First Leg of Journey Complete

So here we are safely at Columbus Marina. Looks like the home of the "loopers".
(for those who don't know loopers are people doing the great loop). Lots of looper flags. Weather today is 70, sunny and beautiful. We have been working on boat all day. Going out to dinner with Red Boat tonight at the nice restaurant here.
Tomorrow we are using courtesy car to pick up rental car at airport. Then home.

Kind of sorry to be leaving the boat. Everyday it gets to be more enjoyable as we become more familar with the "nuances" of the boat. But we shall be return the end of January to begin again!

One Thing Leads to Another

November 29, 2007 - Everything going great - but wait! We go thru our first of serveral locks on the Tenn Tom. We call the lockmaster to lock-thru and he asks us to switch to channel 18 US - not international. We didn't know we were international! So of course we don't know how to switch radio without reading the manual. So I going digging thru our electronics bag looking for the portable radio. By the time I find it Paul and the lockmaster have agreed to go to another channel. So anyhow we are locking thru - I do my job of throwing the line over the bollard - and then I notice that the swim platform if down in the water. For those who have not been on our boat, we have a hydraulic swim platform for the our yet to be bought dingy. So Captain Paul can't of course figure out why the swim platform in in the water! You can't travel far with it that way. Then it becomes clear that when I was digging in the electronics bag I set off the remote for the platform.
Paul was able to go into the lazerette and found a reset button that made it come back up.

So as I said - One thing leads to another! On we go to Midway Marina where temp is 52, water 53.8. We borrowed their courtesy car and went to Walmart - the only place I seem to shop!

History Lesson

So today I am going to fill you in on a little history. So far we have gone thru 7 locks with 7 more to Columbus - our pre-holiday designation. Locks for those who aren't familiar with them are like huge bathtubs that either fill or empty. This lets you down to the next river or up depending on which way you are traveling. Because we are headed south we will always be going down in the locks. There are post - called bollards which float that you tie onto while you take the ride down/up. That is my job - to lasoo a bollard. Paul's job is to get me close enough to be able to do that. So far so good! We started at Ft. Loudon Lock last of the nine dams on the Tennessee River - also the second highest lock on the river. Next we went thru Watts Bar Lake to the Watts Bar Damn. "This complex is unique because it's the only TVA site shared by a hydroelectric dam, a coal-fired power plant(inactive) and a nuclear power plant." It is also the shortest of all the dams on the Tennessee. Then next lock was the Chickamauga Lock. The name came from a warlike tribe that separated itself from the Cherokee Indians. The next lock is called "Nickajack". After that we went thru Guntersville Lock and then Wheeler Lock. Wheeler Dam is named after a general in the Confederate Army who fought in more than 500 skirmishes, commanded in 127 battles, had 36 staff officers wounded at his side and HAD 16 HORSES SHOT FROM UNDERNEATH HIM!!!!! Now that is interesting!

Tonight we are on the Tenn-Tom. More about the history of that tomorrow.

Hope I haven't bored you all but thought the horse part was interesting!

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Hello everyone -
Love to see the comments on my blog. Yesterday we literally "blew" into Bay Hill Marina. It was so cold and windy I begged Paul to drive faster. Fortunately we had some helpers - Bill and Pat - who helped us land the boat.

Today we were on to Florence (Alambama - not Italy) and went through 2 locks to get here. Much nicer day - sunny. We are currently at Florence Marina - very nice.
Some of the permanent boats have xmas decorations! We borrowed the curtsey van to look for a yarn store (out of business) and then to GNC at the mall. Then we went to the movies to see American Gangster. Actually pretty good if you close your eyes at the violent scenes.

Tomorrow off to Grand Harbor Marina - about 45 miles.

Space Museum

Hi ya'all,

I am in the South now to need to say a big "ya'all". Yesterday we did some maintence on the boat. I got mine done in 15 minutes - a plugged drain. Paul's took all day - install new drain in sink and new heat ducting.


Today went to Space and Rocket museum. Grey and rainy but not terriblly cold.
Interesting museum - wished I had my great nieces and nephews with me! But I did have Paul to make it interesting. He tried the space simulator and did much better in landing the shuttle that I did. They gave him 2 chances and me - they said to come back later!

Leaving tomorrow if weather permits. Sorry if you have to turn your computer on it's side - apparently I should have somehow turned photos!

Gunshots! Duck!

So woke this morning to the sound of guns! Apparently Goose Pond is a great place for geese but not for ducks. It is duck season now. Wasn't sure when we left to begin our jouney again today if we should be dressed in orange or what!

Had a safe and "cool" ride to Huntsville, Al. The sun was shining but the wind was blowing and it was a bit chilly. We are currently docked at Ditto's Landing in Huntsville and have rented a car for sightseeing tomorrow. Going to see the Space Museum tomorrow and maybe the Botanical Gardens which are decorated for Xmas.

Staying here until Monday. All is well - Paul has decided he likes being a "tourist". It only took him 60 years.

"Little Grand Canyon" south of Chattanooga

View from the water in downtown Chattanoga

Our beginning day's view

Out & About

Raining in Goose Pond

So here we are in Goose Pond which is located in Scottsboro, Al. So far we have gone 200 nautical miles. Raining tonight - sounds great on the boat. Diesel Don came and replaced impeller on generator so we are good to go. We borrowed the curtesy van from the marina and went to Walmart - the place where America shops.

We will have a quiet Thanksgiving on boat eating chicken!

Hope you all have a great Turkey day and talk to you soon.

Tomorow I will try to post my picutures.

What does hair look like with shampoo left in?

Ok, so wake up in Chattanoogs. Paul & Cody are out walking and I start my shower.
Just as I am washing my hair the water stops. What the heck? So to make a long story short, my hair had quite a lot of body today!

We figured out what the water problem was - yes, the water guage was right and we really were out of water. Apparently when I washed clothes last night the rinse cycle had stuck and emptied the water tanks! Well rinsed clothes - about 200 gals.
Filled tanks and were on our way.

We went thru the "little grand canyon" today. South of Chattanooga - beautiful.
Lots of trees and big cliff type rocks. Arrived at Hale's Bar this pm.
Going to leave early tomorrow for Goose Pond which is in Scottsboro, Al (i think) Btw, Scottsboro is the home of "Unclaimed Airlines stuff". Weather today was 75 but storms coming in tomorrow afternoon so we are leaving so we can hopefully beat the weather. Will let you know how we make out.

Cody Sees The City

Ok, latest - We went to Erwin Marina just above our 3rd lock. Of course generator was just fine when mechanic looked at it! Went on to Chattanooga and walked around downtown with Cody. He seemed to enjoy all the smells - but not much grass. Unfortunatly a security guy came and told me that dogs weren't allowed in front of the aquarium so I carried him. If any of you get a chance to visit, Chattanooga is a very nice town. Great aquarium, restaurants, and hotels right on the waterfront.

Tomorrow going to Hale's Bar Marina. Sounds better than it is. Although I do think there is a bar!

One of Mom's Sayings

November 18, 2007

Ok, so my mom told me "bad beginning, good end". Well check back in a year or two and we will see what the end is. But the beginning was a bit "not good". We left Ft. Loudon Marina 11/16 bright and early and "bushy" tailed. We get in the lock, tied up and then an alarm on the boat goes off. So Captain Paul sees that is is a bilge pump - for all you unboaters that is a pump that pumps water OUT of the boat. An alarm is not a good thing. So anyhow he finds that the pump switch has stuck but still "why is there water coming in?" Good question. We just had a bow thruster - pushes bow around to help park, etc. So first thought was leak! We tell the lock master the problem and he stops lowering us down in the lock and we back out back to Ft. Loudon where we started. Paul finds a leak in a hose to the wash down pump and fixes it!
Yea, but too late to go so we sleep on boat at marina and wait till the next day. ]


All went well . We made it through lock and "leaned" or docked at Ei & Ron's house. Of course nothing goes as planned. Generator is now acting funny so we are going to get a hold of "Diesel Don" - yes that is what everyone calls him. He is south of us so we will make contact with him someplace. PC is a little grumpy tonight. It would be nice if we could go a day or two without something going wrong! But I remain optimistic - or stupid.


We are now at "Shady Grove Marina". It is just a few miles north of Chattanooga.

Cody seems to be tolerating the trip. In the mornings on deck we have to wrap him in a blanket because he is shivering so much. Anyone want a wonderful Maltese?

Getting Close

Ok, so we aren't on our way yet BUT the time does seem to be getting closer. Just a quick update for those who don't know the rest of the story.

Last year Paul & I decided that we wanted a new adventure. So we bought a boat - actually a 48' Tollycraft trawler. We found the boat - named it "Out & About" - did some repairs/refurbishings, etc and then Ron - my brother-in-law and Paul brought her home to Tennessee. It was quite an adventure for them. Eileen (sister) and I joined them in Decatur, Al. Unfortunately after I got on the boat things seemed to go down hill. After a flawless crossing of the Gulf of Mexico and many nautical miles to Alabama the engines stopped!
Fortunately we had our Boater's insurance and so we got a 3 hour tow!
Eventually we made it to Tennessee and were able to get lots of boating time in this summer.

So now you are all up to date. After a few final repairs and lots of packing we hope to begin our "Loop" trip soon. So anyone that doesn't know what the "Loop" trip is here is a link to show the map of what we hope to accomplish in the next year or two.
http://www.greatloop.com/topic.asp?pid=1
Wish us luck!