9-11-2013

                                              NEVER    FORGET

9-9-2013, Back home to Pebble Isle

Monday:  It started to thunder and lightening about 05:15 this morning so we got up and closed all the windows and by 05:30 it started to rain.  We waited a while and the rain subsided some and there was no more lightening so we decided to stay up and get an early start.  Besides, in the narrow anchorage we were in the boat began to swing with the wind.  Our anchor got stuck on a big tree (or something big) and it took over 30 minutes to get it up.  Keith had to do it as I was not strong enough.  We had a little sprinkle for less than an hour and then it was just over cast the rest of the morning.  It was still hot, in the high 80's and by the time we got home it was in the low 90's.  We got to Pebble Isle at 11:45, got 370 gallons of diesel and a pump out and into our slip.  It is good to cruise but it is good to get back to normal for a while too.  In the 3 weeks we were gone the water has gone down a good 8' and we stirred up a little mud getting into our slip.

CO’s comments: It's that time of year where we start to see more Loopers; some on their way to the Rendezvous and others about to complete their Loop.

9-8-2013, Kelly's Island Anchorage, TN, Mile 142.9

We swept up piles of May Flies before leaving.  Keith had piles 6" high by the Nav. Light and dinghy.  Last lock of this trip, Pickwick Lock, just 3 miles from our anchorage.  The Lock Gods were good to us again and we went straight through with only about a 5 minute wait for a shift change.  Yesterday when we were in Iuka we noticed that the Columbia (our friends Sam and Cheryl) were gone from their slip.  Well, today at Mile 168.0 we met them returning from a Music Festival in Clifton, TN.  What are the odds.

We had a little trouble setting the anchor this evening at Kelly’s Island.  It finally set after letting out another 10' of anchor rode for a total of 60' in 19' of water.  It was hot, hot, hot again today so as soon as we got settled in we were in the water, so refreshing.

9-8-2013: Lock doors opening in the Pickwick Lock after going down 55'.

9-8-2013: Our anchorage at Kelly’s Island.  We were at this same anchorage on 9-16-2010 with the Sea Ray.  The island looked bigger before.