October 29, Day 138 - Joe Wheeler State Park to Aqua Yacht Harbor, Iuka, MS

The morning came early, very early. Because there were so many Loopers planning to depart the marina on Thursday and because there is a lock within a couple of miles of the marina we tried to plan our departure in groups with the first group leaving at 7:00 a.m. Since we are one of the slower boats, we decided on the first departure in hopes of making our destination (Aqua Yacht Harbor) at a reasonable hour. Fortunately, there was no fog and no commercial traffic so the 11 boats that left at 7:00 were able to lock through quickly. The day was cloudy, but quite warm. As we traveled to the second lock of the day, it started to rain. By the time we got through the Wilson Lock we were soaked.

After the lock, we cruised down the Tennessee River to the junction of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. We had come upriver on this same stretch exactly 2 weeks earlier when our friends, Jay and Nanci, were with us. On that day, it was not raining, but it was cloudy. The leaves had changed color during that 2-week period, but it still wasn't as pretty as it could have been with sun.

We arrived at the marina around 4:00. It was very windy and we had a hard time on the dock just filling up with diesel and getting a pumpout. The usual transient dock is an extension of the fuel dock, but because it was so "bumpy" they put us inside in a more protected area. The weather forecast is for rain and high wind (gusts to 40+) tomorrow, so we decided to stay 2 nights. There are many other loopers here.

Linda made chicken picatta and corn on the cob. Tasted pretty good after a long day on the water. Then we CRASHED!!!



Departing the marina at 7:00 a.m. (we were forewarned -- red sky in the morning turned out to be true)

The boats ahead on their way to the lock

The lock was full - 12 boats in all, so some had to raft up

Departing the lock

In the Wilson Lock. We were drenched when we were through.

Water coming down the lock gate

This, and the following pictures are shots of the trees along the shoreline. They were very colorful, in spite of the clouds and rain.




Shortly after we took this picture of a fellow looper, we pulled into the marina. We were glad to be there.