Big Lock on the TennTom

We're at anchor tonight so we'll see how well the AirCard can upload pictures. Yesterday was an easy day of cruising the first section of the TennTom Waterway (TTW). The Divide Cut is a straight and narrow 25 miles of canal where the two rivers are joined. When first completed it was reported to be quite unattractive, but the banks are now covered with trees and we found it enjoyable. It's very pristine, no industry, no houses, no marinas. Easy to navigate and the 70 degrees and sunny added to our pleasure. We found our anchorage by early afternoon and hopped into the dinghy for a ride. (We must really like boating since the first thing we do after a five hour boat ride is get into a different boat and ride some more !!) We went to over to see the TTW Visitors Center, but it was closed on Saturdays. We walked around the grounds and I took this photo from the deck. Our anchorage was right around the corner from the first lock on the Waterway.

The TTW has 12 locks, with a total drop of 412 feet to sea level. The first one, the Jamie Witten Lock is the 9th highest lock in the US at 85'. The dam does not have a gate or spillway and is really more like a huge retaining wall. The lockmaster told us they do not like to lower it too many times in one day because the large amount of water discharged actually raises the water level of the pool below it. The first four locks occur over only 20 miles so they are very close together. This morning we entered the Whitten with 2 small sailboats and a pontoon. This is biggest lock we've been in and it's impressive, as you can see by the height of the doors in front of us. It took about a half an hour to bring the water down. The Lockmasters make you wear your life jacket in the locks. Steve bought me one of those fancy new suspender models before we left home. It's very comfortable and easy to wear, so I've been wearing it for all lockages, anchoring, and dinghy riding.

You can see how tall the lock is by the size of the sailboats leaving the lock. Both of these sailboats were going south to the ocean, and the pontoon had a looper burgee flying. All three are solo travelers with dog aboard. We scooted down to the next lock, only 5 miles away, and the lockmaster decided to wait for one of the sailboats and the pontoon because they had just appeared in the distance. By the time they arrived, the last sailboat, who had told the other sailboat in the lock she traveled at 3mph had appeared, so we waited for her too. There are boats of all shapes and sizes doing long distance cruising on the rivers. By the next 2 locks we were far enough ahead so that we got our own lock through. It continues to be a mellow and scenic area. After each lock, the river narrows and then quickly expands into the next wide pool and the next lock. Pretty much like the river at home. We're in a little cove next to a lock tonight, took the dinghy into a public dock and went for a walk before dinner. Looking forward to Aberdeen tomorrow, it looks really cool on the charts. All engines are running perfectly and Lucy is enjoying the cruise as well.