Day 1 on the River (Tuesday, 29JAN13)

Yesterday was a day of maintenance and preparation. While Joe and Tim performed maintenance on the port engine, Beth swapped out the rug on the aft deck. We topped off the gas tanks and after a couple of trips to town, settled in for an early evening.  Found the KU/WVU game on ESPN and went to bed shortly thereafter.

We were underway at 6:51 this a.m.  About 1 mile after our departure a beautiful, bald eagle flew right in front of the boat from port to starboard (left to right). We decided it was our official Eagle 'christening'.  The majority of this trip involves traveling down the Tenn-Tom Waterway. The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway links commercial navigation from the nation’s midsection to the Gulf of Mexico. The major features of the waterway are 10 locks and dams, a 175-foot (53 m) deep cut between the Tombigbee River watershed and the Tennessee River watershed, and 234 miles (377 km) of navigation channels. The ten locks are 9 feet (2.7 m) x 110 feet (34 m) x 300 feet (91 m) the same dimension as the locks on the Mississippi. Under construction for twelve years by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway was completed in December 1984 at a total cost of nearly $2 billion. More dirt was moved to build the Tenn-Tom than was moved to build the Panama Canal.

A view of the Captain, in his Captain's hat, as we departed the marina this morning. It was shortly after this picture was taken that the Eagle flew by.



It's hard to see, but there are 4 very large pelicans flying across our path. We decided that they may actually be the same ones who departed our  hometown Lake Perry not too long ago.



When I took this picture, I told Joe that we would be lucky if it came out as pretty as it really was.  Not too bad!

A very heavy-duty crane alongside one of the four locks we went through today.

Our view from inside the first lock we went through today.  The 'drop' was 83 feet!

Looking straight up in the same lock.

These doors were in one of the locks, but we were not sure what for :)
 

Third Bosun ( The Bosun, sometimes known as the Leading Hand or Senior Deckhand) Joe at the helm.


Shortly after lunch today we became aware of impending severe weather, affecting a large portion of the U.S., including us. This is the current doppler radar as I'm typing this. We are securely tied to an open air dock and feel pretty sure that the boat and the dock will remain in one piece. Now, whether or not the two of us go floating/flying away is another question. We are about 1/2 mile away from the town of Smithville, MS where on April 26, 2011 an F5 tornado cut a 2.8 mile path through the town and killed the marina owner and many others. Prayers please!!!
Hopefully, we'll see you all tomorrow!!