Grand Harbor Marina, Counce, TN

October 30, 2011

Well, it was foggy again this morning. but it cleared out quickly.  We left Florence Harbor around 8:50 AM.  Jeremiah is going to stay put for another day.

I pulled into Grand Harbor again at 1:15 PM.  Some old and new friends are already there.  20 Buck$ left Florence around the same time and got in just after us.  Greg got me all fueled up and pumped out.  Ready to go for the ride down the Tenn-Tom!

They talked with everyone about tomorrow’s plans and then came back to eat aboard.  Early night for us all.  Kate has a cold and Greg is a bit sniffly too!

Florence, AL

October 28-29, 2011

Rainy, rainy morning!  And some fog on the river, too!  We didn’t leave the marina until 9:05 AM.  My friend Jeremiah is waiting a bit, so I went out with Once Around.

We didn’t have a wait at the Wheeler Lock but the drop was very sloooow.   While we were in the lock, we heard Jeremiah calling, so we knew we’d see them at the Florence Marina.

We had to wait a bit at the Wilson Lock while they pulled out the barges from a tow.  We rode down with the tug!  It was fun!  When they opened the gates all you could see were the barges!

Check out those barges!

Kate had made sauce while we were travelling and everybody ate on Jeremiah.  Then they had to go to the restaurant to watch the last game of the series.  Sigh!  Alone again.

On Saturday they gave my salon a good cleaning and then went to the grocery, liquor store and Wal-Mart.  I think I’m all stocked up for awhile now!

Fall Rendezvous @ Joe Wheeler

Fall color at Joe Wheeler State Park

October 22 – 27, 2011

Saturday morning Greg gave me a good cleaning.  Kate did some sprucing up inside and more laundry.  I know they complained about problems with the Internet here, but oh well!!

Sunday afternoon was registration for the Rendezvous.  They also had some kind of get together and dinner.  First though, Greg had to do some more cleaning.  Something left little black things all over my cockpit.  Yech!

On Monday they started going to seminars.  They left me alone most of the day, but did say that they got some good info for the rest of the trip.  Again with the dinner out and coming home at 9!

Some of my friends at Joe Wheeler

Tuesday there were more seminars, but they were back around 1 PM.  They took the bus into Rogersville and walked around.  They were back in about 45 minutes!  Must not have been anything for Kate to buy!

Wednesday was the last day of the Rendezvous.  A couple of seminars for them and a group picture.  Dinner and then some goodbyes.

Thursday morning there was a mass exodus from Joe Wheeler!  I waved goodbye to a lot of my old friends and some new ones.  We will be leaving tomorrow with 3 other boats.

10 boats leaving at 7:15 AM.  Too early for me!

Florence, AL to Rogersville, AL

 

October 18-20, 2011

Greg decided to leave a day early because of the weather forecast.  The wind is supposed to be strong Wed. and Thurs.  I am only going to Florence, AL, so it’s not that long a trip.

Florence Harbor Marina is small, but very nice.  Some more boats from Grand Harbor came in after us; most weren’t supposed to be here till Wednesday either.

On Wed. they went to Florence with the people from my friends Salt ‘n Sand and My Way.  They walked around the historic area and had lunch.  Meanwhile, I just kinda hung out at the marina.  Oh well.

There was a “Looper” get-together in the marina bar/restaurant on Wed. night.  There were a number of boats represented.

On Thurs. we all slept late.  They did some cleaning and then they walked to a store.

Thursday evening they went with Passport and Duddon Pilot’s people to listen to a band in the restaurant.  Hope they enjoyed themselves!

Florence Harbor Marina

October 21, 2011

There were 8 boats leaving Florence Harbor this morning.  We are all heading up the Tennessee, but only 7 are going to the Rendezvous.

When I got to the Wilson Lock I was excited!  Not only was it open and waiting for all of us, but also it is a lift of 93 feet at normal pool!  Wow!

93 feet to go!

When we got to the Wheeler Lock we had picked up 3 more boats.  There were a total of 11 boats locking through, so I rafted off My Way.  Salt ‘n Sand also had a boat raft off her.  It’s much easier rafting off someone else than trying to grab a bollard!

The other 10 boats coming out of Wheeler Lock

I got to Joe Wheeler State Park around 12:15 PM.  I finally got to see my friend Jeremiah again.  It’s been a week!  I also saw friends that I’ve missed the last few weeks.  I’m very excited – it’s going to be fun!

Grand Harbor Marina, Counce, TN

October 14 – 17, 2011

Well, I’m in Grand Harbor now.  We saw my friend Jeremiah last night.  I was glad to see her and Jeff & Linda again.

On Friday, Greg took me for a short haul to check out my bottom and my propeller.  He thought there was bit of vibration and wanted to check it out.  Meanwhile, Kate went to the grocery with Linda from my friend Carina.

Some more of my friends came in today.  Fun!!  We also got to Skype with Kate & Greg’s grandkids, kids, and Kate’s mom Fri.  Nice.

On Saturday, they took a courtesy car to Shiloh with the people from my friend Valentine.  They said it was really interesting and informative.  It was about a 2-½ hour driving tour, with a ½ hour film first.

Shiloh Church

One of the many monuments at Shiloh

Sunday and Monday were lazy days.  They slept in and did chores around me.  They went into town for some supplies and then over to Aqua Yacht Harbor to look for cleats.  No luck with the cleats.  Greg did install an electric strip by my stove so there are more accessible outlets!

The weather looks bad for the next couple of days so I don’t know if we’ll stay our last day here or move on early.

Tomorrow will tell.

Grand Harbor Marina

October 13, 2011

Before I left Clifton on Thursday, Kate & Greg went up to the marina office for breakfast.  The dock girl “Slim” came in a bit early so they all could have bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy before they left.

It was drizzling a bit as we left but that soon stopped.  There was a little cool breeze, but the sun was hot when it was out.

The wind really picked up about noontime. It was blowing pretty hard when we got to the Pickwick Lock.  It was tricky getting close enough for Kate to get the line around a bollard.  The good part was that we didn’t have to wait at all for the lock!

We are headed for Grand Harbor (I was supposed to be there a week ago!).  Jeremiah is staying today to say hello, then heading off tomorrow.  I will catch up with them again in Joe Wheeler.

Tomorrow other friends will met me here.  I can’t wait!

Clifton, TN

October 12, 2011

Fog again this morning.  We had to wait until it lifted a bit, so Greg & Kate went up to the little restaurant and had homemade cinnamon buns for breakfast. (No, they didn’t bring me one!)  We hoped to be on the way by 9 AM and were finally able to leave at 9:25AM.

It was a cloudy day today, but no rain.  When the sun peeked out it was really hot!  Scenery is really nice along the river, some development, but not a whole lot.

Tennessee River

Look how calm the water is!

I pulled into Clifton Marina around 4:30 with 3 others right behind me.  They all got together for cocktails on the dock.  It was fun!

The forecast is for wind and rain tonight and early tomorrow.  Hope it’s over early so I can keep going!

New Johnsonville, TN

October 11, 2011

I’m finally on the move again!  I left Green Turtle Bay at 7:15 AM this morning, heading for the Tennessee River and Pebble Isle Marina.

It was a great day – smooth water, nice weather.  We only encountered 3 tows today and the scenery was beautiful.

I passed a houseboat headed north that had a calliope on top and it was playing music!  Cool!

Calliope on top playing music!  Cool!

Pebble Isle seems very nice, everybody is friendly and helpful and there are a few other “Loopers” here.

Tomorrow I head for Clifton, Tenn. as long as the weather is good.

Time to head south!

OH, no!  Stayed too long!

October 8-10, 2011

This weekend is the Harvest Moon Festival in Grand Rivers.  The girls decided to walk into town Saturday morning to see the vendors and shop.  The guys drove in later.

Everybody from the marina seemed to be gone.  They had fun walking around, talking to people, eating.  And they saw a parade!

Beginning of parade

Sunday morning Greg decided to walk into town to church (Kate slept).  The rest of the day they spent cleaning me up a little, reading and watching ball games.

Monday morning Greg found out that the injectors were being delivered to Paducah, not the marina.  He borrowed the courtesy car and went to get them himself!

The mechanics came about 1:00 PM and finished up around 3 PM.  Then I got to go for a ride!!!  Finally – I can move again!  It felt good!

When we got back, Greg filled me up with fuel and now I’m ready to go.

Green Turtle Bay

October 6-7, 2011

Well, they came back Thursday just before lunch.  They had to go return the car and grocery shop in Paducah during the afternoon.

They were happy because the shop manager called and said my injectors would be in tomorrow and they would be installed.  Yeah!!!

My friend Tourist is back and a whole new group of Loopers have come in.  Fun!!

Friday morning everybody is up early and waiting, and waiting.  Finally find out that the injectors were shipped – to Lexington, not Paducah!  I just can’t win!!  I don’t like having parts all over the state!

Greg ended up putting the dinghy in and they went for a ride to run that motor a bit.

Nashville, TN

October 4 & 5, 2011

Lonely, I’m so lonely – Greg and Kate decided to rent a car and go to Nashville since I can’t move anywhere.  Kate will have to tell y’all what they did there.  I’m still in slip 10 at Green Turtle Bay!

Nashville

Since it’s only a 2-hour drive from Grand River Greg decided Tuesday morning that we might as well do something.  After renting the car and packing, we got to our Hotel about 5 PM.  Checked in and then walked downtown for a bit.  Had an interesting meal at Demo’s (steak and spaghetti – interesting combos).  We walked back to the hotel (Hotel Indigo) where they had live music in the Lobby Bar.  Unknowns – mostly young singer/songwriters – but really a good time.

View from our hotel room

On Wednesday, after sleeping in, we walked to the Country Music Hall of Fame.  We spent a good 2 1/2 hours there doing the self-guided tour.  It was very interesting and informative.  Walked the downtown some more and found a brewpub for a late lunch.  It is Oktoberfest so we went with German for our food choices.  Pretty good!  Back to the hotel for a nap (Greg) and blogging (Kate).  So far – so good!!

We walked to a restaurant on Broadway  -- Merchants –, which is housed in an historic building.  Food was fantastic!  Great steaks, sides, and desserts!  We walked back to the hotel and listened to another young singer  -- not just country – who was very good.

Country Music Hall of Fame

Broadway, downtown Nashville

Tomorrow it’s back to Grand Rivers and Grianan!

Grand River, KY

September 27 – October 3, 2011

Well, we were only going to stay a week at Green Turtle Bay.  Greg wanted to have some “routine” maintenance done on my engine and after 4 days of “camping out” we all needed some rest!  We had a pretty nice week planned.

On Tuesday Greg found out the shop manager was not in and I would have to wait another day for my “tune-up”.  They went into Paducah, KY with Jeremiah and Seamoore’s people.  They had to do a grocery and beer run because Grand Rivers is in a “dry” county.

Paducah wall

Mexican!

Wednesday morning the mechanic showed up and removed my injectors to take to get them checked.  Turns out 5 of 6 tips are bad and need replacing.  They sent them out to be done.

Thursday the mechanic is back and my oil is changed (engine & transmission), shaft is aligned, fan belts changed, and new filters put in.  Whew!  They all went to a place called “Sugar and Spice” for dinner tonight.  It is a cooking school and small restaurant in a house.  They all raved about the food.

Becky at Sugar & Spice

Our chef, Marilyn

Friday morning 2 mechanics are here!  They are finishing everything up.  Hoping that the injectors will be in by lunchtime so they can be installed today – no work on weekends here!  The people are going into Paducah again to go to a restaurant and to dinner.  Greg was waiting for a call on his cell when Kate checked hers and found they had used her number instead and left a message.  Not a good message either!  New injectors too expensive – rebuild of old ones will be ready Wednesday!  Nooooo – we are supposed to leave on Monday!  I am now stuck because my engine won’t go (imagine me with a long pouty face here).

Saturday and Sunday were spent just puttering around and watching football and baseball (Greg) or cooking and reading (Kate).

On Monday I waved goodbye to Jeremiah and Seamoore.  I will have to play catch up as soon as my injectors are ready.