Florence to Columbus

The First Mate waves goodbye to McFarland Park where we enjoyed many morning walks while we were staying in Florence.

 

 

 

A reminder that Fall is on the way as we cruise down the Tennessee River.

 

 

 

Linda picked a beautiful anchorage called Ross Landing.  This is a view to the north, looking back at one of the four rockpiles we maneuvered through as we came off the river.

 

 

 

This is the same view the next morning in the fog!  Now where exactly are those rock piles???

 

 

 

 

View through the "living room" window at Ross Landing.

 

 

 

More evidence of the changing seasons...........Canadian geese seemed to be abundant.

 

 

 

 

The First Mate at the helm soon after the Tennessee River meets the borders of Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi.  Here, we depart the Tennessee River and continue toward the Gulf Coast via the Tombigbee Waterway.

 

 

 

Did you know that National "Talk Like a Pirate Day" is in September???

 

 

 

At Bay Springs Lake we found "Cotton Springs", a fabulous little cove to drop our anchor for two nights.

 

 

 

 

Our dinghy, "Blondie", brought us ashore so we could see the Visitor's Center at Bay Springs Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A nature trail led us to this log cabin, built in 1860, that was rescued by the Corps of Engineers when the area was flooded for the creation of the lake.  Take note of the doorway height behind Linda!

   

 

 

 

 

 

A wild Indian (from the Filipino tribe!) jumps out in front of Linda as she walks through the woods!

 

 

 

Blondie took us to a nearby park for our traditional sunset "docktails".  That little white dot off in the distance between the two wine glasses is Spiritus.

 

 

 

 

Playing a game of "Chicken" with some Canadian geese as we motor southward on the waterway.  I found out later that day from an avid hunter-friend of mine that there is a federal law against "harrassment of wildlife"! 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of you have asked, "What is a bollard?"  A bollard is what you attach a line to ("rope" for you landlubbers) when you're in a lock chamber.  It keeps your boat stationary while the chamber is either filling or expelling water.

 

 

 

The First Mate indicates "Six Fingers" as we lock through our sixth lock for the day.  That is a record for Spiritus, and an exhausting day for her crew!

 

 

 

Aberdeen wins the prize for "Most Unique Marina".  The marina "office" is actually located in a very active country grocery store, complete with gas pumps, ice cold beer, fried chicken, and a large hound-dog sleeping on the front doorsteps!

 

 

 

Upon arrival in Columbus, Mississippi we enjoyed docktails and a sunset once again with our friends, John & Susan Halechko!  We will "rest" here for a week.