Well we are now in Mobile (pronounced Mo Beal), AL awaiting the landfall of tropical storm “Ida”. We were enjoying the warm breezes of the Gulf of Mexico until yesterday when the weather was predicted to turn bad. We have been here since Wednesday and had decided to stay for about a week so that we could explore the Gulf coast and it now appears we could be here longer. The boat is battened down at the Turner Marina on the Dog River and we are sitting in a Holiday Inn for hopefully, just one night.

Since the last post we had a very pleasant and leisurely trip down the Tennessee River and then a very fast trip down the Tombigbee Waterway as there was a lot of rain and the current was running ~ 4 + knots. We were doing 90 NM days. The lower Tombigbee is a very desolate area. You travel over 70 miles between bridges that span the river.

We stopped at some very “unusual” marinas such as “Bobby’s Fish Camp”. One morning, we left Demopolis, AL early, so that we could get an early locking through the dam with 9 other boats. We were the last boat in and Judi had to throw the line over the floating bollard. I heard this big scream and Judi was standing on the foredeck waving her hands and screaming that there was a snake on the top of the bollard. Sure enough there was a fairly large rattlesnake coiled up on the top. Luckily snakes are Al Gore friendly since they are solar powered and it was cold. He was therefore, in no mood to move as you can see in the picture.

Saturday, we went to the Navy Air Museum in Pensacola, FL. This is also the home base of the Blue Angels. This is a very impressive museum with many historic aircraft. On our way back we went to the Battleship “Alabama” park in Mobile, which has a WWII submarine and more historic aircraft. Judi has had her fill of “historic” aircraft, battleships, and submarines.

Last night we had dinner at “Felix’s Fish Camp” overlooking Mobile Bay. I had crab soup, ½ dozen oysters (actually 9 oysters), camp salad, hush puppies, sautéed mushrooms, and three crab cakes on green fried tomatoes. Judi had camp salad, grilled chicken with mushrooms etc. over brown rice. Add in two draft beers and a glass of red wine and the bill, with tax was $61. The food was excellent with great service.

The trip continues to be fantastic with new adventures and new people to meet and other people to meet again on boats you crossed paths with in Canada or other spots.

It is great to be back in salt water as they smell of the air seems normal again. WARM WEATHER IS COMING.

Since our last post I think I have finally gotten the e-mail up and running again therefore people should be receiving updates.

We are presently in Shell Mound Park, TN awaiting to get into the Nickajack lock on our way back down the Tennessee River from Chattanooga. We had a wonderful trip up the River with Frank and Bridgett Bryson who stayed with us two weeks and 600 miles of river travel from Nashville to Chattanooga. We had a nice stop at Grand Harbor Marina in Counce, TN and took a tour of Shiloh National Park where a major battle of the Civil War was fought.

We stopped at numerous marinas and anchorages as we went up against the current to Chattanooga. The Tennessee River is made up of a series of man made lakes behind 9 dams. To Chattanooga we went through 5 locks. The current as you approach the locks is swift as there has been a lot of rain. The River is very pretty with the last part called “The Grand Canyon” of the east.

When we got to Chattanooga, a very nice city, we went up to Lookout Mountain and explored Ruby Falls Cave. I was more impressed than I anticipated as it appears to be a tourist trap. We also visited another Civil War battlefield on the mountain.

On Thursday last we drove Frank & Bridgett back to their car in Nashville then we drove to Virginia to visit Jessica, Sam, Little D (David) and Abigail. It was David’s 5th birthday and the visit was a surprise to all.

On our drive back we went across “Skyline Drive” in the Shenandoah Valley and did some leaf peeking. We are slowly drifting down the river as late summer turns to fall. A big change today as it is only 50 degrees with the next couple of nights forecast in the 30’s.

Time to head south for the winter.

September 24, 2009

Well two weeks have passed since the last post and much has happened. We are on our way back down the Cumberland River from Nashville with Frank & Bridget Bryson on our way to Chattanooga, TN.

We left Clarksville, TN this AM after spending two nights. We spent 4 nights in Nashville, touring the downtown C & W places and generally watching the local wild life.

We went to the “Grand Ole Opry” with Danny and Susan (Potest Fieri) and had a great time. The average age of the performers is ~ 80 which fit well with the blue hair audience. This is worth going once as a cultural experience.

While we were going up the Cumberland it poured for two days straight and when we arrived in Nashville all sorts of debris was rushing down the river including large trees. The river rises fast after a rain. The debris has been so heavy I have been constantly cleaning
the strainers on the AC and refrigeration as they can clog up fast.

We have now gone over 2800 NM and are about 500 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. As I mentioned earlier we are bound for Chattanooga where Frank & Bridgett will disembark and pick up their car in Nashville. We will then mosey around Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi until November 1st (Insurance restrictions) then head south towards the Panhandle of Florida.

The weather has been the hottest the last few days as it has been the entire trip.

Life is good and I see how one could become very comfortable with this life style.

Sept 10, 2009

Since the last post we have traversed the Illinois River to the Mississippi River and are now at anchor outside Cairo (Pronounced Kay-row), IL ready to enter then Ohio River up to the Tennessee River. Our current plan is to go east to Nashville on the Cumberland, meet up with Frank & Bridgett Bryson and spend some time exploring the upper Cumberland before returning to Nashville and spending some time with Judi’s family in Murfreesboro.

We will then return down the Cumberland and eventually head south towards Mobile, AL.

The lower Illinois and the Mississippi are very remote areas although the rivers are completely different. The Illinois is controlled by locks and dams therefore the water level is controlled. From St. Louis to New Orleans the Mississippi runs free therefore the water levels can rise and fall rapidly based on the runoff from rainfall. You have to be careful anchoring because if you do not allow for a drop in water you could be high and dry in the morning. We have been anchoring more as there are fewer places to visit along the river. However, as you can see from the pictures, I am able to find the best 5-star accommodations along the river.

The scenery has been spectacular and the weather has been very nice, hot and some days humid and this continues as the trip of a lifetime.

Much has happened since the last post from Manistee, MI. We got out of Manistee on Sunday, 8/22/2009 and went to Grand Haven, MI in 4-5 foot quartering seas. Not a very comfortable ride for an 80 NM trip. Monday we left with “Potest Fieri” for South Haven, MI but, because of the weather window we went across Lake Michigan to Kenosha, WI. Tuesday we arrived in Chicago, and picked up a mooring in Monroe Harbor. A great spot right downtown, or so we thought. The wind came in from the east at 15-20 knots on the second and third night and it was like sleeping in a washing machine. We decided to get out of Dodge. We left Friday and went down the Chicago River right through the heart of Chicago. This was a great experience.

We had fun in Chicago during the day and saw many interesting things. We had dinner at Morton’s one night and a very nice dinner the second night at the Columbia Yacht Club, a reciprocal privilege.

The next hurdle we have had to deal with is the Corps of Engineers (COE) “Fish Barrier”. This engineering marvel is designed to keep “Asian Carp” out of the Great Lakes. It was to be “tested” on August 17th. They then, without any notice, decided to keep it up and running while doubling the current flow.

The effect of this was the COE banned transit through the barrier for any boat that was not made of steel or some other metal. Fiberglass boats are banned from crossing the barrier for fear of “Injury or Death”. Of course you can get through if you disconnect all your batteries and are brought through by a commercial tug. This tug is under contract with the COE and the transit cost is $600.00. We are presently tied to a river barge above the barrier awaiting our turn to be ripped off.

While we visited some great harbors in the lake and meet many great people we are glad to be out of Lake Michigan as the weather and wave action is was tough.

We are now proceeding to the Mississippi River. This is a downhill ride till we get to the Ohio River. This will be relaxing as opposed to all the conditions we encountered in Lake Michigan.

Stay tuned.