Nov. 1: We stayed a day at the Columbus Marina to do some exploring and re-provisioning. This nearby Antebellum Waverly Mansion was built in 1852 by Col. George Young, spared by the war since it was just off enough of the war trail and near a hospital. It’s actually for sale for 2.7 million dollars.On the grounds is this magnificent Southern Magnolia tree which the curator said is perhaps the oldest (250+ years) and largest magnolia in Mississippi.Nov. 2: Got up early to join 7 other boaters to go through the nearby lock. Had to mill around a bit, but hey, there’s a cell tower! Got to check my email.Went by this scrap metal operation which puts into perspective how much freight the barges carry. There were several trucks lined up to off load this barge of scrap metal. Most of the tows we see push 15 barges – so that’s about 1050 trucks worth of stuff. (One barge = 70 trucks or 16 railcars). That’s a lot of scrap metal!And, bam! Into the truck it goes.Along the way we saw miles of trees and very few houses – and then completely random things like giant colorful roosters….a telephone booth in the middle of nowhere…..and Bernie and Bernadette!Next lock – we went through with 10 boats after an hour wait.We didn’t go ashore here but this lock had on display the 108 foot snag boat Montgomery. There is a constant need to remove debris from the waterway.This well preserved antebellum house now houses the Tom Bevill Lock Resource Management and Visitor Center.
Shocks of orange trees along the way.Marinas and anchorages are few and far between. We pulled into this small anchorage which only has room for a few boats. Fortunately the two boats already anchored here (Sumter Landing) called over and invited us to raft up to them.Thank you! We don’t normally anchor this close to shore but one of the Loopers had anchored here many times before and assured us it was OK.A nearly full moon rise on Nov. 2.Nov. 3: The next morning just before we took off, we hadn’t moved an inch.Eerie morning with lots of debris in the channel.And a pretty big log in the middle of the channel with a blue heron on it that actually looked blue.The heron moves on to the next snag.OK, I can’t help myself. If there’s an eagle, I have to take its picture.This part of the waterway isn’t as “canalized” as the upper part so there are lots of hairpin turns where you can’t see what’s up ahead. Thank goodness for “AIS” which tells us if a ship is coming. The captain of this tow told us to stay put while he went around the bend.Because there really wasn’t enough room for the two of us to pass.We then encountered the white cliffs of Epes – which went on for about 5 miles.
Such cool topography with the added bonus of fall colors.Our destination for the next few days: the metropolis of Demopolis, Alabama.Enjoyed the rise of the Beaver Moon…with a Mohawk!
4 thoughts on “Nov. 1-3, 2017 Columbus, MS to Demopolis, Alabama”
Loved the blog once again Dee.
Appreciated the fall colors along the water way.
And the full moon is the same full moon that I see too.
Nice time of year!!
Love you
Debo
Can’t believe all the interesting things you see – some colorful, some otherworldly. Beautiful heron & eagle. Almost better than making the trip ourselves!
Islandia Grabo's Blog 
Loved the blog once again Dee.
Appreciated the fall colors along the water way.
And the full moon is the same full moon that I see too.
Nice time of year!!
Love you
Debo
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Great birds, beautiful cliffs, outstanding colors!
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Can’t believe all the interesting things you see – some colorful, some otherworldly. Beautiful heron & eagle. Almost better than making the trip ourselves!
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Thanks, it has been such a trip of contrasts!
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