DAY 41 - PICKWICK LANDING STATE PARK TO MIDWAY MARINA

From the end of the Tennessee River to Midway Marina on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway 59.6 miles

Monday, August 22, 2016 - We decided to start a bit later today.  At 8:00 am we were at the gas dock to refuel.  We left the marina at 8:30.  In only 7 miles we are finished our portion of the Tennessee River and joined the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway at mile 450.  We are now heading south towards Mobile.  The Ten-Tom project to build a waterway from the Tennessee River to the Gulf of Mexico began construction in 1972.  After 12 years at a cost of $2 billion the waterway was completed and officially opened January 10, 1985. Construction required removing 307 million cubic yards of earth and pouring 2.2 million cubic yards of concrete.  There are three lakes along the waterway Pickwick Lake, Bay Springs Lake and Aberdeen Lake.  Just before we got to the Whitten Lock at 11:00 we passed a tug Cooper Devall going the same direction as us.  We now have to wait for him to lock thru.  This lock goes down 84’, the biggest drop in the Ten-Tom Locks.  The Montgomery Lock was our second lock, going down 33 feet.  Our third and final lock for the day was the Rankin Lock.  We cleared it at 3:30 and headed for Midway Marina, Itawamba County, Mississippi docking at 4:00.  This is a very quiet location just off of the Ten-Tom Waterway navigation channel.  They provided us with a courtesy van which to took into town to the Walmart to pick up some provisions.  It was a great way to see the area. This area was also our initiation to the 'May Fly'.  I do not like them!

Pickwick Landing as we are leaving in the morning.

Entering Pickwick Lake on the Ten-Tom Waterway

These are Baffles used to prevent creeks from 'rushing in'.

Smithville Marina on the Ten-Tom - Not an alternative plan to stay!

Trees growing in the water on the side of the canal.

Whitten Lock with the doors closed

Looking up the bollard shaft in the Whitten Lock

When the dams were made flooding the area the existing trees
were not removed so there are thousands of dead trees and stumps.

View from Lady V of part of the shoreline at Midway Marina.