To the Ten-Tom

Chattanooga to Yellow Creek

We completed our car trip by driving to Chattanooga. This day did not go as smooth as previous days. The drive there was fine although we were astounded at the huge numbers of large trucks on the road. As we approached Chattanooga near lunch time we dialled into the car's GDS “ihop” for a lunch time stop & simple meal. There was one close to the city but on the other side. The GPS took us too far past the city before we realised the distance & then it was not worth turning back. At the same time that the realisation came we spotted the “ihop” but had passed it before the GPS announced it. OK we can do this – we'll just turn down this side road & head back. We did but still could not find the turn in to the restaurant & we were on the highway again – so we gave up that idea, headed back into town & found a restaurant that offered some simple lunch choices. We walked down to the municipal marina & caught up with some loopers tied up there. It was now late afternoon & we made a decision to return to the boat. We drove up Lookout Mt for a great view of the city & valley & then headed for home. We drove along a southern route in North Alabama and passed through many small towns that seem to have at least 3 churches (mainly baptist). We wished we'd had time to visit the Space & Rocket Centre at Huntsville – we got a view from the road & it looked well worth a visit. The town of Decatur had major roadworks on the route through town but no signs showing the detour & we spent at least 20mins trying to find a route out of town back on to the highway. We arrived back at the marina – boat all safe & sound & prepared to leave next morning for the Ten -Tom Waterway.

This waterway joins the Tennessee & Tombigbee Rivers. Back in the 1700's the first proposal by a French explorer was made to join the 2 rivers & after many investigations congress finally approved construction in 1946 but opposition continued until 1972 when construction finally began. From 1972 to 1985 work progressed and after spending nearly 2 billion dollars the waterway was dedicated on June 1 1985. Surprise, surprise it was actually completed 6 months ahead of schedule on December 12 1984. This mammoth undertaking moved more earth than was moved in the construction of the Panama Canal. It shortened trips for vessels to various ports by as much as 720 miles & also avoided the fierce currents of the Mississippi when north bound.

We turned into the Ten-Tom Waterway just after midday after an easy comfortable trip & anchored up in a small but deep side creek called Yellow Creek. We have spent the past 2 days here as the weather has been very wet & the anchorage is too quiet & pleasant to leave. Our buddy boat who is just across the way in a marina dinghied over with their dog yesterday for lunch & that evening we visited the other sail boat in the anchorage here. We had met them at a previous marina – they are 3 English people from Manchester who have sailed the Pacific & the Caribbean. We had an hilarious time with them especially after mentioning the World Rugby Cup. To renew their visas they have to fly home & back. The older man Graham had just got back a couple of days ago & gave us an English newspaper that had articles about the rugby in it. We have read it from cover to cover in our quiet time here.