Demopolis, AL – Bashi Creek, AL - October 29, 2008

The boat we were rafted to last night (Decision) planned to leave at 7:30 this morning, so we set our alarm for 7 to be ready to move for them. Our plan was to re-dock, use the marina’s courtesy car to do a little re-provisioning and then leave after that. Decision delayed their departure due to fog and then relayed to us that the lock was expecting heavy commercial traffic but would lock down one group of RV’s (recreational vehicles) first.

After hearing that we shelved our plan of using the courtesy car and got ready to leave immediately. We certainly didn’t want to wait several hours to go through the lock, especially since we needed to go 71 miles today for an anchorage. There was an “iffy” anchorage in 47 miles, but it was recommended it not be used unless it was an emergency.

There were 2 more boats tied up near us at the marina. There was a 90’ power catamaran and a 70’ motor yacht rafted to the cat. They were huge, beautiful boats. They were also in the lock with us, along with 3 other boats. They soon passed us, they go much faster than we do.

The first six miles south of the lock are very scenic. The banks of the waterway are smooth rock walls, rounded, shaped and carved by water. Moss grows on the rocks and hangs form the trees.

We passed the remains of the old Rooster Bridge. On April 19, 1979 a powerful current turned the tugboat Cahaba sideways, then pushed it down and under the Rooster Bridge. The river was at a record level of 24 feet above flood stage and had come to within a few feet of the steel drawbridge.

The captain was following accepted procedures, but was unable to buck the current and back away from the bridge. That’s when it happened. Eyewitnesses saw the tug disappear into the water and heard it being banged and scraped along the underside of the bridge. But, because the tug had a lot of cement ballast, it popped up on the other side. Badly battered and with water pouring out of its pilothouse, the tug still had one of its two engines running. Three crewmembers, although badly shaken, weren’t seriously injured.

In early 2002, hundred of thousands of internet users and magazine readers were able to see photographs of this event. Google Cahaba Tug to read the story and see the pictures.


We are no longer on the straight canals of the waterway. We are now on the Black Warrior River in this lower part of the Tenn-Tom. This is a photo of one page of the chart book. It is 144 miles by road from Demopolis (where we stayed last night) to Mobile. It is 216 miles by river. The river twists and turns all the way down.

At about 2 this afternoon, Darrell mentioned that we hadn’t seen any tows today. Immediately after he said that we met 3 of them. Beth has discouraged him from saying anything about the last lock we need to go through.

We anchored in Bashi Creek at 5 p.m. 70.3 miles. This was a very narrow creek and we needed both bow and stern anchors. Two boats that were following us rafted to us for the night, one on each side.

Tonight is supposed to be quite cold. 31 degrees. No heat.


1 lock – total 106