Columbus Marina in Columbus, Mississippi 

Day #120: Happy Halloween everyone! Up at 6:20 A.M. we watched the local weather as they are still predicting severe storms overnight. At 6:45 A.M. Mike and I headed with three loads of laundry to the laundry room. After the first two loads were in the dryer I headed back to the boat for coffee, peach and cookies for breakfast. Laundry was completed by 9:00 A.M. Mike did some paperwork. We got ready meeting Bruce and Bev at 10:00 A.M. at the courtesy car as we headed to Walmart and Kroger for groceries. We got back to the marina at 12:00 P.M. I had bought more candy for the loopers so I put bags together for passing out later this afternoon. At 2:00 P.M. Mike and I took our chairs out on the dock. Bruce, Bev, Ken and Karen from "Island Girl" joined us on the dock. The clouds starting moving in but it was in the mid-70's and beautiful. After Ken and Karen left Penni, Bob from "Tyche" and Natalie & Bob from "Bob, N Along". At 5:00 P.M. I put on my squid hat heading out to pass out candy to the loopers here at Columbia Marina. I had a really good time bringing lots of smiles to loopers faces. I headed back to our boat at about 5:50 P.M. it was time for loopers to get together for docktails. Mike headed up to docktails while I blogged, finished getting the boat ready for the storms and made sloppy joes. When Mike returned to the boat we had a quiet dinner aboard. I talked to my Mom as we always talk on Halloween night. Time for cribbage and reading.

                                                                                      

                                                           Beautiful sunrise and warm.

Columbus, Mississippi is very proud to be the home of Columbus Air Force Base. Thanks to Mike for pulling off to the side of a very busy road and Bev who snapped this picture.

Columbus Marina in Columbus, Mississippi

Day #119: Remarkable what a goodnights sleep can do!!!!! Up at 6:20 A.M. as there was movement in the marina as boats were starting to depart. Mike and I had coffee, nectarine and cookies. We were able to watch the local weather on the TV. We are very glad that we made the decision to stay an extra day as the rain and storms have shift to late Wednesday night to Thursday all day. There is a small chance of tornadoes but they are predicting 3-4 inches of rain. We would have been trying to anchor in the storms hence better to be tied up here in Columbus Marina. We met a gentleman whose boat is just down from ours he told us how excited he gets during looper season as he gets to meet very nice people so we talked for a bit. Jim told Mike and I that he doesn't get off his boat much that he is somewhat of a hermit. Mike and I walked up to the showers which are about a quarter of a mile away from our slip we will get a great workout while we are here. On my way back from the showers, Jim asked if either Mike or I are interested in history of the Civil War, I told him that Mike is the history buff so Jim told me that he would talk to Mike later today. We signed out the courtesy vehicle from 4 P.M. to 6 P.M. tonight as "Bay Tripper" and "Tyche" will be going out to dinner. Mike worked on a few boat jobs on our boat then he went to help Bruce install a new spot light on "Bay Tripper". I have spent time putting items back where they belong we find that when you are moving multiple days in a row the boat gets into a bit of disarray and catching up on some paperwork. I was finally able to vote as my absentee ballot finally arrived so I had it shipped here to Columbus Marina. Just a beautiful day today sunny, warm and mid-70's. We had a very quiet afternoon. As Mike and I were walking past Jim's boat he was out on the well deck he gave Mike a book "Slivers: A Year's Worth of 365 Anecdotes form the Civil War" that's an original compilation by James L. Drake (who is the gentleman on the boat), Mike told Jim how honored he is that he gave him this book. At 3:50 P.M. Bruce, Bev, Jay, Penni, Mike and I piled into the mini-van courtesy car from the marina heading to Huck's Place for dinner. We had a great time at dinner,  the food was great and we had lots of laughs. When we got back docktails were in session at the marina but the mosquitos were horrible so Bruce, Bev, Mike and I headed back to the boat. Time for blogging and Mike was able to talk to Amanda.

Glad that Mike and I remembered to sign up for absentee ballots before we left for the trip.

Looper Halloween treats for Wednesday.

One of the courtesy cars here at Columbus Marina.

Bruce being a good citizen by crossing at the light. The rest of us just walked across the street to the restaurant. 

Huck's Place is the restaurant that the marina suggested for dinner.

Bronzed (I had to ask what bronzed meant-it is cooked with less seasoning than blackened) catfish with bourbon maple mashed sweet potatoes.  

Bev, Patty, Mike Penni, Jay and Bruce at Huck's Place ("Tyche", "Bay Tripper" and "Parrot Bay")

This is the book that was give to Mike from Janes L. Drake.

This is our boat neighbor at Columbus Marina who complied the information for the book "Slivers: A Year's Worth of 365 Anecdotes from the Civil War." 

Midway Marina in Fulton, Mississippi to Columbus Marina in Columbus, Mississippi

Day #118: Up at 5:45 A.M. to get ready for departure. There was just a bit of wispy fog on the water and the temperature was cool. At 7:00 A.M. Mike called the Fulton Lock we were told to come down to the lock that they would be ready for us. Mike also inquired about the fog situation but was told by the lockmaster that it was clear at the lock. We hailed the rest of the looper fleet on VHF Chanel 68 to inform them that the lock would be ready.  9 boats total.  Engines on at 7:00 A.M. At 7:15 A.M. we were underway but had issues getting out of the slip that we were in as the water was to shallow we were assisted by "Island Girl" to get off the dock. At 7:45 A.M. we were secure in the Fulton Lock with the other 8 boats from the fleet.  We were able to just drive right into the lock as the gate was open and the green light was on. We were secure at 8:10 A.M. we were clear of Fulton Lock (Lock #17) after being dropped 25 feet along with "Optimystique", "Sea Trolley", "It's Someday" "Smooth Dancer", "Virginia Hawkeye", "Bay Tripper", "Island Girl", "Justified". At 9:40 A.M. Mike hailed the Wilkins Lock and he was told that we needed to keep coming as the lock would be ready for us. Again, we drove right into the lock gates open and green light on. We were secure in the lock in the Wilkins Lock at 10:00 A.M. At 10:20 A.M. we were clear of the lock after being dropped 25 feet (Lock #18) and we traveled with the same boats as the prior lock. At 10:50 A.M. Mike called the Amory Lock we were told to "come on down". We were secure in the lock at 11:00 A.M. again we were able to drive right into the lock as the gates were open and the green light was on. We were clear of the Amory Lock at 11:20 A.M. after being dropped 30 feet (Lock #19). At 1:00 P.M. we were secure in the Aberdeen Lock again we were able to drive right in as the gate was open and the green light was on. We were clear of the Aberdeen Lock after being dropped 27 feet this lock (Lock #20  we only traveled with 7 boats as "Optimistique" and "Sea Trolley" stopped short of the lock. At this point we were all feeling very relieved that we had made it through all four locks for the day and we knew that we were going to be able to make it to Columbus Marina. I called Steve at Columbus Marina to let him know that we were on our way which he already knew as he had been watching us on the app NEBO. Steve texted me a layout of the buoys entering the marina channel. We were secure at Columbus Marina with the assistance of the dockmaster Steve, Jimmy the dock hand and fellow Loopers. We traveled 60 miles today for a total of 1579 miles for the trip so far. When we arrived Jay and Penny from "Tyche" were on the dock to greet us when we pulled into the dock.  Its like having family to greet you. As we went to check in "Island Girl" mentioned that there is severe weather predicted for Wednesday evening and Thursday (the weather forecast had changed a bit from this morning as the storms are now predicted for Thursday as well) so Mike and I talked to Bruce and Bev deciding to stay one extra day to let the storms pass as tornados are being predicted as well. Steve the dockmaster is a hoot he is funny and really makes you feel welcome when you arrive at his marina. He had our mail waiting for us when we arrive. At 6:00 P.M. we headed to a outside lounge area for docktails. We met "Sea Loons" Tina/Patrick and "Ceci Kay" Jan/Stacy. Back to the boat for blogging and boat paperwork. We will all sleep much better tonight.

Beautiful sunrise. 

Secure in the Fulton Lock.

Waiting for the lock gates to close.

"Virginia Hawkeye" dropping in the Fulton Lock.

Eight boats leaving the Fulton Lock.

Secure in the Wilkins Lock.

Steve and "It's Someday" at the back of the Wilkins Lock.  Water cascading over the sill.

Secure at the Amory Lock.

Amory gates opening.

Leaving the Amory Lock.

Turtles just outside of the Amory Lock.

Secure in the Aberdeen Lock.

Captain Mike never sits down while underway this is a very rare picture of him sitting.

Oops! Not suppose to be this close.

This is the picture that Steve from Columbus Marina sent on how to approach the marina.

Columbus Marina from the water.

"Parrot Bay" and "Bay Tripper" heading into Columbus Marina. Thanks to Karen from "Island Girl" for taking and sharing this picture.

Trip from Midway Marina in Fulton, Mississippi to Columbus Marina in Columbus, Mississippi

Dockmaster Steve Arndt a very funny guy.

        This is up in the office displaying the boats on that will be entering and leaving the facility.

Bay Springs Marina in New Site, Mississippi to Midway Marina in Fulton, Mississippi

Day #117: Up at 5:45 A.M. for get ready for departure from Bay Springs Marina. Cool and hazy this morning. At 6:50 A.M. Mike called Jamie Whitten Lock he was told that we could lock at 8:00 A.M. to be at the lock at 7:50 A.M. At 7:30 A.M. engines were started we were away from the dock at 7:40 A.M. As we got closer to the lock the fog was a bit more dense. At 8:05 A.M. we were secure in the lock with 7 other boats ("Bay Tripper", "It's Someday", "Miss Utah", "Smooth Dancer", "School's Out", "Big Dog"), "Sea Trolley" turned around due the fog. We cleared the Jamie Whitten lock at 8:30 A.M. after being dropped 84 feet (Lock #14). At 9:05 A.M. we were at the Montgomery Lock we had to wait for 2 tows, the "Miss Allison" down bound and "Decatur" up bound. Due to the waiting we finally anchored to wait the tows to clear. At 11:00 A.M. we were secure in the lock we were joined by "Sea Trolley" as they caught up with the group. At 11:15 A.M. we cleared the Montgomery Lock after being dropped 30 feet (Lock #15). At 12:15 P.M. we were at the Rankin Lock we had to wait for the "Rhett Parker" to lock up we were told by the lock that after the "Parker" locked through that the lock would be turned around and we could lock through. But as that was about to happen we were told that there was a tow 5 miles away that we had wait for that tow to lock down. We rafted to "Bay Tripper" to have lunch and discuss what we were going to do as was we still had one lock to go with an up and down bound tow that needed to clear that lock and we had another 20 miles to go after we cleared the lock. I called Midway Marina to see if they had availability for the night I was told that they had lots of room to call them as we got closer. I called Smithville Marina to cancel our reservation for tonight. As we were waiting 4 more looper boats join us before the Rankin Lock. We were secure in the Rankin Lock at 2:30 P.M. We cleared the lock at 2:40 P.M. after being dropped 30 feet (Lock #16). It was sunny and 80 degrees outside just beautiful. We were secure at 3:30 P.M. at Midway Marina. We only made it through 3 locks and 21 miles today (1518 miles for the trip so far). Some of the boats that we were traveling with went on to the next lock but there were issues with a tow being out of control so some of the boats turned around heading back to Midway Marina for the evening. Today we are not trotting to the Gulf we were at a slow crawl to the Gulf. Once we were secure Mike worked on talking to the other looper boats about what the plans are for the morning as we offered to call the Fulton Lock at 7:00 A.M. to see when we can lock through. At 5:00 P.M. we joined "Bay Tripper" and "Schools Out" for docktails. At 5:30 P.M. I was able to FaceTime with Mom and Dad Burdo. Mike talked to Mark, Mom/Dad Boynton and Amanda.

Jamie Whitten Lock in the fog.


"Parrot Bay" waiting in the fog. 

Starting to go down.

Yup-still going down.

Total of 84 feet down to be exact.

Gates are starting to open.

When you go all the way to the front of the lock the door is very very close.

Exiting the Jamie Whitten Lock.

Beautiful especially since there is no fog. 

"Bay Tripper" anchored while we wait for the Montgomery Lock.

"Parrot Bay" waiting for the Montgomery Lock.

All secure in the Montgomery Lock looking down.

"Bay Tripper" all secure.

"Parrot Bay" all secure in the lock.

Gates closing.

"Bay Tripper" going down!

Gates are opening.

All secure in the Rankin Lock beautiful view from the top.

Mike sitting high in the Rankin Lock.

Bay Springs Marina New Site, MS to Midway Marina Fulton, MS

Ray, Marion, Patty and Mike docktails as Midway Marina (thanks Bev).

Midway Marina in Fulton, MS