I want to thank everyone for all your help!! I am overwhelmed by the interest and assistance that everyone has provided to Joyce and me , both in our question about whether we should travel the "wrong way" up the Tenn-Tom to Chicago, and on the locking procedures. We will be leaving Key Colony Beach, near Marathon the first week of April, with the goal of beginning our trip up the Tenn-Tom from Mobile in the beginning of May. Our boat is a 34' PDQ Power Catamaran,: "Feline Purr-fect". It would sure be nice if we could get to meet some of you. Send me your boat names and I will look out for you. Thank you again. Ben