As we left home, headed through downtown Little Rock, we watched as construction crews were taking down the old Broadway bridge and installing its replacement.
Cruising down the Arkansas was uneventful and pleasant. The weather was fair, the water was smooth, and there were only a few delays as we waited with northbound and southbound tows for our turn to lock down. (Fortunately, we transited Lock 5 the day before it got jammed up by a tow that blocked it, closing river traffic for a while.)
We reached Greenville, Mississippi, in three easy days. We had prearranged to take on 100 gallons of diesel fuel, so we filled up and went to tie up for the night. The marina wanted $4 a foot for dockage (46 x 4 = $184). Coleen generously offered $100, take it or leave it. They took it. Let’s hope they use it to improve the docks.
The Mississippi was uncharacteristically calm, and our overnight anchorage near Vicksburg at Racetrack Towhead was safe and secure. On the afternoon of our fifth day, we turned off the river into the channel leading to the Old River lock. We anchored above the lock in a basin the towboats call “The Mud Hole.” There was ample water to station ourselves to one side, out of the way of the barges that were being strategically removed from or placed into tows.
Next morning, after locking down with two tugboats, we entered the Atchafalaya River.
