Saturday, 10-30-2010

It got down to freezing last night and when we woke up it was so foggy we couldn't see the boat in front of us.  The fog didn't lift until after 10:00.  We were on our way by 10:45 and as the day went on it got sunny and warmer, 80 degrees.  We traveled down the Tenn-Tom for about 5 hours.  It turned out to be a beautiful day.  We anchored at Five Fingers, Mile 414.0, at Mississippi Branch finger.  There are several other Loopers anchored out here also.

In one area as we were coming out of the man-made canal entering the lake where shoaling was happening there was only enough room for us and a bass boat.  Sure would hate to meet a tow and barges there.

From here on out our posting will probably be sporadic as cell phone service keeps coming in and out.  I will do my best to keep everyone posted as to where we are.

CO's comments:  I am sitting on Bobbie's porch looking at some beautiful hunting and fishing areas with a soothing drink in my hands while the XO is busy at work keeping you all informed.



N34 33.5634
W88 17.7931

Friday, 10-29-2010

The Rendezvous is over and we are exhausted.  They kept us going steady with very little spare time but we learned a lot and met many, many people.  It was a good time. 

We had 2 large locks to go through today and everything went smoothly; Joe Wheeler Lock-48' depth and Wilson Lock-93' depth.  It's a lot easier going down than going up.  We finished the Tennessee River today and are staying at Aqua Yacht Harbor at the beginning of the Tennessee -Tombigbee Waterway, Mile 448.0.  After stocking up here we will go down the waterway tomorrow morning.

On our way here we saw the "BB Riverboats" paddle wheel tour boat stuck  (outside of the channel) at Mile Marker 225, Bear Creek, on the Tennessee River.  The Coast Guard issued a hazard notice to all mariners.  When we passed them they were off loading all the passengers onto a barge.

BB Riverboats

Going through the Wilson Lock

CO's comments:  Since being on the Tennessee River I have not had a drop of fuel spilled on my boat.  All fuelers ask how many gallons you think your tanks will take and listen to the fueling as they can tell when it is getting full.  They have asked me to come down and listen also because they say I know my boat better than they do.  This is refreshing to see that these people are trained professionals.

N34 59.4482
W88 14.8548

Previous posted pictures from September 26 through October 8, 2010

Guess who put this up?

Sunday Brunch

Columbia

Kim Jo III at Bay Hill Marina



Roy El and I Love Lucy



Kim Jo III at Bay Hill Marina

The start of fall colors

Roadside flowers

Entrance to Bay Hill Marina

Bay Hill Gas Dock

Sunday, 10-24-2010

 

You haven't heard from us for a while because we haven't had much to write about.  We enjoyed our time at Bay Hill Marina and made some good friends but now we are finally at the Rendezvous.  It didn't seem like it was ever going to get here.  We are itching to go down the Tenn-Tom Waterway.  For those of you that read the Daily Digest, you will recognize the names of the people we are telling you about and for those you who do not, these people are the ones that write the weather for the Daily Digest, give seminars for loopers, and author books about the Loop.

We met Fred Myer, author of many cruising guides and he will be giving his talk on the Tenn-Tom Waterway on Monday morning.  He is a very nice man and we talked with him for over an hour.  We met his wife at docktails last night..  We also met Steve Kromer and his wife and talked with them for a while; Steve writes  the Daily Digest stuff.  At the get together last night we met Bill Donovan and his wife; Bill has been giving seminars on the Loop for many years.  Keith was very interested in meeting Bill because we read one of his articles and he said he had never driven a Sea Ray or hadn't seen one that he liked.  After a lengthy conversation with Keith (and several drinks) he was finally convinced that that they were OK.  All in good fun.

One of the seasoned Loopers boiled up a bunch of shrimp and everyone else brought a dish to go with docktails.  It was a huge success.  It was a very good chance to meet other loopers and we all had a great time.  The Rendezvous actually starts tonight with a banquet and welcome to new and seasoned Loopers.

CO's comments:  After chatting with Bill, I found his reason for not liking Sea Rays or Carvers was do to the fact that most operators make too big of a wake when passing slower trawlers.  I explained to Bill that at a given speed a Carver the same length of mine will make a larger wake than my Sea Ray and he agreed.  The lesson here is, we should all be considerate of our fellow boaters.

N34  48.7190
W87  19.8294