TennTom

These photos catalog a trip down the Tennessee-Tom Bigby waterway on the 48' motor yacht Southern Accent from 11/13-11/18/2003. Captain Cris Ashworth needed to move his boat to warmer climes for the winter, so Jack and Bruce Hoffman offered to crew.

The trip lasted five days and covered the five hundred miles from a marina near Pickwick Dam in Tennessee to the Grand Mariner Marina in Dog River on Mobile Bay.

1 - 24 of 98

Ready To Go Ready To Go
Juan assisting as we get ready to leave Pickwick Landing State Park. Thursday was 65 and sunny.


Awaiting Passengers Awaiting Passengers
Southern Accent waiting at the dock patiently for passengers.

Southern Accent II Southern Accent II
Captain Cris preparing to leave. We got underway by noon.


Fueling Up Fueling Up
Bruce Hoffman at the gas dock.

Maning the Pumps Maning the Pumps
Bruce manning the diesel pump.

Condos Condos
Navigating the Tennessee was stressful and slow to start, mostly because we were learning the ropes. We passed these Condos at Grand Harbor Marina on the Tennessee River.

The Tenn Tom The Tenn Tom
First view of the Tennessee Tom Bigby waterway. It's pretty much of a really wide ditch at this point, but still pretty. The river is 12-14 feet deep most of the way.


Jack at the Helm Jack at the Helm
Jack at the helm. We all shared this duty as the days progressed.


Our First Barge Our First Barge
Here is the first barge we encountered on the Tenn Tom. We passed this one on the 'one.'


Front View Front View
The second barge we met was coming towards us. We passed this one on the 'one' too.


This is the Life This is the Life
Captain Cris reflecting on his good fortune.

Ebb Tide Ebb Tide
We passed this old wood Owens, Ebb Tide, on the first day. He anchored out at Bay Springs Marina where we stayed since there was no more room at the dock. We locked through our first lock with him on Friday.


First Night Out First Night Out
We spent our first night at Bay Springs Marina. There was no cell service. Met Mel Lawson, captain of 42' Charizma, owned by an auto/truck dealer named Palmer of Indianapolis. Just installed new engines for $37k... only part of a $60k refit. Mel regaled us with stories of his 5 wives, truck driving and river adventures. He was helpful with tips on the engines. Turned in by 10:30.


Dawn Dawn
Up at 5:30 Friday - a beautiful brisk morning starting out at 40 and overcast but improving rapidly. Got a hot shower in the bath house at Bay Springs, had coffee and were underway by 6:30.


Public Beach Public Beach
The public beach near the Witten lock. This is the northernmost lock on the Tenn-Tom and is near Belmont, MS.


Early Morning Photographer Early Morning Photographer
Bruce taking photos by the light of the dawn.


Our First Lock Our First Lock
Our first look at the first of 12 locks on this trip: Jamie Whitten Lock and Dam. Notice the red light signaling us to wait.


Lock Opening Lock Opening
The lock finally begins to open at 7:30AM as we had to wait for two other boats - A trawler 'Manitee' and a sailboat we passed yesterday.


Almost Ready Almost Ready
Witten Lock almost opened up.


Got the Green Got the Green
The Lockmaster gives us the green light to enter the lock.


Witten Lock Witten Lock
A view of the Locmaster's station. All the locks looked about the same. Only the change in elevation was different.


World Traveler - Manitee World Traveler - Manitee
Ted and Sarah have lived aboard 'Manitee' with their dog for two years after selling their Gross Pt. MI jewelery store. They had been making this trip since 1987 and were on their way to Marco and then Venesuela. We both left Pickwick at about the same time yesterday.


Down we Go Down we Go
This first lock is also the deepest, dropping 84 feet. This is the fourth highest single lift lock in the nation. Here's Manitee again as we near the bottom.

Sailboat Sailboat
This couple came from St. Paul, MN. We'll see them again later.