Fulton MS (anchorage) to Columbus MS (anchorage)

One thing we found that is quite exceptional and unexpected is the Anchorage situation.  When looping one can choose to stay in a marina or anchor in various designated anchorages.  Fortunately there are guides that tell you which ones are shoaled in and which ones are easy to navigate.  

It's also interesting some of the things you pass while going down the river.  This is a wood chip mill.  I wish I had something there to show perspective regarding how big that hill is.  

Wood chips are used for all kinds of things.  One of the biggest consumers is the paper industry in which I've spent most of my life working.  There was one year I purchased 8,000 tons of one specific paper (for DVD and BD packaging).  When you look at it in a pile you realize how much that is.  

I suppose the same thing could be said for the beverage industry which is a much much bigger consumer than the entertainment industry when it comes to tonnage of paper.  

Today we broke a record for ourselves. We did five locks in a single day.  When we left the Tennessee River we knew we had 12 locks before we got to the Gulf of Mexico.  We have now done eight of them.  That said we are still like 390 mi from the Gulf (on the water).  

They don't build rivers that go straight in southern Mississippi.  In fact it's very interesting to see all of the curves that have been cut off if the channel has re-routed itself.  Then, of course, there is the Tombigbee channel which is trenched right through the middle of what would have been a very winding river.  

Now that we have a dinghy, we have the ability to get to shore after we've anchored.  This is a huge benefit.  Tonight we anchored in the town of Columbus Mississippi and one of those oxbow bends that goes where the river used to go.  It also put us right in the middle of town so we could tie the dinghy to a floating dock in a park and walk to a restaurant.  

We have lots of guides and recommendations from other Loopers that help us choose where to eat or visit.  

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Tonight we had dinner at a place called Harvey's.  It was most excellent. . We try not to eat out too much because it gets expensive quickly but once in a while it's nice to have a break from eating in the same cavern that we sleep in...

Staying in the marina is nice because you have shore power but it often feels like camping because people are right next to you.   When we anchor out and run the generator there is no neighbor.  When we by chance get an Anchorage in the middle of a city we also get great cell service which helps feed TV and all of our devices.   Tonight is one of those nights where everything works well.  

Another thing we had to adjust to today was the time change.  The sun now gets up at 6:15 a.m. so we do the same.  That's a little bit of a life change.  That said by 8:00 p.m. we're usually pretty tired.   

Today was Sunday and we did what we try to do each week which is tune in and watch our home church via the internet.  We've actually had pretty good success doing that.   When we are unable to get a connection we typically watch it pre-recorded a couple of days later.  

We definitely miss family and we miss church.  That said life is very full and we never have a moment to spare it seems.  I must admit high 70s and sunshine beats gale force winds and snow all to pieces.. 

We are still far enough north that it can get cold at night but it is getting less cold every night as we move further south.  The one thing that is a trade-off when that happens is that hot gets hotter each day also.  Today was pretty much a t-shirt and shorts day most of the day.  

This was the first day in our 2nd month on the loop.  I've never had more than two weeks off at a time.   I am very much enjoying the break.   I do get calls or emails once in a while but they are dwindling....

Until tomorrow...