Columbus Surprise! Grand Harbor Let Down.

Columbus Marina (www.columbusmarina.com) is always one of our favorite stops along the Tombigbee. Friendly staff headed up by T. Caldwell. A good stop to re-provision. Competitive fuel and dockage prices. And a number of good restaurants in the area. Unfortunately T. Caldwell was out of town during our stay but Jimmie and T.'s two adult kids were there to handle the details. Our first night there we went to town for dinner at Hucks which was recommended to us by T's wife. Located downtown Columbus I have to say that Pam and I were pleasantly surprised. A menu that featured catfish prepared in a variety of ways and a steak that was their top seller. After dinner we went downstairs to the bar and listened to the music. A good night in Columbus! Check it out at (www.hucksplace.com).

The next morning Pam wanted me to check out the laundry facilities for her so up to the office I go. On my way back down I walked under the building (it's elevated for flooding) and stopped dead in my tracks. Laying there was a 6' long snake! I'm sure I had the same effect on him as he did on me since he never flinched while we both sized each other up.
Being the odd individual that I am my first thought was to get the camera and take a picture, so off to the boat I went. Of course by the time I got back he had moved on. Not wanting to give up I walked up the ramp that encircles half of the building looking for him. Finally when I reached the top I spotted him laying in the grass. I clicked the pictures below and then got T's daughter Carla to show her my discovery.

Columbus Surprise!

Her reaction was that the snake needed to be eliminated so off to her car she went to get her pistol! (Only in the South!) On her way she called her dad who reminded her that she couldn't fire her pistol within city limits. Use the pellet gun instead! Heeding her fathers advice she popped off a few rounds at the snake but by now he was moving toward the water. Successfully for the snake, he slipped into the water, swam under the fuel dock and across the lagoon to the other side.
Carla claims she would have hit him if she could have used her pistol!
In comparing my pictures to pictures on the internet they figured it may have been a python that someone may of had as a pet and let go.

Don't mess with Carla!

After two nights it was time to move on. Up until this time we had only encountered 1 other northbound boat since we left Mobile. Last night 3 came into the marina and left before us today. All alone we continued our trek up the Tombigbee. With a bit of a delay at Amory Lock we decided to call it quits at an old commercial embayment just below Fulton Lock. Knowing that the locks on the Tenn-Tom keep track of our progress I gave them a call to advise them of our stopping for the night for which they thanked me and wished us a pleasant night.

The anchorage wasn't pretty but it had consistent 12' depths and good protection from wind and wakes. We slept like babies!


With 4 locks ahead of us we got going early today. 1st lock, right through! 2nd lock, not so fast. As we approached the lock we knew we were in trouble when we saw the Tow Uncle John heading to the gates. Only 2 barges wide I thought a call to the lock wouldn't hurt. As I had hoped the lockmaster and the tow captain agreed to allow us to lock through with the tow. Once Uncle John was in and secured we came in as instructed. Only one problem. We were too long to allow the gates to close. A quick conversation with the lockmaster and we moved forward a few feet allowing the gates to close. We were then able to move back and secure to the bollard for the ride up.
Once on top we were instructed to move on between the barges and the lock wall and exit before Uncle John. a tight fit but we made it!

Tight Fit

In the lock with Uncle John

Our exit path once the water was raised.

2 down and 2 to go. The next lock, Montgomery Lock had the gates open and waiting for us. In, up, and out. A few miles later and we were at our last lock on the Tombigbee. They saved the best for last. The Whitten Lock has a lift of 83'. In we went all alone looking up at the sky and marveling at the work of engineering that created the lock system. In no time at all we were at the top and exiting into Bay Springs Lake.

Waiting for the lower gates of Whitten Lock to open.

Upper gates of Whitten before the water raises.

Lower Whitten gates from inside the chamber.

Upper gates opening after our ride up.

Across the lake and into the 24 mile long man made canal that connects the Tennessee and Tombigbee Rivers. As has become the norm, we had it all to ourselves.

Rock lined canal between the rivers.

Popping out of the upper end of the canal we encountered a south bound tow before pulling into Grand Harbor Marina, a stop we have enjoyed 4 other times in the past. Unfortunately not so much this time.

I should have known we were in trouble when the girl at the fuel dock asked if we needed a power hook up and then wanted to put us on the most exposed side of their docks when there was obviously room for several boats in the more protected areas. In the past someone has been out there waving at us on the finger where we were going. I will say that this girl was out there but looking like she may have been waiting for her boyfriend to come in with the jet ski and pick her up. Finally as we were backing into the dock Pam had to ask if she'd catch our lines. She did. Showed us the power pedestal and when asked if the cable TV outlet worked, said she didn't know. With that she said she'd be inside getting our papers together and off she went!

That was the good part of the experience.

According to the Active Captain web site their dockage fee was $1.00 a foot minus a 10% discount if you belong to Boat US or AGLCA. We belong to both so our bill should have been $43.20 plus tax.  With that in mind I went in to pay.

I was given none of the papers that she supposedly had to prepare nor was I given a breakdown of the charges when she presented me with a bill for 64.20. Like a dummy I paid the bill and went back to the boat thinking the taxes must be high around here. The more I thought about it I decided to be a pain and question the bill.
When questioned she admitted that she normally didn't check boats in and wasn't sure if there were any other charges or how this was derived. She said she'd talk to the manager and get back to me.
Over an hour later she comes out with $6.00 cash and says that the manager said to give us that as a refund for overpayment.  Ok. 64.20 minus 6 = 58.20. Still seems too high for what we read on Active Captain. Now keep in mind that AC is not the marina web site and can be wrong. We just wanted an explanation of the charges. Money isn't the issue. It's the principal of it all.

Of course the girl by now was back in the building so this time Pam went in. She asked who she could talk to about the charges and was told the manager and he was up on top. (???) While Pam was still standing there the phone rang and the girl said that we were still upset about the bill and gave the phone to Pam. Pam asked him what the tax rate was and he didn't know! She then told him what we had read on AC and he said that it was wrong, that their rate was $1.25 per foot. Ok. So now it should be 54.00 plus tax. Pam told him he should change the rate on AC since it was misleading. He said he updated the fuel prices daily on the site. So! We're talking about dockage. Anyway he was getting huffy by now and said he'd give her another $6.00 and hung the phone up on her! Unbelievable! He hung up on her!

An hour later the price on Active Captain had been changed!

The attendant gave Pam another $6.00 which meant we only paid $52.20.

So in the end because of the lack of training of the staff and the rudeness of the management at Grand Harbor they have lost a customer and in the end screwed themselves since we only paid $52.20. Tax included.

The attendant closed up shop at 5 pm. We left at 7:30 am the next day and never once saw anyone from management on the docks. Certainly not how it used to be.

Too bad such incompetence for such a nice facility.

Out of Florida and Up the River

Finally after a 4 night stay in Pensacola we got the lines untied and continued our Westward journey. Down Pensacola Bay to the GICW, past Ft. Pickens and the inlet leading out into the Gulf. We stayed inside and followed the channel to Ingram Bayou where we stopped early and anchored for the night. Somewhere during the day we slipped out of Florida and into Alabama.

Fort Pickens

Island in the Stream

Ingram Bayou Anchorage

Not out of the rain yet!

After a peaceful night in Ingram Bayou we awoke to a beautiful sunrise.

We got going after rinsing the mud off the anchor chain and had a nice ride across the GICW past Orange Beach, Al. Past LuLu Buffet's restaurant (Jimmy's sister) and into Mobile Bay where we turned North and made our way to Grand Mariner Marina at Dog River just below Mobile.

We were harassed by these gulls shortly after we got underway this morning.

Just past Orange Beach we came across this commercial area.

It doesn't get much smoother than this.

LuLu's.

Mobile Bay.

Our timing allowed us to get in and take on fuel. Give Tourist a much needed bath even though you'd think all of the rain we've had would have provided a good cleaning. And watch the Kentucky Derby before dining at the marina restaurant. After dinner we felt it only appropriate that we watch the movie Secretariat.

A good flick before bedtime.

The next day we borrowed the loaner car and did some re-provisioning. The effects of the recent storm were still being felt here too as we had to detour from the normal route due to the road being washed out. While we were out we took advantage of our time away from the boat and had lunch at Ruby Tuesday's.

Thinking of you Bill & Mary!

The rest of the day we watched boaters attempt to pull into the fuel dock at the marina. Unbelievable how so many could screw up a relatively easy task in the calm conditions.

The view across the river of Dog River Marina.

If you pass this way you owe it to yourself to make a stop at Grand Mariner. Certainly nothing fancy but a down home attitude that you find in the South prevails. More than just a marina it's a daily gathering spot for the storytellers and a residence for more than one stray cat.

One of the cats that keeps an eye on the place.

Tourist front & center at Grand Mariner.

Our view of Grand Mariner as we left.

The weather was great as we pulled into Mobile Bay and turned North. Just below we passed the dredge Columbia working on the side of the channel.

Dredge Columbia.

Traffic was light as we made our way through Mobile and into the Mobile River although we could start to feel the effects of the recent rains in an increase in the current speed working against us and the debris floating past us.

Mobile.

Preview of things to come.

On we travelled up the swollen  river past the 14 mile bridge and under what the locals call the Dolly Parton bridges of I-65.

14 mile bridge.

Dolly Parton bridges in the distance.

Some 60 miles later we pulled into Bates Lake and dropped anchor for the night. It was then Pam and I looked at each other and realized it was May 5. Cinco de Mayo! What else could we do but celebrate with chips & salsa to go with our margaritas!

Bates Lake anchorage. Out of the current and peaceful.

Cinco de Mayo! Cheers!

After a calm night we hit the trail at the crack of dawn. Back into the current which at times I'd estimate was running 3mph against us along with the usual debris that comes with a flood.

Our trail took us past Jackson, Al. and through Coffeeville Lock, our first lock on the Tenn-Tom. Coffeeville lock is always a treat due to the heavy Southern drawl of the lockmaster. For a Northern boy like me it's just a guess as to what he's telling me or requesting from me! Somehow we managed to get through and move on past Bobby's Fish Camp and into Okatuppa Creek for our overnight anchorage.

There's a green buoy under that turbulence in the water.

Still room for more water but not much.

Just a river scene.

Jackson, Al. industry.

Coming into Coffeeville Lock.

Pam likes floating bollards!

Okatuppa anchorage.

View from the stern of Tourist at Okatuppa.

Early mornings become a way of life when travelling and while it's sometimes a struggle to get out of bed you get rewarded with beautiful sunrises and scenery that so many never see.

Our reward for getting up early.

Our travel today took us to Demopolis, Al. and the Demopolis Yacht Basin where we took on fuel and spent the night in their new marina, Kingfisher Bay. Pam took the opportunity to use their laundry facility which made her a happy camper.

One mans castle along the river.

Debris from past floods.

Just below Demopolis the bank slid into the river narrowing the channel.

Demopolis Yacht Basin.

Debris at the Demopolis fuel dock.

One thing about fueling at Demopolis is that you know the fuel will be fresh because they fuel the towboats that travel the Tombigbee.

The next day the weather was still good as we made our way upriver. Fortunately by now the current was almost back to normal and minimal debris littered the water. We travelled to an oxbow in the river called Upper Cook Cutoff and anchored early for the day in about 18 feet of water. Another peaceful night followed by another early morning. This time however morning dawned with moisture in the air. At times during our day the rain came down hard but without lightning. We had 2 locks to pass through causing Pam to get her full rain gear on to handle the locking chores.

Pamster in full rain wardrobe. What. No heels?

One of the things I do since we have isinglass and no wipers is to use Collinite's  insulator wax on the isinglass which acts like Rain X.

Insulator wax on the center section and not on the sides. What was I thinking?

Our last lock before pulling into Columbus Marina in Columbus, Ms. was the John Stennis lock. By now the wind was blowing and the rain was falling. Our timing was perfect. We arrived just as a tow was approaching the lock which meant we had to wait. Once we entered the chamber and started raising our day was nearing completion. Columbus Marina is just around the corner.

Water churning in John Stennis Lock.