Navy's new go-fast aircraft carrier, LCS2 (to be USS Independence) - 43 knots
At the north end of Mobile Bay, we entered the Tombigbee Waterway, also know as the Tenn-Tom. It runs for 455 miles to the Tennessee River at Pickwick Lake, TN. There are 12 locks along the way.
As we moved north, it got hotter and hotter with no breeze whatsoever! The current was very strong against us; we were averaging less than eight mph. We passed four tows headed north.
We anchored at Three Rivers Lake, which is a very beautiful and remote spot. We were so hot, so decided to take a dip. The water was steaming hot, too...not exactly refreshing!
Bill at Three Rivers Lake
Creek Leading from Tenn-Tom to Three Rivers Lake
June 20 - Leaving Three Rivers Lake, we continued north up the Tenn-Tom. The scenery was beautiful, but the temperatures got hotter and hotter. Lots of folks were enjoying cooling off in the water at sandy beaches along the way.We approached the first lock (Coffeeville) about 4 PM, but the lockmaster made us wait for an hour for the arrival of KAOS and J.LEE (Ray and Janet Turner) from Zephyr Hills, FL. We expected to dock at Bobby's Fish Camp and feast on his catfish, but his tiny dock hardly had room for one of us, let alone all three. We ended up squeezing into Okatuppa Creek for the night in a straight line as it was too narrow to swing on one anchor. KAOS went in first and dropped his anchor; J.Lee backed in and threw a line to KAOS; we backed in, threw a line to J.Lee and dropped our hook. It was hotter than blue blazes - 100 degrees in our pilot house when we arrived!!!
June 21 - We left at dawn so we could make it to Demopolis, AL to the marina (91 miles). What a gorgeous sunrise we witnessed!
The three of us cruised along together passing some nice scenery along the way.
The boaters below have their boat ready for the 4th of July celebration!
We passed two northbound tows in the afternoon and were hoping we could get far enough ahead of them so we could get through the Demopolis Lock without waiting. No such luck! There was a southbound tow near the lock when we got there, so we had to wait over 1 1/2 hours. We were all roasting! Because we were so late, we all decided to anchor at Foscue Creek and go into the marina early the next day. Foscue Creek is a pretty little cove and a great anchorage with a little park on the shore.
June 22 - Cruised about two miles north to the Demopolis Marina right after breakfast. Whew! What a relief it was when we were hooked up to shore power and could turn on the AC! Bill changed the oil and oil filters and scrubbed the moustache off Omega's bow. We borrowed the marina's courtesy car and went shopping in the afternoon. Kem and Bob DeGroot from Seabrook, TX (Spirit Dancer - 49 Defever) arrived, and we enjoyed eating dinner with them at the marina restaurant. Spirit Dancer had been badly damaged during Hurricane Ike (2008); after major repairs, she looked fantastic!
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