Bashi Creek to Sunflower East
We pulled out of Bashi Creek Anchorage just before 7 am this morning and headed south to our next anchorage, Sunflower East. Fifty-six NM and ONE MORE lock were today’s goal.
Our anchorage looked more inviting at daybreak than after dusk.
For the first 2-3 miles, we dealt with fog.
The fog often impacts boat travel, as the air temps are cooler than the water temp.
The sun was bright enough to allow us to keep moving, but we wouldn’t pass each other, not being sure of what might be coming around the corner. It soon burned off and we passed the slow sailboat.
Coffeeville Lock was our last lock experience, since we will by-pass the Okeechobee Canal, south of Stuart, Florida. We lost approximately an hour at the lock because 2 barges were just ahead of us, also southbound. We have been entertained, challenged, overwhelmed, and educated by the more than 100 locks we have traversed. The Erie Canal, Trent-Severn Waterway, the Illinois, Tennessee, and Tombigbee Rivers boast as massive engineering structures, that enable navigation and flood control of North America’s waterways.
Since leaving the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway last summer, we have had no tide. Leaving the Coffeeville Lock behind means tidal water now lies ahead. Tidal water always has some impact on your journey. Whether you are fighting the tide or going with it, trip plans should be planned accordingly. As we continue southward, the tide swing will continue to be a factor. Tying to a fixed dock must be carefully measured. Tying tightly to a fixed dock at a high tide can have devastating results 6 hours later. So, though I am happy to be getting further south, I don’t look forward to adding the tidal planning into the equation daily.
Our day was gorgeous, starting with temperatures in the mid-30’s and reaching the mid-60’s by arrival time. No wind and a following current made the day (and the miles) pass quickly. Our only challenge was the debris in the river. The scary part of days like this is what you don’t see. A tiny little stick or limb that you do see, attached to a log, that you don’t, could literally rip your prop off or do major damage to the hull of your boat. The lead boat normally offers the courtesy of warning the team that follows of any unusual or particularly dangerous conditions. For most of the day, that boat was me, so I was on the radio a good bit announcing another log or tree or submerged channel marker.
Our new friends, John & Heidi own this beauty, the Jo-Ca, named over their 2 moms, Joann and Carol. 
The Tombigbee should have been named the Politician River…crooked and unpredictable. Not to mention, we often see markers on the right that have been pushed to the left. 
Erosion took this home out 
Pardon another bridge, please….there will be more. 
Debris stuck to the bottom identifies the speed of the current.
After dinner tonight, we had a tug come by. Very little wake, but still it makes you appreciate being tucked out of the way as these beast ease by.
Tonight, we all anchored in the river. We were near the town of Sunflower, Alabama. In 2 lines, well out of the marked channel, we found safe harbor and slept well, even when the tows passed in the night.
Another day under the belt, we have made good progress since returning to the boat on Monday. With the other boats in the group, we have been motivated to push a little farther each day. We will be able to do in 3 days what we had planned (on our own) to do in 4. This will be helpful in our goal of reaching Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., where we plan to return to the farm to assist with Amanda’s brother.