October 30, 2009

Port Departed: Columbus
Port Arrived: Pirates Cove Marina, Pickensville AL
Weather forecast for today was favorable in the morning and then a 100% chance of rain in the afternoon. Phil slept on the boat. We woke up about 8:00AM. Phil packed his sleeping bag and we said good-bye. Phil to return to Heber Springs and me to continue the trip down the Tenn-Tom.

I gassed up the boat and then motored slowly over to the fuel dock to wait with several other power boats for the Columbus Lock to be prepared for a lockage of 30 feet. We arrived at the lock about 9:30. Had a short wait before the lock doors opened to greet us. Three large power boats tied up on the starboard and I tied up on the port. Not for any specific reason it just worked out that way. I noticed that most power boats tie up on the starboard side.

It took 20 minutes for the water to drop 30 feet. I was the last to leave the chamber. The power boats headed out first. It also hit me while holding the locking lines on the bollard that I was again single handing the boat.

Weather during this passage was interesting. Partly sunny, partly cloudy with the threat of rain. Temperatures hit the low 80’s . I wore a bathing suit and T shirt for most of the day. As I moved south you could see thick gray clouds off in the western sky. Crossed from Mississippi to Alabama about noon. It sprinkled just a little about 1:00 PM. I tied up to the gas dock at Pirates Cove about 1:30PM. The skies were getting darker and the Tornado warning sirens were blasting. I was told that tornados had been sighted in the next county. I borrowed the Courtsey Car and visited the Tom Bivell Welcome Center.

Arrived back at the marina in a major thunder storm. It rained 3 inches in just one hour. There has been a tremendous amount of rain this past month. Today I was cruising the Tenn-Tom between 7 and 8 knots. Again the rain has caused the current to be faster than it normally is and I was able to make great time.