5/24-29/17: MM 178 Anchorage – Demopolis Yacht Basin, Demopolis, Alabama = 33.18 NM & 1 Lock

We meet some current going upstream so our average speed today was 6.5 knots. Along the way we saw an Eagle alongside the river eating a fish. Beautiful site.

We had heard from a fellow boater that the Demopolis Lock and Dam was having gate issues causing delayed openings. We checked with the lock before leaving our anchorage and at that time there were no scheduled repairs. However, about 30 minutes before arriving the Lockmaster called us on Channel 14 to inform us that they were closing the lock for an emergency repair and could be closed for as long as 3 hours.  The Lockmaster was extremely professional apologizing more than once about the delay and the unscheduled repair.  Our flotilla of 4 could anchor out in the channel or tie to the lock wall while we waited. We chose to hang out in the channel as the current was swift being this close to the lock. In the meantime a large barge that we had passed earlier caught up with us and he too had to just hang out.

After we locked through it was just about 3 miles to the Demopolis Yacht Basin where large floating docks, a swinging pool, and a courtesy car awaited us.

After spending a couple of days at Demopolis Yacht Basin we all decided to stay put through the Memorial Weekend.