Sweet Home Alabama

We have been moving down the Tenn-Tom waterway for the last several days.  This is much prettier than some of the more northern rivers.  There are creeks and off-shoots along the waterway that look like they could be good areas for fishing and kayaking.

Views along the Tenn-Tom Waterway

This appeared to be a cormorant convention

The first lock on the Tenn-Tom Waterway is the Whitten Lock.  It drops (or raises) boats 87 feet.  It is the ninth highest single lift lock in the US.

Whitten Dam beside the Whitten Lock

Inside the lock with the doors shut behind us and water going down (notice the heron on the sill)

Soon at the bottom of the lock

Coming out of the lock

Passing more tows and barges along the Tenn-Tom

When we get a little bored, we see how many turtles we can count on any given log

We have a winner

 Friday October 26th we finally reached Alabama.  We stopped at an anchorage just about 60 miles north of Demopolis, AL in a little town called Aliceville.  It was a nice, little spot with protection off the channel and trees to reduce the wind.  We anchored in about 15-20  of water and the anchor held on the first drop.  The temperature was a bit cool and there was a good breeze with some drizzle, so I did not launch the kayak.  Had the weather been nice, I definitely would have paddled.  In the morning we are heading to Demopolis Yacht Basin.  We will spend a few days in the marina there getting ready to make the final push to Florida.