Columbus (Mississippi) Marina

I'm trying to remember back to BAY SPRINGS when we moved the car down from Grand Harbour. The day was cold and the lady at Bay Springs told me to take the courtesy car for as long as I wanted so long as it was full of gas when I returned it. I took her literally so I told Cheryl we were going for a drive at 11: AM. We went up to Pickwick, used the good Wi Fi at Jack's restaurant (Iuka) and did some communicating. We went over to Grand Harbor and picked up the car and with this Gypsy GPS the Murrays sold me we proceeded to follow a course similar to that taken by either migrating geese or that used in evasive training in the military. Our course was south then east then north then east then south then west then south...you get the idea. After what I believe were brief glimpses of each ocean and a moment at the Arctic Circle we arrived at Columbus Marina where we left the car. We arrived back at Bay Springs Marina at 8:pm after circling passed to the west and north, through Boonville and Tishomingo. I think I do better on the river, it is harder to get lost.

That night it went down to 0 degrees Canadian. This little Walmart $30.00 heater is the best money we have spent. This kind of weather has a tendency to really thicken your Peanut butter and honey.

The next morning we were up and away and off into the fog with a Jim Murray Jack rabbit start that left us peering into the fog as we approached our first lock of this leg. Linda Murray spoke of a pleasant surprise on the Tenn-Tom but she didn't elaborate. We discovered that the lock masters help control traffic on the waterway by calling ahead to the next lock so that that lock master will, if possible have the lock open and ready for you to just drive on in, no waiting and milling about for hours. By 12:30 we had passed through four locks and were looking for a Marina to tie up in for the night. We went to the Smithville Marina and met 85 year old Jesse who still runs the Marina, owns two farms and rents out several trailers and homes on the property. Jesse had a little spasm which he blamed on the computer and charged me $333.00 to tie up over night. Almost as much as lunch in Italy, eh Sandra. Jesse's son fixed things up with Mastercard. We had a quiet night and an early start at 7:15. We were thru the first lock by 8am. The first lock master has parents living in Walters Falls. The weather is up around 22 Canadian and the trip is peaceful with hardly any traffic. That lasted until we intersected with the Butahatchee River from the east. It was flowing fast with lots of debris. We spent the rest of that peaceful warm day dodging logs, branches and one cooler. We tied up that afternoon in Columbus where we met friends of Linda and Jerry Hawke on a boat called C Horse. They had met on the eastern ICW when the Hawkes were doing their loop.

We met another colourful gentleman who explained that his father was from Canada. When he became fed up with snow he attached the snow shovel to the top of his car and drove south until someone asked him "What is that for?". He knew then that he was far enough south.

People here are staying put for a while due to extreme high water on the Black Warrior River where it flows out into the Tenn-Tom about 100 miles south of us. We drove down to have a look and the river is really high there with fast current and big debris. The park across from the marina has benches mostly submerged. We want to wait at least until the Black Warrior crests before we head down further. We may go down another 24 miles to Pirates Marina Cove and check then as to water levels. We just got the "Spot" device working so watch for those communications. I am going to go for a long walk now to stay in shape, maybe as far as the "Waffle House". Where is that sun screen? Sorry I couldn't resist. Have a good one

Pete & Cheryl on Surona