Iuka to Fulton to Columbus, Mississippi...

                             November 20, 2022

We started leaving Iuka, early this morning because we needed to clear 3 locks before reaching the Fulton Marina. You never know what the traffic and wait times will be.  While we did leave early, it was not the 6:15- 6:30am we wanted but more like 7:10am.

Traveling down the Waterway, I saw these large concrete masses on the starboard (right) side of the water.  They were placed to keep the water from heavy rains, an overflowing lake, or upland rivers from sheeting down into the waterway. 


 

 

 

 



Prior to the first lock, we had a Grady White similar to ours on the Loop who waked us which was quite a shock, disappointing, and unusual.  At the first lock of the day, we had a barge in front of us which caused us to have to wait about 90 minutes.  A couple on a boat similar to ours, radioed us and said we could tie up next to them while we waited for the barge to lock through which we did.  Nice couple from Cortez, Florida which is about 20-25 miles from us in Siesta Key.  When we pulled up, on the other side of the boat was the Grady White.  The guy never apologized or anything.  I thought maybe he thought it was his friend he waked.  Nevertheless, bad boating etiquette.  We will go through 3 locks and drop 144 feet to Fulton and then 4 locks to Columbus, dropping another 107 feet. 


 


We left on a Sunday from Iuka and while I was busy looking at mileage markers and figuring out where we could anchor if we didn't make it, where to eat, where to shop, look and see what Danny had set up at the helm.  Look closely....😀  Every time I heard a 4 letter word, I was worried we had hit bottom, of course not, the Cowboys had just done something stupid......


As we approached Fulton Marina, we saw a Blue Heron in the tree.  I am used to seeing them at Siesta Key and in Virginia but always low down by the water not in the tree. So we got through all 3 locks in the same day and dropped 144 feet through the locks.


Once we got straight in Fulton, we stayed in and ate leftovers and planned our next day.  We worked on boat projects and schedules and got the "loaner car" and went to Tupelo.  Last fall, we saw all the Elvis stuff so this was to go get something to eat.  I had read about the Neon Pig and decided to try that and to a bar called the Blue Canoe Bar.  Well both were packed.  Our meal was great- Danny a steak and for me a shrimp po-boy. 

The Neon Pig

The stage at Blue Canoe...


 It was late coming out of the restaurant and when I opened the door to the truck, Danny said, we have a problem.  It was dark now, and the problem- no running lights, break lights, lights on the dash.  We were 22 miles from the marina.  The brights worked but only with holding them by hand and they were not bright!  So we were 3 miles from the Blue Canoe and I wasn't going back until we went there.  Great place, many beers with a lively crowd.  The band started at 7:30- 2 hours for when we were there and we were leaving early am again, so Danny got a beer.  I wish you could see us coming back to the marina.  I am handling the steering wheel with my right hand, holding the bright lights on with my left hand and Danny holding his car phone "mighty light" on shining at my dash so I could see how fast I was going on Interstate 22.  Sorry we couldn't have taken a picture of some type.






Our early departure from Fulton paid off as we made it through all 4 locks.  The Other Woman was in a flotilla of 5 boats.  Pretty mundane path with gravel on each side seeing the occasional barge.  Off to our right, I saw this train trestle with obvious aging.  Some of the locks have damns next to them.  I have heard stories of boats and barges getting caught up in the fast current and being sucked into the damns.  That would not be a good thing in any way, shape, or form.  In Columbus at the marina, I spoke to the Harbormaster and owner,  he said a couple years ago, a barge went over in pieces and blocked 3 of the 4 water escapes causing a lot of flooding.  On arrival, we found the loaner car wasn't available but a nice guy came and picked us up for dinner at Huck's which was downtown.  Blackened Redfish with dirty rice and chicken breast with roasted tomato sauce and sweet corn maque choux.  We did get the car for Wednesday morning and left at 7am to get some groceries and see the large antebellum houses built between 1835-1857.  While beautiful, I can't imagine the upkeep!  Below you will see White Arches built in 1857 and Riverview in 1850.


My kids know how much I enjoy walking through cemeteries to see grave art and headstones.  The Friendship Cemetery in existence since 1849 was the site of the 1st Decoration Day in April, 1866.  Women in the community would decorate the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers.  There are rows and rows of Confederate graves (close to 2200) most marked Unknown.  Of note, while walking through the graves, I found one but don't believe there is any relationship as the Sharp family had been in the Kentucky region during this time frame.  


                                                


The Union soldiers buried there were removed and taken to Corinth, MS to be buried in the National Cemetery.  Interestingly, there is a Confederate volunteer nurse buried there, Mrs. Canant.  I could not find her grave but she is the only Confederate nurse who has been officially recognized by the US government.  According to the records, she tended to soldiers from both sides and apparently was killed while working at the Battle of Shiloh.  In this cemetery there are many examples during this time frame of "weeping angles".  The one I liked the best is below.


Last but certainly not least, our dinner tonight at J Broussards was excellent.  Based on a Cajun theme, I had Shrimp and Grits and Danny Catfish Courtboullion, not to mention great wine and dessert.  The woman who was the chef since COVID has no wait staff.  She comes and takes your order, has 2 seatings for dinner, prepares the meals with help in the kitchen and presents it to you.  She also started a bakery about 7 months ago and her Mother handles taking orders from the bakery and preparing drinks.  Both women were cool and I wish them much success.   We hope will be back when coming through this area.


TOTAL MILES TRAVELLED   291.3
TOTAL DAYS      11












 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
                  The Mighty Mississippi...  October 11 - 18, 2023                       Danny on the banks of the Mississippi River from both the north and south. The Mississippi River runs 2340 miles from Minneapolis, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.  The river starts in Lake Ithaca, Minnesota where you can walk across stones.  The Ojibway people named the river meaning big river.  From a navigation standpoint, it is broke up into the upper Mississippi (Minnesota to Cairo, Illinois) and lower (Cairo, Illinois to New Orleans, Louisiana ).  We will travel the Mississippi until we get to Cairo and turn on to the Ohio River.  While the Mississippi River has flooded before, the worst being 1993, the river is exceptionally low this year.  Last year was low and this year is worse.  According to the data accumulated and released October 16th, the river is...
Read more
Image
The Ohio River to the Cumberland River to  Cross the Finishing Line at Grand Rivers! October 18 - 19,  2023 Our traveling down the last 7.7 miles of the Mississippi River were uneventful.  Clear skies remained with us throughout the day.  At Cairo, Illinois (pronounced Karo, like the syrup), we turned onto the Ohio River.  At this point seen in the picture, it is considered the lowest point in Illinois.  At one time, Fort Defiance stood here in the Civil War.  There was a great deal of activity on the water comparable almost to St Louis.  Barges coming, going, and loading.  Not that Danny isn't but, definitely had to be vigilant in what was going on in front and on the sides of your boat.  Above we are turning off the Mississippi on to the Ohio River. Saw another casino no longer operating just pushed up into the shore.   We made it to the Olmstead lock and dam and they lifted The Other Woman and Beach House up 30 feet.  Beach ...
Read more
Image
Clearwater and St Petersburg, Florida... January 9, 2023 We talked with our fellow loopers before we left to pick up words of wisdom before we were off to St Petersburg.  I would have liked to go on "the inside" or intercoastal waterway but we went on "the outside" or the Gulf of Mexico.  There were a few shallow areas that concerned Danny on the intercostal.  I'm sure I would have seen more birds and wildlife on the inside but we did see this couple checking their stone crab pots in the Gulf.       This beautiful pink structure is the Don Cesar Resort where I had gone to a conference years ago. Just prior to turning into Tampa Bay, we came across a HUGE cargo ship,  we stayed back until it passed.  I got pictures as it came between our boat and Egmont Key.  I will talk about this Key later.  Our view from our slip at the St Petersburg Municipal Marina.  On our arrival into our slip, we met 2 young guys to the left of us.  When...
Read more