Ten-Tom and Black Warrior-Tom Bigbee Waterways

The Divide Cut, a straight, man-made section of the Ten-Tom Waterway

The Ten-Tom Waterway, which connects the Tennessee river with the Tom-Bigbee River, was proposed back  in the late 1700's by the French but wasn't started until 1972. During  its construction, more earth was moved than was moved in the construction of the Panama Canal. It was finished in 1985 and allows boats to cruise between the Gulf of Mexico and the Midwest without encountering the dangers and swift currents of the Mississippi. It also significantly reduces the miles between the Gulf and the Midwest.  For examples, the trip between Pensacola, FL and Chattanooga, TN is 771 miles long vs 1,541 miles via the Mississippi.  Like most Americans, I think, we were totally unaware of this amazing waterway until we began reading about the Great Loop.

Not all parts of the Ten-Tom are straight

Waverly Mansion, an antebellum house built in 1852 on the banks of the Ten-Tom River

The Ten-tom is officially, only the 234 miles between the Tennessee River and Demopolis, AL. The 217 miles between Demopolis and Mobile Bay, is the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway. Most boaters, however, call the entire 450 miles, the "Ten-Tom" or the "Waterway."

Leaving Demopolis

It took us 15 days via this "waterway," i.e., 50-70 miles per day, 2 lay-over days and one very long (148 miles), fast-speed day, to complete the trip from the Tennessee River to our marina 29 miles down Mobile Bay.

White Cliffs of Eppy

Provisioing by Gulf Cart in Demopolis

Narrow Bashi Creek - anchored here one night to get out of the way of the tows

For the most part, what we saw was wilderness, some rustic fish camps, some barge-tows and increasing amounts of Spanish Moss and Banyan Trees. 

Sumpter Landing - another of-the-channel anchorage we stayed in

HUMBUG and CHAMP III at Bobby's Fish Camp

One place all loopers stop on this trip, is Bobby's Fish Camp. It's the last place to tie up for the night and get fuel for the next 145 miles. It's a very funky place.

Restaurant at Bobby's - Fried Cat Fish a specialty

Rubbermaid Shower/toilet house at Bobby's (you can't make this stuff up). We used the facilities on HUMBUG that night.

Patty & Geoff from Ashland, OR on OSPREY - we first met them while

 waiting for a lock in Montreal

The locals call this the Dolly Parton Bridge - it's 22 miles to Mobile now...yea

Now I KNOW we're almost to the Gulf

This completes the long river section  of the Great Loop which began in downtown Chicago for us, on August 28. Back to salt water, waves (no more baking pies or vacuuming while under way) and tides - also NO MORE SPIDERS (thank goodness they hate salt water). We're looking forward to playing tourist and staying in boutique hotels in Mobile and New Orleans, while HUMBUG is out of the water for routine maintenance, including as the locals call it, a "bottom job."

BUG in travel lift this morning

After over 3,000 miles and five months in the water, we were very keen to take a look at HUMBUG'S hull and propeller. Good news - no nasty surprises. Phew !