m/v Erika Lin's Adventures: Athens, AL to Florence, AL

Date November 4, 2011

Day 129

Departure      Bay Hill Marina, Athens, AL 8:25 am
Arrival         Florence Harbor Marina, Florence, AL 1:00 pm
Miles    30.9
Cumulative   2879.6

Yesterday's storm has passed, however, the morning is cloudy and overcast and chilly. We have begun to wear hats and gloves on the flybridge to keep warm (note to self, we need to travel faster and get to warmer weather)! Today we have two locks, Joe Wheeler Lock and Wilson Lock. Joe Wheeler was open and waiting for us so there was no waiting for both the Erika Lin and Sweet Pea. The next lock, Wilson Lock, was 15 miles away and they said if we could pick up the speed a bit, they would hold the

lock for us so that we could lock right through. So we put the pedal to the metal (or in this case, fiberglass!) and made it to the Wilson Lock before they closed the gate. Down we go, 93 feet. Usually, when you get to the bottom, the doors open and then you leave the lock. Not so, today! The doors started to open, stopped after about a foot, and then closed again. The lock master came on the radio and apologized, but there were mechanical difficulties and he would have to have a crew go down and look at it. Yikes, we are "locked in" the biggest lock of the whole trip and the marina we plan to go to today is only three miles away!! After approximately 15 minutes, the lock master came back on the radio and said they would be opening the lock, but only one door. Phew, we won't have to spend the night at the bottom of the lock!

Water falling through the closed lock

That is really a long way up!

Finally, one of the doors opened, and then the 2nd door opened part way

Below is what remains of an old railroad bridge that was built in 1839 and is one of the most historic structures on the Tennessee. Pedestrians, people on horseback and wagon traffic used the lower deck to cross the river. Severely damaged by a tornado in 1854, the bridge was rebuilt to accommodate steam-powered trains. In 1862, it was partly destroyed by a fire set by Confederate troops. It was rebuilt again and in 1893 a new steel superstructure was added. Twelve years later an electric streetcar system was installed on the top deck while autos began using the lower deck. After a new bridge was completed in 1939, the bottom deck was removed, leaving the top deck for trains that used the bridge until rail service ended in 1988. In 1993, the lift section over the navigation canal was removed and soon afterward the entire bridge was threatened with demolition. A private group gained title to the bridge and it has since been restored and converted to a pedestrian walkway.

On the first Friday of each month, March through December, Downtown Florence comes alive with art, music, shopping and entertainment on the streets of the city. Today, being the first Friday of the month, was no exception.