Clifton TN to Grand Harbor TN
Rising early for another long day, we awoke to fog too thick for navigating (at least for this rookie). Instead of a 6:30 exit, we delayed till 7:00. It appeared the fog was burning off as the sun peaked over the horizon, so we pulled out, went about a half mile and then ran into the same thick stuff.
This was when conditions were improving.
We puttered, watching instruments and the bow, which was as far as we could see, for about an hour. Thankfully, the fog finally lifted and we were able to have a little more relaxed day.
The approach to the dam and lock 
The spillways…cell in the foreground, where the barges are temporarily tied while the rest of the load transitions through the lock 
Entering the lock 
the pin (floating bollard). Loop your midship line over the post and hang on
We went through 3 locks today. Seldom do we have a day on any of the river travel where we are not in at least one.
Our destination was Grand Harbor Marina. The marina is located at the North end of the Tennessee-Tom Bigbee Canal. This canal was completed in 1984, connecting the Tennessee River to the Tom Bigbee River. Total length is 224 miles. This canal was designed to relieve barge traffic on the Mississippi to the Gulf and also stimulate the economy along its borders. The bonus was to those like us who are Loopers.
Gorgeous rock strata along this stretch 
Some don’t have to worry about soil erosion.
This leg is much prettier than the option down the Lower Mississippi to New Orleans. Seldom do Loopers take that route, as a result. Many towns have reaped the benefit of the Tenn-Tom. Many have purchased property along the banks and built their dream homes overlooking the water.
The current is virtually non-existent which makes navigation much more appealing as well. After all our miles upstream and against current, it has been nice making a descent speed.
We covered 45 NM and it took 8 hours, counting the lock time.