grand Mariner's Marina. Had learning experience today- if you want it around tie it down!! Lost a big orange fender and 25 feet of rope to Mobile bay. We may can replace tomorrow before we leave for Alabama Cut-off at( mm 52.2) and anchor out. All the rain is causing the rivers to come up a little. We will check reports and weather before we leave. Also, need to call Bobby's Fish camp (mm118.9) to make sure they have gas and are open. If not it is 226 miles to Demopolis, AL before gas available.I don't think we have that much range up stream. Things are going great --we and the boat are settling in and finding a spot for things.Pictures---What a great omen for our trip this morning-- a rainbow --Thanks God! The Wharf at Orange Beach,AL and for you Jimmy Buffet fans Lulu's -His sister place on the ICW.

Nashville

Thanks Home Group and Pastor Joe for a wonderful send off. We got to Ingram's Bayou about 2 pm and anchored. The cruise over was great. Little Hot but A/C is working. Had dinner , watched 5pm Wear HD news and fed the catfish. What more could you need. Tomorrow we go to Mobile.

Nashville

We have delayed two days until Wednesday  August 18 to leave because of weather (wind over 20kts and rain). Looking at river levels and Mobile Bay for weather. Should be good Wednesday for our trip as planned with stop at Ingram's Bayou Wednesday night and cross Mobile Bay to Grand Mariner Marina- Dog River-Mobile- Thursday. Still packing boat and doing little details at house.

Nashville

Things going good for Monday departure. Hurricane center has storm over Alabama that may move south into Gulf and become tropical storm. We will have to keep checking to see what effect it has on Mobile Bay and river levels. River forecast  shows them going up some Wed and Thurs. May make us have to stay at

Ingrams Bayou longer than planned. We will see.

Nashville

Getting ready to leave. Lots of things to pack. See photos. I hope we have room for us on the boat. Things going well. Adventure got some new clothes-- gives more space to stay out of rain and cold. Navigation things complete and ready for Monday to start toward Nashville. First stop Ingram's Bayou and then Tuesday-Grand Mariner Marina-- Mobile. Wednesday start up the river.