After the anchor retrieval challenge in the morning, our day was relatively uneventful. Six and a half hours, plus two locks. We left early hoping to arrive and enjoy dinghy cocktails.
We had to wait above the second lock for a tow to arrive and lock up. We held station in the channel for a couple of hours before the attendent would lock us down.
Good thing the planned anchorage was just below the lock. It was outside Gainesville Alabama in the old river channel several miles below the dam. The dam flow scours the river bottom down to bedrock in many places. Our first several attempts resulted in the anchor bouncing and scraping across the bottom.
So it was a scramble to get everyone anchored before dark. Eventually we all were successfully tucked up against the north shore. The dinghies came down, those with dogs took to shore, grabbed a beer and went to join the congregation.
It was another beautiful night. The boats turned together in a synchronized dance as the current ebbed and flowed. We faced east, then west, then swung back to the east with a rattle of the chain each time.
Moon Dance IV 