M/V Serenity: 17 November, 2019 Aberdeen, MS to Columbus, Mississippi

Two locks, marina, eagle and oops

Last night’s dock tie at the free city dock was excellent. Smooth, calm quiet. No worry about anchor alarms, no anchor light, no bass boats zooming by. Great peaceful sleep on the water. Below freezing again this morning, but sunrise and rising temps greeted us with our coffee. I called the Aberdeen Lock about 0630 and checked on lock status--lock master said hurry up and he could lock us down before an up bound tow arrived. We prepared the boat, raised the anchor and were U/W at 0712. Lock only 0.3sm away but a shallow and narrow secondary channel back to the main took us a few. Saw the green light and lock doors open and lock master cleared us in. Tied up at 0724; locked out 0741. Nice and smooth waters and process. This is the river section of the Tombigbee waterway. (Tombigbee) where the original river wanders left and right across the man-made stretches that comprise the water way. Amazing Bald eagle on the bank at water’s edge. Magnificent bird.

More debris in the water than we have seen in a while. We planned a fuel, fresh water and ice stop at Columbus Marina. Sponsor of AGLCA, we wanted to stop and say hello and support them. Tied up at 1100; exit 1223. Did not need diesel but took on 11.75 gallons. We called the John C. Stennis Lock(lock), 0.3 sm away; I noticed an up bound tow just entering the lock on AIS. Lock master said as soon as the tow cleared he would have lock ready for our down lock. I electronically watched the tow exit and we fired up and departed Columbus marina. Shortly after entering the channel, we had a green light and lock doors open and clearance from the lock master. Locked in at 1236 and locked out at 1250.

This was very fast 27 foot descent. Our planned anchorage for the night was 4 miles down stream at the Columbus Cut-off. A Ox-bow of the Tombigbee. Social media via the iPad navigation APP (navionics) here was reported shoaling with deeper draft vessels not attempting. We gave it a go, slowed to 3 mph as we exited the channel and eyeballed the depth sounder. I slowed further to idle and watched 12 rapidly go to 6-5-4-soft aground. (soft grounding) Oops. It was soft like beaching a fishing boat in the sand. I had been in neutral when the bow touched; rapidly reversing, we eased quickly off the shoal. Back in the channel, I checked the raw water strainer and it was not full of crud and engine temp was OK. Continuing down channel 2 miles we came to the exit end of the ox-bow and it was reported having min of 8’. Cautiously we exited the main channel and proceeded into the ox-bow. Yep, 8’ entering, then 10-12-15’ all the way to our anchorage near a dinghy dock at the river walk park of Columbus, Ms(river walk). Anchored in 12” at 1430. Surface water temp 55 degrees. We tidied up the boat, then launched the dinghy Kaos and rowed to the little dock. Very nice park, we walked around and took pictures and Kim jumped rope. Back to Serenity, securing Kaos it was time for soup and salad. (map)