We're at Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge and Marina, and it's really beautiful here. The marina is closed for the season, but you can stay at their docks for $40 per night with no reservations (lots of room) and there are still a lot of boats here. Also, there is another bass fishing tournament going on here today and tomorrow (Saturday), but much smaller than the one at Florence.

This is the view of the marina dock with Nonchalance on the right and the beautiful fall colors across the inlet. This same view from our aft deck is really pretty.







We went through 2 locks today and had to wait 4 hours for locks, because commercial barges were being locked up and down, and thye have first priority. However, while we were waiting for one, we were able to watch this red fox hunting all along the river bank next to us for about 10 minutes.


The first lock we went through today was the Wilson Lock, With a lock lift of 97 ft., it's the highest lock in the Tennessee river system. The lock opens it's 100 ft. doors and after you go in, they shut behind you.





The far wall is 120 ft tall with just 15 ft. of lock doors way up on the top.












This is the same picture, after they fill the lock with water and we're floating above those high doors, which open up and you just float right out.


We'll be here for two days. We expect some Hatteras friends from Saint Louis to join us here, and then on to Chattanooga.