On The "Road" Again

The Tennessee and Tombigbee Rivers are connected by a series of channels, locks and lakes known as the Tenn-Tom Waterway. Completed in 1985, more dirt was moved to construct the Tenn-Tom than was moved to build the Panama Canal! Author Fred Myers says, "At no other time in history has man moved so much to get what he wanted."

The Tenn-Tom officially runs from The Tennessee River, 234 miles south to Demopolis, Alabama. Technically, the segment of the waterway from Demopolis south, another 217 miles to Mobile, is the Black Warrior-Tombigbee waterway. Most boaters just call the entire 451 miles The "Waterway". Surprisingly, there are very few cities along the waterway, and you can travel for days without a marina stop or cell service, so planning ahead is very important.

The river system from The Tennessee River to Mobile Alabama via the Mississippi River is 1,278 miles vs. 451 miles, a savings of more than 800 miles! It is hard to believe without actually looking at a map, but 17 states are impacted by The Waterway. The existing river system in the United States can connect Sioux City Iowa to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to Tulsa Oklahoma without ever getting your hull dry! I am totally fascinated by this.

Chip and I will be spending the next week or so maneuvering our way south on the waterway as we head to Mobile. Last night we stayed at a funky little marina called Pirates Marina Cove. We used their courtesy van and drove to the Tom Bevill Visitor Center which is just up the road. The center is housed in a replica 1830 Greek Revival home similar to those that were built in The Tombigbee River Valley. The U.S. Snagboat Montgomery, circa 1926, is on display at the visitors center. Retired from service in 1982, this restored stern wheeler steamboat is a National Historic Landmark.

~And so, we are on the road again, both the Blue Highway, as well as the back roads of America thanks to the courtesy vans we get to borrow along the way...