Let's hear it for Fall

We decided to get "off road" and take the time to enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains. The colors were breathtaking. We had taken a cooler of everything we had in the refrigerator before leaving the boat and had a picnic along the way, while thanking God for masterpiece after masterpiece!

Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway

Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway

Looking for Real Estate - we found a home!

Here it is! Our new home! In the Blue Ridge Mountains and the view is spectacular! Might be a little drafty for the winter months but hay, you'll notice we have a fireplace to counteract that minor annoyance! And Gilligan? See how he's flipping out? Grass! We're home! Grass!!

Be back in a month!

We arrived Columbus, Mississippi this afternoon. Our plans are to leave the boat here for a month and rent a car to begin a serious search for a site for relocation. We'll be in Connecticut the end of this month for our granddaughters first birthday and head back the first week in November.

We are not permitted beyond Demopolis until after November 1 (insurance restrictions) and this creates quite a bottle neck of "Loopers" who have the same addendum from their insurance companies. (32 degrees)

This picture was taken this evening at a restaurant named Woody's on the Water. Ron ATE ALLIGATOR! I tried it! Not bad. Kind of weird eating something that given the chance would eat the diner! Hummm. See you all in a month. Loved your comments to the blog. So glad you're all enjoying it. We love and miss so many of you. Thanks for all the support!

Does he look like he's having a good time!

I couldn't resist taking this one! He's just got to learn to be less tense, don't cha' think?

Erosion

Another sad and tragic discovery of this trip is the universal lack of water no matter what region we were in. Our world is changing and we wonder what it will take before we take note and take action. Water levels are down on the average of 3-4 feet consistently. We've found we must be very cautious when coming into an anchorage because the travel guides state water levels that are in no way accurate. Canada is experiencing a 6-8 foot drop. Piers are useless to the boater at this point. We're UNDER the structure up there. Revenue has been lost and continues to plague the country in powerful ways.

Beauty all around -- and then there is Man!

What's that they say? If you carry it in (to the woods) carry it out! I can't understand how some people can just disregard what was a breathtaking area with no personal responsibility to maintain the gift and save it for those behind them.

Bottom's Up

Two nights ago, we anchored in waters we had to set way-points to find. Charts in this part of the trip are a joke. No information whatsoever! You have a blue line curving in like manner to the river and that is it! I'm not kidding. No buoys, no land names, no depth and no contour lines! Nothing. Just a blue line that curves as the river curves! The C-maps (or electronic charts) you ask? Not much better. Occasionally you will have a depth sounding in the center of the channel. That's it. In Skipper Bob's guide book, he spoke of a quiet little anchorage where you would "find yourself in your own little oasis." He was absolutely on target. This was an unbelievable panoramic view of nothing but wilderness! No homes, no light pollution -- just God's green earth as He intended it to be. The stars were brilliant and we sat outside under afghan's for hours into the night. This is Gilligan enjoying the beach. His own form of R & R. We got such a kick watching him.

Jamie Whitten Lock & Dam

This is the first and tallest lock southbound on the Tenn-Tom Waterway. It drops 84 feet. Floating bollards are provided and only one line, mid-ship is required to maintain the vessel's position against the wall. It actually works quite well.

Tennessee Tombigbee River

Completing the Tennesee River, we entered the Tombigbee. I'd looked forward to this part of the journey since we started planning the trip.

A gift from the Neighbors

We came into the Upper Anderson Branch just past the last lock on the Tennessee River when two fisherman came by and offered us the catch of the day. I guess they'd had enough Cat Fish. The boat we are traveling with love Catfish and we offered them to our friends, who were thrilled to have them. Nice people in Tennessee!!

Tennessee River

This has been a most enjoyable part of the journey. The Tennessee River is absolutely beautiful. We've swam almost every time we've anchored.

Cuba Marina

Ya think we went a little too far here? Truly it IS Cuba Marina. Cuba Tennessee. The price of fuel was "supposed" to be worth the stop. They received shipment YESTERDAY and instead of $2.75 -- we were blessed with $3.05. Did you hear me say YESTERDAY!! Yeah, I thought you heard that. Most of the loopers try to have their tanks well drained by the time they get to this place on the journey. Ron and I didn't! We arrived with almost 3/4 tank full and just decided to top off before entering the Tombigbee!

Sometimes ya' gotta be grateful to be up and out of bed

This mornings sunrise. It was absolutely beautiful. We are still at Green Turtle Bay and will get underway again this Friday, 5 Oct. It's been a restful week and we are glad we decided to stop for a little while. There are 20 some odd boats all doing the Loop here this week. We had a mini rendezvous. Ironically, every one of us decided to stop for a week here! Guess it was that much needed reset point in the journey.

We began our house search

This was one of the five homes we looked at in Paris, Tennessee. Today we rented a car and drove to Maryville, Tennessee. We've pretty well eliminated Tennessee from the running. Real Estate is very reasonable. Taxes are great ... better than great. But many other factors not coming together. The search goes on. We'll be flying home shortly for Emma's first birthday and will head up to New Hampshire to look around up there. One day at a time. For now, we know this isn't the place for us.

Assume the Shopping Position AGAIN

Here they come with many bargains!

Other Performers

Jimmy Dickens; The Whites; Jessie McReynolds; and the Virginia Boys; Porter Wagoner; Jimmy C. Newman; Jack Green' Connie Smith and the Opry Square Dancers. I'm embarrassed to tell you, we didn't have a clue about any of these singers! We don't listen to Country Western! Sorry. Why did we do? Well, ya' just can't go to Nashville and not see the Grand Ole Opry, right? Right! AND ... we thoroughly enjoyed the show.

Grand Ole Opry

Saturday night we were able to get 6 tickets to the Grand Ole Opry. For the Country Western fans out there, Josh Turner was one of the performers. He was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry hall of fame. We (sit down fans) had NO IDEA who this guy was, and yet we'll not forget him now. Wonderful singer and performer and we actually plan on getting one of his albums.