Tom Bevill Lock and Dam near Pickensville, AL

We decided to head west today and check out a lock and dam (those that have been following my blog know how much I love locks and dams).  We checked out the Tom Bevill Lock and Dam (which I understand used to be called Aliceville Lock and Dam).  It turns out the visitor's center (housed in a huge plantation house) and the US Snagboat Montgomery are closed on Sundays so we did not get to tour either of them but the lock and dam was pretty cool and we got to watch a barge go through (something you don't see in Wisconsin in late December).  We discovered the best views are on the west side of the river (opposite side as the visitor's center).  The water was clearly high.

As you can see, the day was a bit dreary and because of the dampness even the mild temperatures in the upper 50s, it still felt quite cold, especially in the wind.

So many American White Pelicans!

US Snagboat Montgomery

Tom Bevill Visitor's Center

Being just a few feet from Mississippi, we couldn't help but cross the state line.

And then back into Alabama....

Our journey to and from the lock and dam took us through Carrollton, AL.  This is a small town has some great historical buildings that you can't miss because the main road actual goes around the historical Pickens County Courthouse.  It is quite quaint.

Being less than two hours from this lock and dam, I look forward to seeing it in all the seasons and checking out the plantation and US Snagboat Montgomery when they are open.