Monday Nov 3:
We woke up to a cold morning. We lingered in bed a little later than usual due to the cold. It's a good thing we aren't planning on leaving today as we woke up to a very foggy morning. The fog didn't burn off until mid-morning. I spent the day working. Wes was busy making tea, setting up the new grill, doing some shopping, some computer work, etc. We invited Tom, Cassie and Lou (The Politician) over for dinner. We had a great visit! Not much else exciting on a day spent at port.
Tuesday, Nov 4:
Wes got up for Bible study, I slept in a little. I got up and started working. Wes did boat projects, visited, and helped catch lines as loopers came in. I took my laptop up to the clubhouse and did laundry while I worked. We went up to docktales a little after 4, then Lou drove us to Mi Toro for dinner with him, Tom, Cassie, Rod, Pat, Mark and Shelly. It was a fun night. We relaxed a bit then off to bed as we are getting up early tomorrow as we try to make Columbus.
Wednesday, Nov 5:
Wes got up a little after 0500, and I was up at 0530. The lock was ready for us, so we dropped the lines and headed out at 0600. We got to the first lock and got right through. We got to the second lock around 0800 and had to wait an hour so we dropped the hook. We got through and then it was smooth going from there. We made it through the third lock around 1130, then got through the fourth lock around 1330. We made it to Columbus around 1630. We got secured then walked up to settle our bill and catch up with Steve. Then we went back to the dock and visited with the other loopers that were there. Then to the boat for dinner, virtual docktales, a little relaxing then bed.
Thursday, Nov 6:
We got up at normal time. I started working, and Wes started some video work. Wes decided to make us omelets for breakfast. After I was done with work, we took the courtesy car and explored Columbus. Saw some great architecture, and then stopped for some dinner and drinks at Harvey's. Then back to the boat where we visited some with the other loopers, then back to the boat to relax some before bed.
We were both up early and moving. Wes called the lock a 0535 and they said someone else had already called and he wanted us there at 0600, so we all hurried up and dropped the lines to get there. Wes was less than pleased, but we all got there and locked through. It was very foggy with less then a quarter mile visibility. Thankfully, no one had any issues and the fog burned off. We hit the second lock around 1000 and got through without issue. The fall colors were more visible and it warmed up to a beautiful day. We made it to the Warsaw cut and it was still early and a beautiful day, so we kept going. Heflin didn't have any tow traffic, so we had a short wait while they turned the chamber around, then we locked through and turned up the little canal under Heflin Lock. There were several boats already anchored there. Serenity and Curiosity were already tied together and they offered to have us raft up as well, so we did along with Ella J. We were all settled in by 1600. I finished up with some work items, then we enjoyed docktales on our aft deck. Then we had Brian and Vicki from Ella J over for dinner. We played some dominos, then relaxed a bit before bed.
The random phone booth at the Mississippi / Alabama state line.
Since we made it through Heflin Lock yesterday, we didn't have to rush and get going right away, so of course we were both awake before 0530. We laid in bed a bit then got moving. It was another foggy morning, so we just relaxed a bit on the hook and waited for it to clear some. We pulled our anchor around 0800 and started moving. It was still a little foggy but not too bad. It was a beautiful day on the river. It warmed up nicely and I sat outside on the bow most of the day. We got to Kingfisher Bay Marina in Demopolis around 1500 and got secured. We helped other boats get secured as they came in and visited with the loopers that were there. We had docktales on Serenity (Bill and Sarah), then back to Toscana for dinner. Wes filled the water and did some more visiting, then we settled in for the night and went to bed.
We woke up around 0600 and Wes got word that there was at least two tows heading to the lock, so the timing of getting to the lock was going to be 0830 for anyone that wanted to leave. 6 of us left and we still had a little wait to get into the lock. We got through the lock around 1000, so Wes knew already we wouldn't make it to Bashi. We ended up anchoring at mile 162.5 with Ella J. We both got our anchored dropped and tied together around 1600. We each got a few items done, then Brian and Vicki joined us for a nice roast dinner, some beverages and more dominos. It was a fun night. We stayed up a little after looper midnight, but not too late, then off to bed in hopes it wouldn't be too cold when we got up the next morning.
