Many boat days start early, and the sun rose as we entered the Tennessee-Tombigbee (Tenn-Tom) Waterway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee–Tombigbee and crossed into Alabama. We typically only watch for deer crossing when driving on land, but today we avoided a deer swimming across the waterway.

The Tenn-Tom is a narrower route and we saw familiar boats again and again. We traveled through locks together,

and met up at Midway Marina for dinner and discussions about the voyage ahead.

Another early morning and we made our way with the group through Fulton Lock and continued south

to a marina on Columbus Lake for the night.

Next morning we headed into Alabama, and enjoyed some cloudy but pleasant cruising through Aliceville Lake.

More locks and a leisurely ride brought us to Demopolis Lake, and the stunning White Cliffs of Epps!

Then on to Demopolis Marina for a calm night and very foggy morning!

Eventually the fog lifted and we continued working our way along a winding path and past interesting sights and another swimming deer,

to Bobby’s Fish Camp. It was a hilarious evening as we worked things out with some wonderfully helpful boaters to get everyone fueled and tied up safely for the night.

We left as a group at sunrise and headed into the Coffeeville Lock. Realizing that this would be the very last lock on our Loop, Kathy climbed over another boat to place a Nice Goin’ sticker on the lock, just as she had on our very first lock over five months ago in Chesapeake, Virginia.

We then continued on our twisty path, finally passing the Naval Yard

to Turner Marine in Mobile Bay. Wait – are those palm trees?!!!

In the morning we traveled through the enormous bay with tugs, freighters and natural gas rigs doing their thing. Leaving the bay, we turned into a canal that ran past Lulu’s. Friends we hadn’t seen since St. Joseph, Michigan, jumped from their table and waved and shouted as we passed.

We then pulled into our last stop in Alabama. It wasn’t yet Thanksgiving, but The Wharf was already celebrating Christmas with decorated streets and an ice rink!