Day #89 - Smithville, MS
October 29th, 2008Left Bay Springs at 8:00 this morning with five other boats from the marina. A little foggy and headed straight to the first lock. There are a series of four locks within the first 25 miles. Each one has been open for us and let us right in. The first one, Whitten Lock, was a drop of 85 feet, one of the highest on the river system. The others are each approximately ten miles apart and the drop is in the twenty foot range. The lockmasters stay in touch with each other and they seem to work it out quite well and get us all through quickly.
Another beautiful day but cold, especially in the locks. You are below water height and in the shade. Damp concrete walls and wind make for cold captain and first mate.
Arrived in Smithville, MS (36.8 miles) five and a half hours after we left. Traveled through the locks with the five other boats all of the way. Several kept going, but we pulled into Smithville Marina with Bob and Debbie on Headquarters and a gentleman traveling alone from Louisiana on Miss Mary. Rough tie up at the dock as the marina is right off the channel. Hope when the wind quits, the waters will calm down.
One of the guests at the marina offered his pick up truck for Bob and Debbie (Headquarters) and James (Miss Mary) to go to dinner in town tonight. Mel’s Diner is the only thing open. They had the usual catfish, hush puppies, etc. Good food, still dry counties. Was quite a local experience. This place is pretty much what I expected which is obvious in the photo of our next door neighbors at the marina.
No internet coverage, some cell.
