Grand Harbor Marina - Iuka, MS - 11/6/10

We woke up this morning to a cool crisp morning. As discussed last night, promptly at 8 a.m. 3 of the 5 loopers left at Joe Wheeler took off. Our traveling friends today were Bill & Charlotte on the Mainship "Precious Time" from Nashville and Stan & Colleen on the catamaran "Next Endevour" from San Diego. Luck was really with us getting thru both the Wheeler & Wilson locks including the 18 miles of Wilson Lake by 11 a.m. so we decided to run on to Grand Harbor rather than stopping at Florence which was just outside the last lock. When we got to Grand

Harbor as we were hooking up power and TV cable, Ron and Missy Bishop and Simon the cocker spaniel drove up to the boat in their golf cart. It turns out that when the Bishops lived in the Ohio Valley area, Missy was working at a Marietta bank and was involved in a project to bring the debit card sytem to the Ohio Valley which I had initiated as president of the local banking association. Of course we had to recall all the mutual bankers friends we had known over the years. After docktails on the boat, Ron suggested a tour of the marina grounds which is awesome. It seems that everyone here gets around on golf carts even on the docks which sometimes create exciting moments and tonight was no exception. When we approached the end of the dock facing Yellow Creek and had to turn around which took several forward/reverse moves, the golf cart got a little too close to Yellow Creek with the rear wheels, according to the ladies occupying the back facing seat, and we were informed that additional yellow was being added to the creek. After the tour we went to Freddie T's for another great meal then back to the Bishop's beautiful home which overlooks the marina before returning to the boat. Our traveling friends Bill & Charlotte are in the slip beside us so we got together and planned our next move down the Tenn-Tom which we agreed would begin at 9 a.m. and involve only 37 miles to Bay Springs Marina in New Site, MS. Our other traveling friends decided to anchor in order to test their heating system running on inverter power. We will pick them up as we leave tomorrow.

Joe Wheeler - 11/5/10

Today will be the last day we spend at Joe Wheeler. After a day of chores on the boat (i.e. - cleaning the bilge, securing the dinghy, etc) we met with 4 other loopers for docktails at 5 p.m. and 4 of us are planning on leaving tomorrow at 8 a.m. for points SOUTH. Today it got into the low 50's so we are ready to move on. Our plan will be to see how long it takes to get thru both the Wheeler & Wilson locks then decide whether to stop at Florence or go on to Grand Harbor Marina in MS. We have met so many nice folks on this trip and this marina is no exception. As we have heard so many times, it is not only the trip that is fantastic, you also make lifetime friends and now we believe both.

Joe Wheeler - 11/4/10

Today was a nice slow down day. Bill & I went to the laundromat and came back to the boat to a breakfast of biscuits and gravy before sending them back on the road to WV. Ricki & I just kind of "vedged out" the rest of the day. We did clean up the boat a little but none of the bigger chores got started. The wind was blowing so hard that we didn't see any boats moving around in the marina and we need to get over to the fuel dock for a pump out but decided to wait until Friday. Unless the wind lays down considerably we will probably stay put tomorrow. Mid afternoon Colleen from "Another Endevour", one of about 5 looper boats still here, stopped by to announce 5 p.m. docktails on their boat which is a beautiful 48 by 18 catamaran. I have been on several catamarans over the years but this one is by far the nicest I have ever seen and actually feels like a boat inside. If we stay another day, we will probably move to the dock where the other loopers are after pump out since the TV cable works over there and it doesn't where we are presently.

Our care package from home containing bills and prescription drugs came today so I guess we are set to go for another month or so. Thanks Jason.

Joe Wheeler State Park - Rogersville, AL - 11/3/10

Life is good! We left Goose Pond at 6:59 this morning and after a short ride to the main channel of the river, we started down stream at 7:12 arriving at Joe wheeler 101 miles later at 5 p.m. Obviously the current was awesome with us averaging over 10 mph and actually hitting 12 mph several times. The lock at Guntersville took only 1/2 hour from the initial arrival point call to exit which was great. It rained most of the day on us and limited our vision to less than a mile most of the time but it was still a good ride with calm water. We made a quick trip to Lowes for shower parts, a not so quick trip to Walmart to get enough stuff to hold us for the next couple weeks then dinner at Ruby Tuesdays getting back to the boat around 10 p.m. very tired boaters. Tomorrow we need to go to the laundramat before Bill & Dianne leave for WV with our car. Having it here has been a great luxury both for us and the other loopers who have borrowed it from time to time. If our care package from home arrives today with our bills and drugs, we will probably hit the blue highway Friday which will have us going thru both the Wheeler & Wilson locks with stops at Florence Marina then Grand Harbor Marina before heading south on the Tenn-Tom. We have stayed at both these marinas on our trip up river and enjoyed them very much. At Grand Harbor we hope to catch up with the Bishops who live there since we missed then first time through. Maybe the weather will clear up enough to get pictures again.

Our position is: N 34 48.757 W 87 19.750

Goose Pond Marina- Scottsboro, AL - 11/2/10

Great Day! We left Chattanooga at 7:50 EST and traveled the 85.6 miles to Goose Pond arriving at 3:36 p.m. CST. The current coming down stream was very strong and we were able to maintain over 10 MPH and in some areas over 11 MPH running at only 1650 RPM. The lock at Nickajack was open and the lockmaster told us to keep her coming that they were greasing the upstream doors and would be able to lock us down shortly after securing to the wall. What a break since we had waited over an hour at this lock on the way up. The restaurant here at the marina is nothing less than awesome. I had crab cakes to die for and Ricki had a fantastic prime rib. This is the second time we have stopped here on the trip and the second time to visit the restaurant, both times with the same great impression. Tomorrow will be a long day back to Joe Wheeler State Park of just over 100 miles and a lock at Guntersville. If things go well we should get there by 5:30 or so then we plan to slow way down with our daily travel miles. We will probably hit the blue highway to head SOUTH and warmer weather on Friday.

Hope everyone voted today ... we did when we were home.

Chattanooga, TN - 11/1/10 - last day

Today was our last full day here. Before we left WV our A/C in the front cabin had failed so I had ordered a new one from Chase Marine A/C which would be available here in Chattanooga and showed up at our dock right after noon. Bill & I spent next 5 or 6 hours taking the old out and putting in the new unit. Ricki and Dianne decided that rather hop the FREE bus to go shopping, they would take the regular bus to a large mall several miles away. They reported that the bus ride was almost an hour so they elected to take a taxi back and suffer the additional cost. Later in the evening we joined a friend who lives here in town but still has ties to St. Marys for dinner at a very nice restaurant called 212.

Tomorrow we will leave at first light for the 90 mile trip back to Goose Pond Marina in Scottsboro, AL and plan to return to Joe Wheeler on Wednesday.

Statistics update:
Travel Days .... 27
Total Days ... 45
Miles ... 1,209
Fuel consumed ... 807 gallons
MPG ... 1.5 avg
Avg cost per gallon ... $3.21
Dock Fees to date ... $994
Avg per foot ... 57 cents

Chattanooga - 10/31/10 - second day

Today we spent the day seeing what sights we could in the city. We are docked on the riverfront landing in front of the aquarium. We we supposed to move to a floating dock but this one is so handy and is easier for Dianne to get on and off the boat with her bum knee. To begin the day we went to the Blue Water for a fabulous brunch where they even had a 3 piece band that was playing very appropriate brunch music. Several hours were spent in the River and Ocean Aquariums. It was truly amazing to see all the creatures that are in both the fresh and salt waters. Of course a trip to Chattanooga would not be complete without a visit to the Choo Choo. This town has FREE electric buses that travel a couple different routes one being from downtown to the Chattanooga Choo Choo Museum. Since it was Sunday and probably not the peak tourist season, many of the shops either were not open or else closed earlier.
When we returned to the boat after stopping at T.G.I. Fridays, our friendly pink panther was on the bar enjoying an adult beverage. Guess we missed the party. Tomorrow we will get the A/C unit for the front cabin delivered and the girls are planning on taking the FREE bus across the river to a shopping area.
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