Bay Springs Marina, New Site, Mississippi

We were wakened early this morning (about 5:30 am) by the sounds of voices over a loudspeaker. Couldn’t figure out what was happening. Turned out there was a bass fishing tournament setting out from Florence Harbor, with 144 boats. By the time we got up, some of the fishermen were holding themselves in place by holding on to our anchor/ ropes. It was quite a formal affair, with inspections to make sure that the participants had life jackets on, and that they had live wells for bait and fish. Wayne visited with some of them, they said this is a big tournament, with people coming from far and wide. It was important to do well because that would allow them to go on to other tournaments, plus the money is in sponsorships. They all left the marina by 7:15. We pulled out about 8, saw some of them along the way.


It was cold this morning, temperature was in the 30’s. We need to head south quickly. As we came through Pickwick Lake, we passed a paddlewheel tour boat, quite pretty. Wondered why he was off the main channel. Shortly after we passed him, we heard the coast guard warning that the paddlewheeler Belle of Cincinnati had gone aground, and warning other boaters that he was there. Then we heard the coast guard saying that they were evacuating passengers. What a way to do your tour.

Shortly after passing the tour boat, we turned into Yellow Creek and headed down to the Tenn-Tombigbee canal. We passed under the Mississippi 25 Highway Bridge, then we were in the 24 mile long divide cut. This is a dug channel 280 feet wide that connects Pickwick Lake with Bay Springs Lake; it is narrow and winding, quite pretty with trees along both sides. We met one tow in the whole length of the Divide cut. Just before the first lock in the Tenn-Tombigbee, we turned into Bay Springs marina. We travelled about 78 miles today; it was just after 4 when we got to the marina, and we were ready to stop. Tomorrow morning we will start down the locks.

Got together with Nancy and Eddie on Dream Fever for dinner, then it will be early to bed (remember that we had an early morning). Apparently when the first boat calls the Lock, the lockmaster calls for any other boats that want to lock down. You all go together, the term is you get flushed down the system. If you are not ready to go, then Justin here at the marina says that you should be prepared to wait. So we will be up early and ready to go. However, there is a frost warning for tonight, so fog is a possibility, and we may have to wait.