M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I !

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28th - TENN-TOM

Trip Day:	224	Latitude:	34°33.75 ' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	35	Longitude:	088°18.47'W	Locks Total:	96
Total Miles:	4,793	Location:	Five Fingers Anchorage MM 415

Last night was in the forties, but we had our heat on and stayed comfortable in our little boat home. 

Being the slowest boat, we pulled out of the marina before the other six boats this morning.  Having a north wind we raised sails almost immediately.  We are now headed down the  Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, beginning at Mile Marker  450 and headed to Mobile Bay at Mile Marker 0.  The Tenn-Tom connects the Tennessee River to the Tombigbee River and is primarily a slack-water system and lacks the fierce currents of the Mississippi and other rivers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This cut from the Tennessee river to the Tombigbee river  was first proposed in 1760——to the king of France by the Marquis de Montcalm as a means to successfully settle this region of the South. From Knoxville to Mobile Bay 665 miles is saved by this route.  Numerous proposals and   studies were made before being authorized by Congress in 1971. After over twelve years and almost $2 billion dollars, the Waterway opened for commerce on January 10, 1985. The project is the largest civil works ever undertaken by the Corps of Engineers. It is 5 times longer and has a total lift 3.5 times greater than the Panama Canal.

It was a beautiful day and surprisingly the waterway took many turns revealing hillsides draped in fall colors.  By noon the wind was up and we were motor sailing over 8 knots with a top speed of 10 at one point.  As a matter of fact, the Betty L, Bucket List, Gemini Dream and Proud Lady never passed us. 

Three boats anchored with us in our little finger, while several others chose other fingers for a protected overnight anchorage.  A few boats decided to lock through and travel further for the day. 

 We invited Bob and Madeline over for bean, vegetable and sausage soup for dinner.  We are expecting temps in the thirties tonight, so we will bundle up under the sleeping bag, then flip a coin to see who gets up first in the morning to start the coffee.

 

No bars in our little cove.  .  . post tomorrow.