Great Loop: Joe Wheeler to Florence to Aqua Yacht Harbor, Lucca Mississippi

Joe Wheeler State Park

Joe Wheeler State Park

We completed our Chattanooga sojourn by returning to Joe Wheeler State Park.  Upon arrival we picked up packages that we had sent there to fix items we broke on our two week and 400 mile round trip to Chattanooga.  The inverter died, operator abuse, and the microwave died, probably due to the bouncing it endured on the trip across country.  We installed both these items before leaving the next morning for Florence Alabama.  To get there, we had to travel through two locks.  First up was Wheeler Lock with a drop of 52 feet.  Within 15 miles we would drop 92 feet, the largest drop of the entire Loop, at Wilson Lock.  We were fortunate that the gates were open and we were able to transit Wheeler quickly.  At Wilson we waited about 30 minutes before we could begin our transit of that lock.  We were happy that we really had no delays of any consequence on our first day out of Joe Wheeler State Park.

The 92 foot drop in Wilson Lock

Sweet Day in Wilson Lock

Entrance to the Harbor in Florence Alabama

Florence Alabama

While in Florence, we meet some very friendly people who were quite open to sharing their knowledge of the downstream river system and what we would encounter.  One fellow was from San Francisco, he had shipped his trawler east and completed the loop several years ago.  He found he liked the many opportunities to explore, the people the seasons and so he stayed and is living aboard his boat.  Another fellow had an absolutely pristine Grand Banks 36 Classic who shared his knowledge of  the Gulf coast of Alabama and Florida with us.  If you are willing to ask and listen, folks will help fill in your knowledge gaps of the areas ahead.  It was the same with Lewis and Clark as they headed west on their expedition.  It is no different today.

After our overnight, we borrowed the marina loaner car to head into town for breakfast and shopping.  We ate at the "Big Bad Breakfast Place", where we met the crew of Sweet Day.  

Breakfast at the Big Bad Breakfast Place

We completed all our chores by 10:30am and headed out on the river by 11am.  There was morning fog that delayed departures so we could not have left much earlier.  The weather was calm and clear with a bit of warmth in the air.  We passed one tow as we headed downriver.

Tow just south of Florence

A tow passing under the bridge at Florence as we left the Marina.

The tow was moving a little slower than Amy Marie, so we speeded up briefly until our separation was at least half a mile.  We then return to about 1700 RPM which gave us a a speed of 7.5 knots and an economy of  5 miles/gallon.  We also had a bit of a boost from the current.

Wildlife and Anchorages

Sweet Day was a bit in front of us.  They stopped for the night in a small anchorage called waterfall.  As we went by we saw them setting their anchors, bow and stern, and also saw a coyote watching them.  

Waterfall Anchorage

Coyote watching Sweet Day set up for the night

We have seen an abundance of white pelicans in the local waterways.  There are thousands that gather and socialize.  It is an ongoing pelican convention, especially on sandbars and other spots where they can gather.

Pelicans on a sand bar

More Pelicans

Amy Marie reached Aqua Marina, at the entrance to the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway, just after sunset.  There was a sizeable group of Loopers having "docktails".  A couple of fellows helped with lines as we docked.  We filled our wine glasses and headed down to meet them and hear what their plans were for the morrow.  If all went well, we could pass through 3 locks.  The limiters would be how long the fog lingered in the morning and if the locks were busy passing tows.  Commercial traffic has priority at the locks.  Recreational vessels have the lowest priority.  Others have waiting all day only to decide to come back the next for transit.  We are crossing our fingers that the coming day will be kind to us and we can continue to put miles under our keel.