"Rolling On The River" - Midway Marina to Marina Cove, Carrollton, AL

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - The crew woke up early to get a 6:30 AM start. There was a lot of fog on the river, so we delayed the start until 7:30 AM. Today we have five locks to go through. The first lock was Fulton Lock, (Originally named: Lock C) 391.0 LDB Lock is 600' X 110' with a Lift of 30'.. We were locked through with seven other recreational water crafts. Captain Kevin was worried that the slowest boat would set the schedule for the remaining lock throughs, so he increased Island Hopper's speed and pulled away from the pack. This was a smart move because we immediately entered the Glover Wilkins Lock (Originaly named: Lock B) 376.3 RDB located in Smithville, MS. The lock is 600' X 110' with a 30' Lift. We were the only boat locked through. One for the good guys. Island Hopper sped up again toward Amory Lock (Originally named: Lock A) Amory, MS 371.1 LDB. Again the lock is 600' X 110' with a 30' Lift. Next we locked through Amory Lock (371.1 LDB), Amory, MS (Previously named Lock: A) Lock 600’ X 100’ with a 30’ Lift. Island Hopper powered 5 more miles to the next lock. We arrived at Aberdeen Lock and Dam (357.5 RDB) in Aberdeen, MS. This is our last lock of the day. We had a 30 minute wait prior to locking and again we were the only recreational vessel that locked through. We traveled 50 more miles to Marina Cove (307.4 LDB) in Carrollton, AL. Marina Cove is off-channel, ¼ mile above Tom Bevill Lock. There is a lock visitor’s center (Tom Bevill Visitors Center) and museum boat “Montgomery” 1 mile from the marina.

The USS Snag boat Montgomery was the last steam-powered sternwheeler to ply the inland waterways of the south. For nearly six decades, the Montgomery labored to keep seven of the South’s major rivers navigable. Built in 1926 in Charleston, SC, the Montgomery is 108’ long and represents the culmination of stem engine technology. Later river workboats generally were diesel powered with screw propellers. Retired in 1982, she is on display at the Tom Bevill Visitor Center. Interpretive exhibits and special video displays provided us with a return to days when sternwheelers worked on the South’s rivers. We went to “Down Under” for dinner. We ordered fried pickles and catfish and enjoyed the company of three other boaters from the marina.