Smithsville Mississippi to Columbus Mississippi

October 31, 2010 Smithsville MS to Columbus MS. Today started out with fog as did the morning before. The Wilkins Lock will be our first test of the day. It is only a half mile, lots to get ready before entering the lock. As soon as the fog rises, we will take lines off the dock and cut power. The run today will be only 41 miles, but couple that with 3 locks, it will be a long day. The 3 locks will lower us 78 feet, that really is not much compared to the 174 feet drop we did yesterday with 4 locks. The fog cleared and was a cool, but beautiful day, bright and crisp. We entered the Columbus Marina about 1:30 tied up and checked in. We got the loaner car and went with friends Wayne and Ruth, aboard High Spirits, to the river walk in town, then to dinner. Tomorrow on the water and through the locks to Mobile. AL we go. The cold seems to follow us South. It's a race. Another piece of trivia since starting the Great Circle trip, we have locked through 101 locks, either lowering or raising the boat from one waterway to the next. The lowest was about 1 foot, the highest 95 feet. The lock chambers on this waterway are 110 feet wide, 600 feet long and will vary from 8 feet rise and fall to 93 feet rise and fall. That's a lot of water to fill and drain.

Yellow Creek to Tennessee Tombiggbee Waterway

October 28-30, 2010, Joe Wheeler on the Tennessee River back to Florence, AL and to Yellow Creek. Yellow Creek to Tennessee Tombiggbee Waterway. We left the AGLCA Rendevouz and backtracked the Tennessee River to Florence, Alabama making our way back to Yellow Creek which would take us to the Tennessee Tombiggbee Waterway. The next morning we found ourselves in a Bass Fishing Tournement. We left Florence and made our way to Yellow Creek and headed South to go to Bay Springs, Mississippi a 70 mile day. The next morning we woke up to fog, which held us up until about 9am. Today would be a short travel day of 36 miles, but we also had 4 locks to go through and you can be delayed with tow/barges and North bound traffic. We also ran into a dredging operation, where they are vaccuming the bottom of the river to increase the depth for barge traffic. We are currently at Smithsville, Mississippi just above Grover Whitten Lock. This is the first good internet connection I have had and wanted to catch up on the blog, because we will most likely anchor out in the next few days. I wanted to give you a couple of stats, since we left St. Petersberg, Florida, we have traveled 4,315 miles by water and about 600 miles by car (side trips), we have lived on our boat for about 8 months. Some day I will figure how many gallons of diesel we have burned. Thanks again for reading our blog, if you have any suggestions or comments, be sure to send. Thanks again, Eddie and Nancy Hamilton.

Joe Wheeler Rendevouz

October 23-27, Joe Wheeler State Park, AGLCA Rendevouz. 60 boats and 250 AGLCA members gathered at Joe Wheeler for the rejoining of friends and making new ones. This is a gathering to give and receive information about the waterways used to complete the Great Loop. There will be newbees, loopers in process, and veteran loopers, those that have completed the Great Loop. Even some loopers that have completed the Great Loop more than once. You also have the chance in the afternoon to go aboard other boats to get the feel of how others are doing the loop with different types of boats, look hard to see the organ pipes on the boat under cover. We had a great few days and ended with a jam session after dinner, the last night, it is hard to tell, but I am the one attempting to play the guitar in the far dark corner. The next morning it was back on the river to continue our trek toward the South. The cold nights are coming and we do not want to be here.

Joe Wheeler State Park

October 23-24, 2010 Joe Wheeler Park. Days of catching up with friends and exploring. We got our dingy down and went exploring with Wayne And Ruth. Fall is coming and the change of the colors in the trees are beautiful. The mornings are cool and the afternoons are mild, great for hitting the water or walking the many trails through the wooded areas. This week will listening to experinced speakers on the route ahead to finish the river system to Mobile, across the Gulf of Mexico to Florida, then to St. Petersberg, Fl, our starting place. We we reach St Petersberg, we will have traveled about 5,400 miles by water and several more by rent car. I have not figured out how much diesel we used, but I will do that at some point. Thanks again for reading our blog, Nancy and Eddie.

Florence Alabama to Joe Wheeler State Park

October 22, 2010 Florence, Alabama to Joe Wheeler State Park, Alabama. Today we are with 7 other boats going to Joe Wheeler State Park for the AGLCA Rendevouz. Todays trip will be about 21 miles and 2 Locks. The first lock will be the Wilson Lock raising us about 93 feet and the second is the Wheeler Lock raising us about 58 feet. Several cliff view homes. The water is smooth and the wind is calm. Great day to be on the water.

Florence Alabama Historic Sites

October 21, 2010. Today is the last day in Florence, Alabama. We did not get the loaner car as we had hoped, so we walked to the few historic sites we could see. We went to Pope's Tavern Museum. I was not sure what this would be, but it is one of the oldest structures in Florence. Pope's Tavern was used as a stagecoach stop, a tavern and inn, and as a hospital during the Civil War. It is said that General Andrew Jackson stopped here in 1814 on his march to battle the British at New Orleans. I was able to tap out a little tune on the pump organ once used by a traveling preacher. Hard to keep the beat when the feet have to pump air. We also visited the home of Major General George Washington Goethals, who engineered the Panama Canal project.
Tomorrow we continue on the Tennesse River
going to Joe Wheeler State Park Marina, near
Rogersville, Alabama to meet other AGLCA travelers for sessions on the route that will return us to St. Petersberg, Florida, our starting point. Talk to you then.

Iuka, Mississippi to Florence, Alabama

October 20, 2010 Aqua Yacht Harbor to Florence Harbor Marina. Today we had another beautiful sunrise at Aqua Yacht Harbor. We got up and made preperations to travel about 40 miles on the Tennesse River to Florence, Alabama, home of the University of North Alabama and many other interesting sites. UNA boasts the only live Lion mascots in the country living on campus. Other must sees & gotta dos while here is to see W.C. Handy, "Father of the Blues," Home and Museum, Helen Keller's Birthplace, and Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House. There are other things like the Coon Dog Cemetery and to hear Muscle Shoals Music at "Swampers". I just don't know if we will have time to do it all. I will let you know.