Days 143-144

Grand Harbor MS - Florence Harbor AL

• Start 6:55 AM
• End 12:20 PM
• Underway 5:25 Hours
• Distance 36 miles
• Total Miles on Trip 2835
• Av Speed 6.7 knots
• Locks 0
• Weather Foggy then Sunny , 62 Degrees, Wind 5Knts N

What started as one of the most beautiful mornings also turned into one of the most nerve racking mornings.

Our morning started by stopping right outside the marina where Nothing To Plunder was in three states at the same time, hanging right on the border of Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. We reached there just as the sun was rising. There was a light mist on the river that was surreal. From there we headed up river and right into a fog bank. Visibility went from over one mile to less than 50 feet. Nothing To Plunder has Depth Finders, Radar, Autopilot, Foghorn, and AIS (AIS allows us to see and be seen by any commercial vessel as well as any pleasure boats that have it). I was using all of them to be able to make our way up the river at an idle.

When the fog cleared we had another beautiful day and an easy run to Florence AL. We spent the afternoon exploring Florence on bikes. Florence is a major port on the Tennessee River, and we were able to see the grain elevators that are used to load the barges. Only this time we saw them from the shore side. The amount of corn that was onsite was unbelievable. (See the photos). On Monday we used the courtesy car to visit a Frank Lloyd Wright house and Helen Keller's birthplace with Karen from Kay Dee.

When we reached the Frank Lloyd Wright house, we did not know it was closed. (Many places in Florence are closed Monday's). Angel went to check to see if it was open or not, and the door was open. As she came back to the car to tell us it was open, two staff member came out and told us they were in fact closed, but they were waiting for a group that was scheduled for a private tour. They said to wait and maybe we would be able to see the house. Ten minutes later we got a private tour of the house.

Our next stop was Hellen Keller's birthplace. It was interesting to learn how much she accomplished in her lifetime. She did not let being blind and deaf stop her.

After our day's adventure we had plans to go out to dinner with Nick & Ginger (Ginger Gale) and Mark & Karen (Kay Dee). We had to return the courtesy car, so we schedule two Uber cars to take us. While we were waiting one of the cars canceled, and we asked the driver (Eric) that showed could he fit all six of us. He told us that there are not many drivers in the area and he would gladly take us all. He also gave us his phone number, and said call him directly when we were ready to go back. On our return trip he gave us a 45 minute narrated tour of Florence. He also stopped at the top of the bluffs overlooking the marina and took our picture with the marina in the background.

Tomorrow morning we have to leave the marina by 6am. The Wilson lock has a sunken dock and is causing operation problems. They are not letting commercial vessel lock through at night. Because of that there are very long delays during daylight hours. The only way we can be sure to get through the lock, is to go before daylight. The lockmaster wants us at the lock by 6:30am.