Departed Double Islands anchorage Saturday morning after the fog lifted at 8:40am.  Short trip to Clifton Marina, which we had read is a must-stop.  Hooked up to shore power and threw on our blessed air conditioner!  Hot outside.  Took a walk into the little town of Clifton, population ~2000.

Heartbeat and Forever Friday in Clifton Marina:

Heather and I took the courtesy car (which was left outside with the key in it, because it couldn’t come out and they roll like that in Clifton) to the Dollar General to do some provisioning.  Although Amy was making a delicious spaghetti dinner at the marina, we decided to take the courtesy car to the Bear Inn, the Finest Second Class Bar/Restaurant and Hotel in the World.  Absolutely love their motto; unfortunately, it’s hard to read in the picture on the blog.  Had a couple cocktails and listened to live music.  Great tavern.

Decided to stay 2 nights in Clifton as the current going to the Pickwick Dam was brutal.  The Dam had been letting out 100,000 cubic feet of water per second due to flooding.  We heard this was supposed to improve Monday.  Sunday, did some laundry, took out all our anchor chain to mark every 25 feet with wire ties.  We did this before we left with spacers, but our windlass didn’t like them.  Mike and I took a dingy ride to Riverstone Marina, a darling little marina up river a ways in Bath Springs.  Owned by a great couple who made us a great turkey Po Boy which we ate with a malt margarita on a glider at the marina.  Some stunning homes in Bath Springs.

Did Happy Hour with a group of folks doing the Great Loop Sunday night on the dock at the marina.  Dinner on FF and a great game of Cards Against Humanity with Kent and Heather (Kent won).

Up early Monday morning which was Mike’s birthday.  Amy at the marina told me she was going to bake a cake for him.  We went into the marina office/store/restaurant at 8:00.  Amy and Carolle Lee had put up streamers and balloons, and threw a little birthday party for Mike.  They served a delicious breakfast, and finished with homemade German chocolate cake prior to our departure.  The Southern hospitality at Clifton Marina cannot be beat.

Departed Clifton at 9:00am.  Although we were hoping the Dam would have mellowed, the output of water increased to 110,000 cubic feet per second.  Tentative plan was to stop at Wolf Island anchorage for the night, and hit Pickwick Dam Tuesday.  At mile marker 190, we sailed past Cherry Mansion which was General Grant’s headquarters for the Battle of Shiloh.

We made it to Wolf Island at 2:00 with only 14 miles to go, so decided to try getting through the Dam (after a lot of back and forth).  This was tenuous as there are no anchorages or marinas before the Dam, there can be huge waits to get through, and the current was ugly.  There was also a decent amount of debris in the water.  That said, the scenery was beautiful.  The stilt houses were incredible.

At one point, we were burning 12 gallons of diesel per hour and only making 5.9 knots.  (At this speed, we would normally be burning 1 – 1.5 gph.)  Heather called the Lock operator when we were about 5 miles out and told him our ETA was about 45 minutes.  He advised if we could speed that up, he should be able to Lock us before a Tow that was coming downriver.  We proceeded to vomit more fuel and made it to the Lock in time to get through.  The water coming out of the dam was something to see for sure.  I would have taken a picture, but was having a hell of a time steering the boat while Mike put out the fenders.  After our e-ticket ride into the Lock, I let my heart rate get back to normal while we were lifted 55 feet.

Alas, when we got on the other side, we were welcomed by much calmer seas, way less current, and rainbows!

We went another 5 miles to Dry Creek anchorage which was absolutely stunning!  Dropped the hook, turned on the generator, turned on the AC and took well-deserved showers.  Had champers on the upper deck of Heartbeat while watching light from lightning a ways away.  After a wonderful dinner, were blown away by the stars on the dinghy ride back to FF.  An exhausting, but satisfying day for sure.

Kent and Heather got a couple pics of FF:

You’ll note that besides the customary large glory on FF’s stern, Mike has to occasionally display one of two “Don’t Tread on Me” flags…that’s how he rolls.  Love us some ‘Merica

Took off at 8:00 this morning.  Left Tennessee, went through Luca, Mississippi, and heading to Florence, Alabama.  Happy Tuesday!  M&M