Paint Ball River anchorage, AL Mile 343.0

Tuesday:  We were up at 05:00 and on our way by 06:00.  It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed watching the sun come up while waiting on the Wilson Lock.  We went up 93' in the Wilson Lock and all went smooth.  About 14 miles later we went up 49' in the Joe Wheeler Lock.  The current got pretty strong at the top of the lock and I had a little trouble getting my “Bollard Loop” off  but otherwise all went good.  It was a long, hot, and humid day.  We traveled 83 miles in a little over 10 hours and we both were glad to see our anchorage.  This was a narrow anchorage and after a few tries we anchored in 13 feet of water and put 35 feet of anchor rode out.  This is a very nice anchorage with OK swing room but I would not use this anchorage if your boat is larger than 50'.  We used the generator tonight for the first time since it was fixed; runs real good!  A long day and early to bed so we can do it all over again.

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CO's comments:  Yesterday at Florence I was watching the Bass boaters loading their boats on trailers.  One came in so fast he hit the back of his car.  I could hear the crash from across the way.  I suspect since he broke his winch he had to tie the boat on with rope.

8-27-2013: Spooky morning

8-27-2013: Sun rise at Wilson Lock

8-27-2013: Joe Wheeler Lock; we went up 49'

8-27-2013: What in the world could they be doing way up there?

8-27-2013: View from our aft looking back at the Tennessee River, Mile 343.0

8-27-2013: View from our bow at Paint Rock River anchorage, mile 343.0

Monday, August 26, 2013

Florence Harbor Marina, Florence, AL:  After spending a week at Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina we finally got our generator fixed.  It has not worked properly since last May.  It wasn't cheap but sometimes you have to do what you have to do and we need a working generator.  Thanks to TJ it is purring like a kitten.  We also got several little things done and now we are good to go.  While waiting for parts and the generator to get fixed we got to visit with friends.  Keith hoisted a few scotch with Sam and Bill.  We also got together with Scott and Jin, the couple who bought the Sea Ray, and had a nice visit.  They are good people and will take good care of her. 

We left this morning and headed towards Chattanooga, TN, for the holiday weekend.  We have tried twice before to get there and something always came up.  Now I think we will finally make it.  It was a very hot and humid day but luckily we had a little breeze and that helped.  We traveled 44 miles at 1600 RPM's in 5 hours.

CO's comments:  It has been a long time since the XO has used her "landing loop".  I snuggled up to the dock and she snagged a cleat on the dock.  It is nice to have help when docking but we have become very comfortable with this boat and do just fine by ourselves.

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8-26-2013:  Leaving Aqua Yacht Harbor 

 8-26-2013:   CO's kayak strapped to front of boat

8-26-2013:  Entrance to Florence Harbor Marina

8-26-2013:  Florence Gas Dock and Restaurant

8-26-2013:  Kim Jo IV at the transient dock in Florence

8-7-2013:  When downloading pictures off my camera I found this one that got missed when the grandchildren were here.

Monday, August 19, 2013

We got going about 07:15; it was 71 degrees and mostly sunny.  About an hour into our travels it turned to mostly cloudy with the sun coming out sporadically and by noon it was 82 degrees.  We traveled 47 miles at 1600 RPM's, and went through 1 lock; Pickwick Lock and Dam and we went up 55 feet, all went smooth.  Got together with friends for dinner; went to "all you can eat chicken" night at the lodge at Pickwick Landing State Park.  It was good to see them again.  Still no TV reception with our antenna; we haven't had any since last May in Demopolis, AL.  We can't figure out what we are doing wrong because it was working good up to that point.  Keith hooked us up to cable for the week since it comes with the slip cost.

CO's comments:  Beautiful day.  Started out at 8.5 knots and by the time we were about 1 mile from Pickwick Lock we were only going 6.3 knots at the same RPM's because of the strong current.  After the Lock there was no current again.

8-18-2013:  At Shallow Bluff Island there are several goats.  Got this picture just before sun down last night.

8-19-2013:  Keith go this picture when leaving anchorage early this morning.

8-19-2013:  We have seen several Blue Heron's  like this one, along the way.

August l8, 2013, Anchorage at Mile 169.5

Sunday:  We got an early start with engines running by 06:05 and moving by 06:15.  It was about 70 degrees and overcast.  It was  good to be back on the water.  By 11:30 it was 75 and sunny when we got to our original anchorage at Mile 135.0.  We decided to go a few more hours to make our day a short one tomorrow.   We set anchor at Mile 169.5 in Shallow Bluff Island; by then it was 85 and hot.  We have been in this anchorage before.  On September 17, 2010, we anchored here for three days.  It is very nice with lots of swing room; we put out 60 feet of rode.  We got settled in and relaxed as 05:00 came a little too  early this morning.  We traveled a total of 74 miles today at 1600 RPM's.

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CO's comments: Sure feels good to be on move again.  After we went under the Johnsonville RR bridge and bridge tender called and asked us to go the Channel 12.  He wanted to know what kind of engines we had on the boat.  I told him we had twin Perkins diesel V8's and he came back and stated that they were the smoothest sounding engines he had heard in a long time.  It makes a Skipper feel good when he gets a comment like that.

8-18-2013: Sun Rise leaving Pebble Isle

8-18-2013:  Bow view from our anchorage

8-18-2013:  Aft view of barge going by our anchorage