July 6, 2009
Our plan was to leave Grand Harbor early yesterday morning and arrive early afternoon at Clifton Marina. We were up early and ready to go, the problem was Laughter was not. We had an engine that would not start. After hours of working down in the engine room, a very hot cramped area underneath our salon floor, Tom was able to fix the problem and we were up and running! We pulled out of Grand Harbor about 1pm. It rained off and on all afternoon. At one point during a torrential downpour a gust of wind blew our bow pads into the river, so we spent some extra time driving around in circles rounding them up. The rain made it hard to see but unlike cruising Lake Michigan we had no high waves to battle. We arrived at Clifton marina about 6pm. Clifton is a small and very friendly marina but I am not to fond of the entrance. It is narrow and you can't really see if someone is coming out as you are entering. We were excited to have the same people we grew so fond of two years ago waiting for us to pull up to the dock. It was great to see them again and get caught up on our lives. We used the courtesy car to get a bite to eat at the only place open within miles, a truck stop, and called it a night.
THE DREADED PICKWICK LOCK! This morning we left Clifton early. As we approached Pickwick Lock I found myself pacing the aft deck. After the problems we had two years ago I had no desire to go through this lock ever again. At least we had help this time. The wind in the lock was brisk but not near what is was when we entered the lock going south. There were no white caps this time. John corralled the bollard easily and we were ready for the 58 foot drop to begin. It felt like it took forever to get to the bottom! Those gates could not open fast enough for me! When they did open the wind came in strong as if to say hey, remember me? I am still here. I briefly looked back as we cleared the lock and started breathing again. We arrived at Cuba Landing about 1pm. Here we said goodbye to John and Lynn. What a great friend we have in John! We did some laundry, a few jobs on the boat and a little fishing. We have to learn to keep peanuts life jacket on even at the dock. Tonight she got so excited when Tom caught a catfish she fell in, and it is a pretty high dock! Tom saved Peanut, thank goodness, but lost his fish!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
July 4th, 2009
We arrived at Grand Harbor Marina and Condominiums on Wednesday. I have had difficulty with Internet connections so posting has been delayed. Grand Harbor is quite a facility. In fact so large that many of the boaters have golf carts to get around. The marina did have a shuttle service over the weekend which we took advantage of. Thursday we took the dingy to a popular swim area and enjoyed the warm water. I enjoyed swimming but not the occasional nip from the blue gills. Tom, John and Lynn jumped off the cliff as I watched with envy. We also pulled the kayaks along side the dingy. Tom said they were great fun. Yesterday (Friday) we felt the boat traffic on the waterway was to much for us in the dingy so we stayed within the marina going up and down the fairways looking at all of the different boats. We also swam in the pool and visited with folks we met. Today was a repeat of yesterday. There were so many boats and wave runners out that it reminded me of I65 from Crown Point to Indianapolis on a holiday weekend! The weather has remained in the nineties so the marina has been very busy. In fact we were told by one of the supervisors that they broke a record in profits yesterday. We have enjoyed sitting still for a few days but are ready to move on. We will leave bright and early for Clifton.
We arrived at Grand Harbor Marina and Condominiums on Wednesday. I have had difficulty with Internet connections so posting has been delayed. Grand Harbor is quite a facility. In fact so large that many of the boaters have golf carts to get around. The marina did have a shuttle service over the weekend which we took advantage of. Thursday we took the dingy to a popular swim area and enjoyed the warm water. I enjoyed swimming but not the occasional nip from the blue gills. Tom, John and Lynn jumped off the cliff as I watched with envy. We also pulled the kayaks along side the dingy. Tom said they were great fun. Yesterday (Friday) we felt the boat traffic on the waterway was to much for us in the dingy so we stayed within the marina going up and down the fairways looking at all of the different boats. We also swam in the pool and visited with folks we met. Today was a repeat of yesterday. There were so many boats and wave runners out that it reminded me of I65 from Crown Point to Indianapolis on a holiday weekend! The weather has remained in the nineties so the marina has been very busy. In fact we were told by one of the supervisors that they broke a record in profits yesterday. We have enjoyed sitting still for a few days but are ready to move on. We will leave bright and early for Clifton.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Friday July 3, 2009
Midway Marina with it's relaxing rocking chaired porches, nice lounge, hot tub and friendly atmosphere will be an easy choice for a return visit. On Wednesday Tom called the first lock master about 9:30am. He told us to be there in 10 minutes. We started out and an engine overheat light came on. Because the entrance harbor and surrounding area at Midway was thick with weeds I suspected our props could be covered with them. A quick switch to neutral and some power in reverse threw weeds up behind us. Pleased that is was weeds and not an impeller,we were again on our way to the lock. Greatfully the lockmaster was waiting with open doors . We found ourselves sharing the lock with another small boat. I thought we looked little inside these locks, they looked like a bug up against the wall. In fact they were so small they had to use a pole to reach up and put their line around the bollard! We met up with the little boat again at the next lock. It was the hurry up and wait concept or what our friend John called the Tortoise and Hair effect. They took off after each lock passing us with great speed but their they sat in the shade along the bank waiting for the next lock to clear and open when we arrived. As we waited for the second lock to open we talked with the couple in the little 16 foot aluminum boat with a 30 horse power motor, coolers, and more. The boats name is "Little Bastard". Because of some advise regarding the name of their boat from one of the lock masters they refer to themselves as "Little B" when calling the lockmaster for passage through. The captain of "Little B" just retired from his position as juvenile court judge. He told us that whenever he would pass people who had to deal with him in court they would say, hey there goes that little bastard, thus was born the name of his boat. What is remarkable is that this couple started in Chicago and traveled all the way down near Mobile in this boat! They are now headed for Chattanooga where their ride will pick them up. They have camped along the rivers thirteen of fourteen nights, staying in a hotel one night and have had a ball. About the time you think you have challenged yourself and feel good about what you have accomplished someone like this comes along to remind you what a real challenge/Adventure is!
Midway Marina with it's relaxing rocking chaired porches, nice lounge, hot tub and friendly atmosphere will be an easy choice for a return visit. On Wednesday Tom called the first lock master about 9:30am. He told us to be there in 10 minutes. We started out and an engine overheat light came on. Because the entrance harbor and surrounding area at Midway was thick with weeds I suspected our props could be covered with them. A quick switch to neutral and some power in reverse threw weeds up behind us. Pleased that is was weeds and not an impeller,we were again on our way to the lock. Greatfully the lockmaster was waiting with open doors . We found ourselves sharing the lock with another small boat. I thought we looked little inside these locks, they looked like a bug up against the wall. In fact they were so small they had to use a pole to reach up and put their line around the bollard! We met up with the little boat again at the next lock. It was the hurry up and wait concept or what our friend John called the Tortoise and Hair effect. They took off after each lock passing us with great speed but their they sat in the shade along the bank waiting for the next lock to clear and open when we arrived. As we waited for the second lock to open we talked with the couple in the little 16 foot aluminum boat with a 30 horse power motor, coolers, and more. The boats name is "Little Bastard". Because of some advise regarding the name of their boat from one of the lock masters they refer to themselves as "Little B" when calling the lockmaster for passage through. The captain of "Little B" just retired from his position as juvenile court judge. He told us that whenever he would pass people who had to deal with him in court they would say, hey there goes that little bastard, thus was born the name of his boat. What is remarkable is that this couple started in Chicago and traveled all the way down near Mobile in this boat! They are now headed for Chattanooga where their ride will pick them up. They have camped along the rivers thirteen of fourteen nights, staying in a hotel one night and have had a ball. About the time you think you have challenged yourself and feel good about what you have accomplished someone like this comes along to remind you what a real challenge/Adventure is!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday June 30, 2009
Well your in trouble now! I have been waiting to write a log/blog ever since we began this Southern boating trip three years ago. Now she is "turning" me loose. I have a list of articles 19 items long. They are just waiting to be written so hopefully this summer I will not blow my chance. I have been thinking over the past 3 years of ideas that might be helpful and informative so I am going to give it a whirl. Let me set the stage for this summer of 09. Some of you may know our plan was to investigate the gulf of Mexico around Mobile Bay and then go North to Demopolis and do the Black Warrior River. Well, Jan broke her right arm up near the shoulder joint; and that is quite a serious injury. She has struggled both physically and mentally for her independence and productivity. This meant our trip had to change. We are now heading north to Kentucky Lake because Jan can't help us get through the many locks required on our original trip. We left home Friday June 26th and worked our way toward Columbus/Westpoint Mississippi and our boat at Waverly Marina. We unloaded a full truck of supplies in 97 degree weather then called it a day. On Sunday we began preparing the boat for the trip. Those of you who have or have had a boat sit a year in a dirty slip know what this involves. Here are a few of the jobs needing our attention; scrubbing the entire boat, engine checks, generator checks, battery checks and on and on - you get the picture. This morning we left Waverly with our friends John and Lynn who will help us get through the four locks and on to Kentucky Lake. This will be a summer of recreation, no plans, no deadlines, no specific destinations, just boating for fun. Kentucky Lake is not as far from Indiana as Southern Mississippi so we have friends and family that are going to join us on our trip. They all ask - what can we bring to the boat? So in my first blog i am offering ideas to people who are going to stay on a boat for a few days. this list includes; your toiletries, meds(for old folks), very few clothing items - shorts, swimsuits, shorts, hats, and shirts. Bring your favorite beverages, reading material, lotion, sunglasses and food or supplies IF requested by the captain and first mate. Don't over pack! Finally bring a willingness to pitch in and help as there is more to boating than turning the key. I enjoyed writing this blog as peanut and I sit on our aft deck fishing and enjoying our surroundings at Midway marina a favorite of our friends Pete and Jan.
Tom
ON THE WATER AGAIN AND ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE! The past few months have been filled with a variety of events that have caused great turmoil in my life, including me breaking my right arm just below the shoulder. Of course I am right handed! This turmoil prevented me from allowing myself to get excited about a boating trip this summer as I was just not sure it would work out for me to go. Well things did work out and Friday afternoon Tom, peanut and I were on our way to Mississippi. We arrived Saturday afternoon and soon after met a very nice couple, Bob and Kemba, who moved onto their trawler in May. We visited on Saturday and Sunday sharing stories, information and laughter. Boaters are such great people! Visiting with them and renewing acquaintance's at the tiki bar made me realize how much I missed being on the water. After spending two days cleaning cob webs and killing the spiders that tried to move in while we were gone we left this morning for Midway Marina. My broken arm prevents me from doing much of any work that requires muscle. I guess I should be taking advantage of this dilemma but find myself fighting the frustration of my limitations. We had a beautiful warm day on
Well your in trouble now! I have been waiting to write a log/blog ever since we began this Southern boating trip three years ago. Now she is "turning" me loose. I have a list of articles 19 items long. They are just waiting to be written so hopefully this summer I will not blow my chance. I have been thinking over the past 3 years of ideas that might be helpful and informative so I am going to give it a whirl. Let me set the stage for this summer of 09. Some of you may know our plan was to investigate the gulf of Mexico around Mobile Bay and then go North to Demopolis and do the Black Warrior River. Well, Jan broke her right arm up near the shoulder joint; and that is quite a serious injury. She has struggled both physically and mentally for her independence and productivity. This meant our trip had to change. We are now heading north to Kentucky Lake because Jan can't help us get through the many locks required on our original trip. We left home Friday June 26th and worked our way toward Columbus/Westpoint Mississippi and our boat at Waverly Marina. We unloaded a full truck of supplies in 97 degree weather then called it a day. On Sunday we began preparing the boat for the trip. Those of you who have or have had a boat sit a year in a dirty slip know what this involves. Here are a few of the jobs needing our attention; scrubbing the entire boat, engine checks, generator checks, battery checks and on and on - you get the picture. This morning we left Waverly with our friends John and Lynn who will help us get through the four locks and on to Kentucky Lake. This will be a summer of recreation, no plans, no deadlines, no specific destinations, just boating for fun. Kentucky Lake is not as far from Indiana as Southern Mississippi so we have friends and family that are going to join us on our trip. They all ask - what can we bring to the boat? So in my first blog i am offering ideas to people who are going to stay on a boat for a few days. this list includes; your toiletries, meds(for old folks), very few clothing items - shorts, swimsuits, shorts, hats, and shirts. Bring your favorite beverages, reading material, lotion, sunglasses and food or supplies IF requested by the captain and first mate. Don't over pack! Finally bring a willingness to pitch in and help as there is more to boating than turning the key. I enjoyed writing this blog as peanut and I sit on our aft deck fishing and enjoying our surroundings at Midway marina a favorite of our friends Pete and Jan.
Tom
ON THE WATER AGAIN AND ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE! The past few months have been filled with a variety of events that have caused great turmoil in my life, including me breaking my right arm just below the shoulder. Of course I am right handed! This turmoil prevented me from allowing myself to get excited about a boating trip this summer as I was just not sure it would work out for me to go. Well things did work out and Friday afternoon Tom, peanut and I were on our way to Mississippi. We arrived Saturday afternoon and soon after met a very nice couple, Bob and Kemba, who moved onto their trawler in May. We visited on Saturday and Sunday sharing stories, information and laughter. Boaters are such great people! Visiting with them and renewing acquaintance's at the tiki bar made me realize how much I missed being on the water. After spending two days cleaning cob webs and killing the spiders that tried to move in while we were gone we left this morning for Midway Marina. My broken arm prevents me from doing much of any work that requires muscle. I guess I should be taking advantage of this dilemma but find myself fighting the frustration of my limitations. We had a beautiful warm day on
the water, 97 degrees and smooth motoring through the four locks to Midway Marina.
Jan
Jan
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