Nov 1-8. The Tenn Tom River and Canal System. Having a blast!!

Wow, already November and we have already travelled almost 1700 miles.  This trip has been everything we expected, challenging, but safe if one plans ahead and keeps thier cool and thinks things through when the plan does not work out.  The scenery has been wonderful.  Seeing the small towns and sites from the water is a different perspective for sure.  One site that comes to mind to illustrate is the spot on highway 24 that winds along the Tennessee River.  Seeing all the traffic there "fighting for position" and having 6 boats in a serene 8 knot caravan on the river was a contrast that stuck with me. We learned to use river currents when docking or anchoring.  We are learning the Southern drawl the tow captains all use....tough to understand what they say sometimes so it is always good to check if the really want a one or two whistle pass!  We are meeting wonderful people willing to help share boating and other knowledge and experience. The social aspects of the trip are really phenominal.  Everyone is so interesting and nice! And the independence one feels on the trip is just wonderful.  We like it here, let's stay another day....or well, this isn't what the website presented, let's move on.  Oh, this anchorage is serene, let's never leave....but oh wait, it is getting colder, the colors are changing and I don't want to break out the jeans and sweatshirts...let's keep moving!!  So that is what we are doing, we hope to be in Gulf Shores AL by Nov 16.  We have an appointment with Saunders Yachtworks there to have some repairs and mainenance done and depending on how long they will take we will continue to move along the AL / FL coast toward Carabelle to stage our Gulf Crossing (170 statute miles of open water) as well as our drive to MI for Thanksgiving.
People have asked what the favorite part has been. Meeting all the wonderful people is at the top of the list.  But location wise, at this point I would say the Tennessee River.  We wish we could have taken more time and explored further. That was the original plan, but with our family developments and unexpected eye surgery, that time was lost and we were unable to do so.  We may have to further check it out someday!
Sunday Nov 1 we hosted Looper docktails aboard Sum Escape while still at Aqua Harbor.  We met many new Loopers and left the next morning with a few of them. We left Aqua Harbor with Carey and Nancy (LeeLoo) Vicky and Tom (Grand Baron) and Clark and Ev (Sea Moss). 
Coming in to the lock

 

We all went to Midway Marina in Fulton, MS.  It was not as the website would suggest, but it was a good stop nonetheless.
Building the plan for the next few days...thanks Carey!

The next day Sea Moss continued on and the other three anchored at "Canal Section Cut Off" somewhere in the middle of nowhere!  But it was a great anchorage and we even set off a lantern into the night sky. 

We again used the bow to stern method so we in effect had a bow and stern anchor. Other than a couple tows and bass boats flying past, it was a quiet and serene spot.  Great conversation and food with Lee Loo and Grand Baron.  In the morning we were all slow to get started (on purpose) as we so enjoyed the spot off the main river.

We left for Columbus Marina in Columbus MS.  A very nice stop.  But it was a bit scary coming in with all the water hyacinth...

And we got to talk at length to Sherri and Randy Chester (Priorities) who originated in Port Sheldon and completed the Loop but then continued to Florida again and then back to Columbus.  Randy works part time at the marina and they will be heading South soon too.  They shared a bunch of great information on anchorages, Florida, the Bahamas and boat systems, spare parts needed, etc for safe travels.  We originally met them in Port Sheldon a couple years ago before they left on the Loop.  Thanks again Sherri and Randy for all the great information!
After arrival at Columbus we re provisioned, caught up on banking, did laundry etc and generally had a relaxing but productive time.  Dick and Pat from Spring Lake (Dream Catcher) were already here and are staying a month or so.  It is a nice spot for sure.  Ralph and Linda (Mazel Tug) caught up with us after having some repairs completed at Aqua Harbor.  Dream Catcher arranged a group dinner at Huck's.   A group of 10 enjoyed the seafood (if catfish can be considered seafood) as all the meals were great!  We are not sure but Carey may have bought a new boat that evening....

Friday morning Julie, Vicki and Pat did yoga on the dock with the Yoga Studio app that Ann from the Plaza Towers yoga group gave Julie as a going away gift. Julie led the group... do you believe that Ann!?  Putting the iPad on the dock qualifies as leading right?  Thanks for the app Ann!!
We used the courtesy car on Friday and visited the Waverly mansion, an 1850's mansion owned by the Snow family and being slowly restored by them.  What a labor of love....I really think they are losing more ground than they are gaining but I guess I didn't see what they started with either.  But what a marvel the construction and woodworking and furnishings are.  Every room had outside access to an outside balcony or porch.  It also had a large rotunda to provide natural ventilation for the hot humid Mississippi summers.  Really an enjoyable stop.

Kenny and Kathy (No Zip Code) also arrived on Friday and we went to dinner with them at Harvey's. They also shared their experiences cruising and living aboard over the last 9 years. Wow, what a wealth of knowledge....thanks Kenny and Kathy!
As we have travelled the rivers, we have been listening to the book "Being Mortal".  It is about the realities of aging, how medicine impacts the process, and drives home the point that one must prepare.  It is  a very good book and it is so interesting that we decided to listen to this because we have met so many people that are dealing with illnesses, have survived life threatening illnesses or have such great perspective on living life and having dreams and bucket lists.  Like we said earlier, the people we are meeting are such a fantastic part of the trip.  And we are so thankful that God has granted us the ability to take this trip while we too are able to manage the physical demands of the daily cruising life.
An appropriate saying on the lock wall

On Sat morning we left the docks with Ralph and Linda and Carey and Nancy with Sum Escape in the lead, for the anchorage at Sumpter Recreation area.  Another well protected and gorgeous anchorage. 

It was a rainy day and continued most of the night too.  But Ralph was the taxi driver and delivered everyone to Sum Escape for a group cocktails and dinner aboard.  We even watched the Arkansas /Ole Miss game...what an ending!  Again, a good time was had by all.  There was a lot of rain and we really steamed up the boat!!  Tom stayed up to watch the end of the Michigan State game too....we'll leave it at that.  Sorry Mike, Dave, Dennis, Larry, Alex, Randy, etc.....
On Sunday morning we awoke to cloudy but calm weather.  Ralph called the lock and got the group going before 8 AM. Sum Escape led the three boats we travelled with plus one other that joined our anchorage overnight.  As we travelled the three miles to the lock, the captain as usual checks engine gauges but today the starboard side alternator chose to not cooperate.  It was registering 12.9 volts (low) while port registered 14.0 (normal).  So once in the lock with engines off, the chief engineer went below to investigate what he could see or hear or smell.  He heard a noisy "clicking" / "staticy" noise from one of the house batteries that charge off the starboard alternator.  So with Julie handling the lines, I disconnected that battery and bypassed it in the parallel set up of the three house batteries. Julie handled captaining duties while Tom reviewed manuals and wiring diagrams to troubleshoot. Once exiting the lock the voltage slowly came back up to normal over the next few hours.  So when we arrived at Demopolis on Sunday afternoon we took the courtesy car to Wal Mart and purchased a replacement battery. 

All seems OK now but I guess the test will be tomorrow and beyond. Speaking of the trip, the rain last night was measured at 3+ inches in areas.  And boy, what a mess of debris was in the river.  Ralph cordially agreed to take the lead as Tom was not confident that the battery situation was going to work as we left the lock.  All electronics, VHF radio, etc are on the house battery circuit so we weren't comfortable that we had the necessary confidence to lead the four boats.  Thanks for a great job piloting us all safely through the minefields Ralph!  Hat's off to you!

 

Julie has started her counted cross stich projects she left unfinished in the 1990's! 

It is a great thing to do as we travel the rivers (between eagle sightings and debris navigation duties).  We are both settling in to life aboard our new home and I have to say we love it!
We may leave early in the morning for another anchorage and will likely again be without cell coverage. We start the Black Warrior portion of the river and it is running fast due to all the rain.  The lockmaster will advise us in the morning about the safety of anchoring out so we may be here a couple days as the river subsides. But we really do enjoy the anchoring out and look forward to some sunny days starting on Tues.  We should be in Mobile or Gulf Shores by this time next week!  Two more locks and we hit salt water (after the Coffeeville lock, it is brackish and tidal)  Something new to learn!
Thanks for following our blog.  God bless you all.