Go Go Go

Thursday, November 24, 2016
Thanksgiving

We woke up Thanksgiving morning to bright sunshine and a good weather forecast. Everybody is ready and anxious to get going. The first group of 4 boats leaves at 11 a.m. and includes Time Out, Katherine Marie, Sea Cow, and In Deep Ship bringing up the rear. We all cruise about the same speed of 7 knots or 8 mph. The second group of boats go faster so they leave 3 hours later. The Gulf starts out pretty choppy with waves 1 to 2 feet, a nice breeze and still lots of sunshine. We feel nervous about the crossing and a little seasick but manage to hold down our breakfast.
                                              

Late afternoon the waves smooth out and we have a great sunset.

Sunset on the Gulf of Mexico

After dark we all use radar and stay less than a mile apart so that we can see each others running lights. Around midnight the wind comes out of the north and the following seas give us a little boost in speed. Every hour Time Out checks with each boat to keep us awake. They all have autopilot except us, we have to steer the boat all night.  We take turns, but we don't find much sleep. About 3 a.m. the wind changes again. It makes us feel like a sailboat running on our side for a couple hours.

Sunrise with Clearwater on the horizon

Friday and Saturdary, November 25 and 26
We are glad for sunrise and no wind and by 9:30 a.m. we arrive at Clearwater Beach Marina. Every one is safe and no one had problems. We are really happy to be back on land!

Sleep all day, then we met with some loopers for docktails and to celebrate a great crossing! The next day several of us hop on the Jolly Trolley to visit Tarpon Springs and the Greek docks.

Ann, Paul, Cindy, Terri, Kelly

Sunday, November 27 to Monday, December 5

Clearwater Beach Marina was very busy with too much rocking and rolling to stay there. We moved the boat along with Time Out and Sea Cow to Madiera Beach at a small public marina. We visited John's Pass and part of St. Petersburg by bus with Paul and Ann! 

We relaxed and cleaned the boat and visited the small town of Madiera Beach for another week. Paul and Ann on Sea Cow departed after a few day to continue their loop.  Dan and Jean on Time Out are flying home for the holidays. We have a flight on Allegiant and ubered to the airport--it was easier than we thought!

Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready.......

Monday - Wednesday, November 21 - 23, 2016

We arrive at Carrabelle, Florida at C-Quarters Marina--it is THE place to start a trip across the Gulf of Mexico. Most all the marinas now have pilings that you have to tie the boat at all 4 corners with enough slack for the changing tides. I need more practice for sure!!

We ask about a restaurant, but there are none open in Carrabelle on Mondays. We are in luck, the Marina has a pot luck dinner for anyone who shows up. Good food and other boaters show up so there are about 20+ people. On Tuesday and Wednesday the Fisherman's wife restaurant is open and the seafood is delicious especially the oysters! We join a group of loopers to talk about the crossing.

Carrabelle claims they have the smallest police station in the world. Right on the main street, easy to find!

We make several trips to the local IGA grocery store. They have a very prominent display of Barefoot wines and bubbly. Have to get some just in case we need to celebrate crossing the Gulf!!

Finally it looks like the weather and wind will be good for crossing the Gulf of Mexico on Thanksgiving. No cooking turkey, I have the feeling we are the turkeys!

Appalachicola

Sunday, November 20, 2016

We are up early--but I forgot to mention that we are back in the Eastern time zone! It feels so much better for the sunshine to ageee with the time. We are still working our way across the intracoastal waterway in the panhandle of Florida and stop in Appalachicola for the night. The marina is farther from the small downtown area than we thought so we walked to the nearest restaurant. Their clay oven is wood-fired and the pizzas were very tasty and Kelly's chicken wings were great!

How Many Places

Wednesday - Saturday, November 16-19, 2016

Orange Beach, Pensacola, Panama City, Port St. Joe

The weather is so perfect for traveling--bright sun, a little breeze, and mid 70s. We finally arrive in Florida (notice the sunshine).

And I have been trying to take a good picture of the super moon, but this is the best view I find from Pensacola Beach Marina. I hope you all saw it better in person.

We have had several nights of anchoring out and taking pictures. Ann of the boat 'Sea Cow' captured this picture of us letting the anchor down east of Choctawhatchee Bridge near Panama City.  At sunset we could hear taps  being played from Tyndell Air Force Base.

The dolphins have been going along with us, but I haven't been able to get any real good pictures yet. But the sunrise this morning was great. Ann gets a super picture of us!

The weather will get cold tonight so we pulled into a marina at Port St. Joe. The weather is still nice enough to walk around town too see the lighthouse and get a few things from Piggly Wiggly.

What a Place in Orange Beach

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

We finally depart Fairhope (Mobile) Alabama late morning, but only travel about 30 miles to The Wharf Marina.

Wow what a marina! A luxury marina! With a hotel, condos, and a 10,000 seat amphitheater--recent concert featured Miranda Lambert. It also had an open mall with boutiques, restaurants, and a ferris wheel! The Food Network was there filming a world cook off although we did not see any celebrities. We highly recommend that if you are in the area, come by The Wharf.

Zoom

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Found out Pensacola Naval Air Station is having an air show. We rented a car from Enterprise and drove the hour from Fairhope to Pensacola to see the Blue Angels--always a treat to watch them perform!

This plane is very similar to the one Kelly flew in as a radio operator when he was in the Navy (ask him about flying in hurricanes!).

Sunday and Monday, November 13 and 14, 2016

We are traveling with "Sea Cow" (Paul and Ann) that goes about the same speed as us. We are relaxing at the marina a few days while they wait on some mail. "Adventure Quest" (Diny) shows up and we have a group spaghetti dinner and talk about all our adventures on the Tenn-Tom River. 

Doubleback

Thursday and Friday, November 10 and 11, 2016

Departed Bobby's Fish Camp, traveled 2 miles to Coffeeville Lock mile marker 116, in and out of the lock by 7:15. This is the last lock on the Tenn-Tom River system. 

We went in every direction today - north south east and west at least 3 times!! On one turn we traveled 4 miles around  to go 1 mile south. As Kelly's Grandmother Lawrence used to say "kiss me ass" turns. The chart shows the river like a brown snake curled near the bottom of the page.

We cannot get to Mobile Bay today, so another night to anchor out. We followed Sea Cow all day and they have a recommendation for an anchorage. We go up a narrow side river that opens to a small lake-like area where 3 rivers meet.

The next morning had smoke-like mist on the water. "Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning" only brought clouds all day.

By mid afternoon we hit the industrial shipyards of Mobile, Alabama. Commercial ships being repaired and Navy ships being built--all good for the economy.

And then we get to Mobile Bay. We have been in a small river and small lakes behind the dams for weeks, so the bay is huge. We made our way to the marina at Fairhope Alabama to relax.

Quiet Day

Wednesday, November 9

Getting up early seems like a habit again. Thought we lost that habit when we retired! Start the generator, make coffee, and go down the river. Wait, we have to pull the anchor up. A lot of tugging for 30 minutes so Kelly goes to get a saw to cut the anchor line! I give it one last pull and the anchor comes free. Now we go down the river.

I did get a cell signal long enough to see we have a new President. Could be an interesting future.
                                

We are aiming for 50+ miles today to stop at Bobby's Fish Camp - the only marina (?) from Demopolis to Mobile. It is really just a fuel stop and a restaurant. Of the 5 boats that stopped only three are staying--Sea Cow from Michigan, Lando-Nai from Louisville, and us. One of the boaters called the owner since the restaurant is usually closed on Wednesdays. Get 6 people and they will cook for us. Yay! "Mustang" Sally fried everything - catfish, sweet potato fries, okra, and pickles - enough food for a dozen people! And no political talk!

Late Night, Not Early Morning

Tuesday, November 8, 2016 ELECTION DAY

Well, Kelly worked late last night replacing the main bilge pump and then he had to change out the pump in the shower sump. So he is sleeping in this morning. I am watching the Loopers not leaving? They all talked about being at the lock at 6:30 this morning, but there is a backup of tows. The Loopers pull out at 8 and down the river they go. We finally pull out at 9:30 to get fuel and then to the lock. After we get into the chamber, the Demopolis lockmaster said to look starboard after exiting. This is the prettiest lock we have ever seen. 

Here's another section of the waterway called the washing machine. The waves hit the rock face and bounce right back at you. It stretches through a curve almost a mile long. I bet if we were in there with a barge it would feel like a washing machine!

Hey, do you remember seing a video of the barge Cahaba rolling under a bridge during a flood? It was the Old Rooster Bridge (now demolished). We passed right by there, glad the river is not flooding.

Wow, so much excitement for the day. We are anchored at the mouth of Beaver Creek just out of the main channel. Kelly was cooking and as it happens, we ran out of propane. Up to the flybridge to change out bottles.

And by the way, we did send in absentee ballots last week, but no cell service at the anchorage and no watching election results! Lucky us.

Keep Your Fingers Crossed

Monday, November 7, 2016

Awake early to watch the other Loopers leave for the Demopolis Locks 3 miles downriver. The repair yard came over to look at the leak, but nothing was visible from inside the boat. They want to look at the outside.

 

Still up in the lift, they took off the prop and pulled on the bolts that hold the cutlass bearing plate. The mechanic pulled out the top bolt with his fingers, the bottom bolt was secure. 

                                                      

          It took about 4 hours, but we are fixed and back in the water.
   
                                                    BOAT: Bring Out Another Thousand

          We will leave Demopolis tomorrow!!!!

It's a Beautiful Morning

Friday, November 4, 2016

We left Columbus Marina with several other boats and went through the lock together, but we traveled leisurely all day and then anchored in an oxbow before it got too dark.

Saturday travel was quiet-not much river traffic, but there were several interesting sites. These beautiful white cliffs of Epes line the river for about a mile.

And for emergencies you never know when you need to make a phone call!

We arrived at Demopolis about 5 pm. We will stay at Kingfisher Bay Marina at least through Monday. The boat has developed a leak.....

The Tenn-Tom

Tuesday, November 1

We only covered the first 38 miles of the Tenn-Tom Waterway today from the beginning just past Grand Harbor Marina to Bay Springs, Mississippi. The waterway was first proposed in the late 1700s but not completed until 1985. The deepest cut was 175' and the entire construction moved more earth than digging the Panama Canal. There's your engineering marvel and history lesson for the day!  

We stopped for the night at Bay Springs Marina, mile marker 412.  The next 3 dams are fairly close together so we should be able to get through all of them in one day.


Wednesday, November 2

Whitten Lock was already open when we called at 8 am. Three other boats were already tied up and waited for us--Life's TraVAILS, Tidings of Joy, and Mystic. This lock drops 85 feet, the 3rd largest elevation change in locks east of the Mississippi. We all stayed in line going down the Tenn-Tom through all 3 locks. Then we all went in Midway Marina at mile marker 394. Kelly and I borrowed the courtesy car to see the visitors center showing a lot of information on building the locks and canal. Later that evening 2 more boats pulled in the marina.

Thursday, November 3

Boats started pulling out of the marina at 7:30 am. We are the slowest boat so we went last. Another boat came down river and that makes 7 boats in Fulton lock. This part of the Tenn-Tom is moderately narrow so we all followed each other in line from Fulton to Wilkins to Amory locks. Coming out of Amory two of the boats said they were going 20 mph. Five of us went through Aberdeen Lock together and then two sped ahead out of the lock. It ended up that all 5 of us are at Columbus Marina, mile marker 335 on the Tenn-Tom for the night. We still have 3 more locks until we get to Demopolis.

On The Boat Again

October 20th to October 31st

I know we have to catch up on a lot of blogging, but don't expect much and you might like it!

The boat spent an entire month at Cuba Landing and we did get some of the wood refinished. It also got a much needed washing!

Kelly's cousins drove over from Knoxville to see us. Dave and Diana Tisdale and their friends Mike and Carolyn also brought the rain so we just visited at the dock. Residents in their neighborhood are Ron and Eva Stob--authors of "Honey Let's Get a Boat" and founders of America's Great Loop Cruisers Association. Amazing how small the world can be!

So we have been out cruising for a week with Nikki and Carlin. Going up the Tennesse River we passed under I-40 and it started looking like river again instead of Kentucky Lake.

The first night out we went to Clifton Marina since it was too cool without heat. We met two boats also cruising the Great Loop: Stardust and Maravillas.
                                                      
The next day the weather warmed up considerably so we anchored out behind Swallow Bluff Island. No swallows but we did see a family of goats. Another boat was anchored there-the same boat we passed when we left Cuba Landing. "Adventure Quest" is also cruising the Loop. Notice that the leaves are finally getting fall colors!

We went up the Pickwick Lock--a new adveture for Nikki and Carlin!  

We spent two nights at the State Park Marina then anchored up Dry Creek. It is a very wide and calm cove. We watched Kelly fish and he caught several! But there wasn't enough for all of us, so he let them go.

By then it was Saturday and Dry Creek is very popular with local cruisers and fishermen. Just 4 miles up Pickwick Lake we went from Tennessee to Alabama to Mississippi within a couple minutes!!! 

On to Grand Harbor Marina to pick up our mail - two absentee ballots for the general election and two new debit cards. Now we can get cash, but I bet the new president will take it away! Grand Harbor is on Yellow Creek right before the start of the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway so we saw many boats go by.

It is Halloween, so Carlin put his costume on for pictures! He is so cute as a little dragon.

Tomorrow we start down the Tenn-Tom.

Maybe Work Will Find Us

We are still at Cuba Landing Marina, mile 115 on the Tennessee River/Kentucky Lake. It is halfway between Nashville and Memphis and we can see Interstate-40 from the salon windows.  Just watching it rain and cooking pinto beans and cornbread for dinner. All the regular boaters here are gone, the marina is only open Wednesday through Saturday during the winter.  We have a covered slip and plan on applying a couple more coats of stain to the doors and the wood around a window. We will continue south in about a week.  So far the new captain says to relax.

We worked hard in Memphis to find just the right costume for Carlin for Halloween.



You can tell he likes having his picture taken!

Look for another post next week.

Buzzzzz

Thursday, September 22:  We have been anchoring out because there are many coves on Kentucky Lake. But we have to be careful that they are deep enough so our boat doesn't run aground. We need at least 5 feet of water under the boat and the turns and twists to get to those coves can be torturous. We BOTH watch the depth finder. Here's one nice anchorage at the mouth of Hurricane Creek right behind some cypress trees.

All evening it sounded like a bunch of bees all around us with the many, many bass boats buzzing from one fishing spot to the next.  But I did manage to get out on the kayak to take pictures while Kelly fished.

 

Friday:  We only traveled about 30 miles and anchored behind an island. It was miserably hot again so we started the generator and air conditioning to get cool and run the refrigerator. Kelly has a couple small solar panels that keep a battery charged so he hooked up the TV, we found a signal for our wifi and watched the newest Longmire!!! It is a good thing I made us a screen door because the mayflies found us.

Saturday:  Another short travel day to Cuba Landing Marina.  We will have the boat here several weeks while we travel to Memphis to visit our grandson!!!.