Columbus Mississippi

It was a cold and early start to this 29th day of October.    Don always gets up before me and feeds the cats and make the best coffee, so the day starts off great.  We keep the TV on for a bit to hear about hurricane Sandy and where it was heading and where it was expected to make land fall.  They are calling it the "perfect storm"  and the "the storm of the century".  We are glad that we are not on the east coast and we pray for friend who are there and in the path of Sandy....


Today we have four locks to go through and about  63+ miles.  Anything can happen at the locks so we wanted to get an early start.  The first was only 7.0 miles away at Fulton Lock and Dam at mile 391.0.  We were lucky, Larry had called and the lock was open and ready for us.  It is very pretty countryside and lots to see.  The next lock was 14.7 miles at mile 376.3, the Glover Lock and Dam.  The lock master had called ahead and told them we were coming, so they were ready.  Along the way we heard Jade call in that there were more boats coming so the lock master made us all wait...  About 40 minutes later everyone was secure and the lock closed and we started down.  It was only 30' as all the locks are today so not so bad.  In 5.2 miles was the Amory Lock and Dam at mile 371.1 and again lucky and they to were open and ready for us.  We travel a little faster than a few of the boat's but we all slowed to a similar speed.  The next was the last lock of the day, the Aberdeen Lock and Dam,13.6 miles away at mile 357.5.  As we were getting close to the lock Don called and they said that there was a tow inside and it would be at least 1 hour, so we all slowed down, no rush to get there.  Once there it was another 30 minutes as the tow had to left off some men at the lock.  Well we all gone in and we were out in no time.  It was now 22.50 miles to Columbus Marina.  Lady KK was first and the marina wanted us all the wait in the channel as there was a strong wind in the marina and they wanted to get one boat at a time in and secure.  Nanseann was next and then us and then Boot Scootin and finally Jade II.  As we were coming in the marina harbor was covered with plants in the water hyacinth's.  Hard to get around some of them.  We were all happy when we got in and tied up.  All tired we all stayed on our own boats as it was late and cold outside.  Dave and Diane came over for a drink or two.  Cooked a nice dinner and shared a great bottle of wine (from a box) and watched the news and a bit of TV.  Don went over to the Lady KK for a nite cap.



Sherry, Don, Me, Dave, Diane and Larry

The next day (the 30th) Don and Dave had reserved the courtesy car for 10:00 AM and Larry had reserved it for 6:00PM.  The ladies went in without the men and did some serious shopping.  Came back, dropped off the stuff and picked up Don and Dave and headed back in to do a few other errands.  Larry and Sherry had made reservations in a restaurant called Harvey's.  They have been here many time and said it was a great place to dine and they were right.  The six of us have had some great times and we are glad to be boating with them.  Look forward to the next few days....




Tennesse Williams First Home

Well it is now Halloween and the morning is beautiful and not as cold as yesterday.  Loopy Kiwi and Jade II left around 9:00ish.  Looper's go and Looper's come...   We watched the news to see the devastation on the east coast especially places we have been.  It is just unimaginable the destruction....




The girls are going into town to look at some of the beautiful old southern houses and have lunch and the men are planning what we are going to do the next few days. Each of us had one last errand to do and then off to Hank's.  It was a nice place but the service and food were just ok.  We toured the city and then headed back to the boat.  When we got back the marina was full of Looper's again but even more.  Gemini Dream, Bucket List, Muriel June, Oceanus and four more.  Don had been working on sending all his invoices into the insurance company for the lightening strike in Little Current.  Hopefully we can get this all settled.   Tonite We are staying on board and I cooked fabulous rack of New Zealand lamb, garlic and chive potatoes and minted carrots and peas, yum yum....