Welcome to Mississippi! Pickwick Lock and Aqua Marine - Iuka MS
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Days 55 on the Loop – Double Island Anchorage to Aqua Harbor Marina - Tennessee River to Tenn-Tom Waterway (58.89 Miles).
We had a quiet night at anchor in the spur of the river off of Double Island. Alonsi was up the river from us, but we had lots of room to ourselves. The current was practically nil, but the river did go up by a foot or so overnight, which did not affect us. In the morning it was nice to see the anchor come up clean. This is because we had been anchored in sand and so did not have a huge clump of mud on the anchor when it came up. My raw water wash down is not working, since the fuse holder has melted, so it was nice to not have to clean the anchor off!
We rejoined the Tennessee River below the island and continued south. On the way up the river (remember, we are still progressing up river, against the current) we passed some beautiful homes.
We also passed by Shiloh National Battlefield. I happened to glance over at just the right moment, and recognized the place where I had stopped. This is the water view of where the federal troops landed (Pittsburg Landing). Previously I had posted the land view.
We arrived at Pickwick Landing Lock and about seven other Looper boats had already started a lift. I should have tried to contact some of the boats in that group to coordinate the time we went through. We waited for about an hour and then entered the lock with Inshallah.
I wanted to try doing this lock "solo" i.e. I would bring the boat alongside the floating pin, and then to go back and secure the boat to the pin. However, the wind was blowing the boat about in the lock and so I could not get it to stay in a location where I could do that in sufficient time. In the end, Vicki had to secure the line to the pin while I kept the boat in place. It was a reminder of why doing this journey solo is not a good idea for me.
It was quite windy in the lock and I had to frequently use the bow thruster to keep us up against the wall. It was a relief to get out of the lock, and to know that might be my final lock aboard Sunny Tug.
We telephoned Aqua Yacht Harbor, since it was 5:00 pm and we might not get in before they left. I am glad we did because staff was about to go off duty. We were given directions to berth F33.
Aqua Harbor is very different from Alton and Green Turtle Bay. The restrooms, and shower buildings are a long ways from the berths and the place is not as nice. There are no cleats on the docks (you just tie off to posts on the dock). I'll see how long I decide to stay here.
We went to dinner at the restaurant at the marina and met some other Loopers there. Kevin and Laurie (Laurie Jean) have a friend who is doing the Loop solo and has similar concerns to me. They will try to connect us up so we can talk.
We had a quiet night at anchor in the spur of the river off of Double Island. Alonsi was up the river from us, but we had lots of room to ourselves. The current was practically nil, but the river did go up by a foot or so overnight, which did not affect us. In the morning it was nice to see the anchor come up clean. This is because we had been anchored in sand and so did not have a huge clump of mud on the anchor when it came up. My raw water wash down is not working, since the fuse holder has melted, so it was nice to not have to clean the anchor off!
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| The ritual of morning engine checks! |
We rejoined the Tennessee River below the island and continued south. On the way up the river (remember, we are still progressing up river, against the current) we passed some beautiful homes.
We also passed by Shiloh National Battlefield. I happened to glance over at just the right moment, and recognized the place where I had stopped. This is the water view of where the federal troops landed (Pittsburg Landing). Previously I had posted the land view.
We arrived at Pickwick Landing Lock and about seven other Looper boats had already started a lift. I should have tried to contact some of the boats in that group to coordinate the time we went through. We waited for about an hour and then entered the lock with Inshallah.
I wanted to try doing this lock "solo" i.e. I would bring the boat alongside the floating pin, and then to go back and secure the boat to the pin. However, the wind was blowing the boat about in the lock and so I could not get it to stay in a location where I could do that in sufficient time. In the end, Vicki had to secure the line to the pin while I kept the boat in place. It was a reminder of why doing this journey solo is not a good idea for me.
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| Inside Pickwick Lock - A 55' rise |
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| Secured to a floating pin |
It was quite windy in the lock and I had to frequently use the bow thruster to keep us up against the wall. It was a relief to get out of the lock, and to know that might be my final lock aboard Sunny Tug.
We telephoned Aqua Yacht Harbor, since it was 5:00 pm and we might not get in before they left. I am glad we did because staff was about to go off duty. We were given directions to berth F33.
Aqua Harbor is very different from Alton and Green Turtle Bay. The restrooms, and shower buildings are a long ways from the berths and the place is not as nice. There are no cleats on the docks (you just tie off to posts on the dock). I'll see how long I decide to stay here.
We went to dinner at the restaurant at the marina and met some other Loopers there. Kevin and Laurie (Laurie Jean) have a friend who is doing the Loop solo and has similar concerns to me. They will try to connect us up so we can talk.
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