Sunday October 31: Happy Halloween from Florence, AL

Yesterday morning we were up bright and early (thanks to our new boat time!) and ready to be on the water. There was a bit of fog in the marina but not much and it was quickly dissipating as the sun rose higher so off we headed. Until we came around the first bend where apparently the sun was not quite shinning yet. So we waited about 15 minutes or so and were able to head on down river. Although the sun was out, it was quite cool on the flybridge as the lows are in the 40's and the highs in the 60's. Steve spotted a paddlewheel on the river - not sure where it is based or what it is doing here. Maybe it was a traveling casino and I missed my chance?? We arrived at Joe Wheeler State Park late in the day as it was a 7 hour 55 mile day. Thought about eating out but decided the food in the boat is just too good :-) We were up early again this morning (I happily slept in until 8:15 boat time!!) and watched a number of boats slip out early. A couple of them actually left in the fog. We decided to have breakfast instead and wait. By the time we shoved off, all of the boats that left earlier (as we enjoyed breakfast) were just moving into the lock (2 miles downstream of the park) as they had to wait on the lock to bring a boat up. Several more boats came in after us so we all traveled together for the next two hours to the next lock and locked through together again. More great views - even though we have seen them all since we are now retracing our route back to the start of the Tenn-Tom Waterway. Somehow they look different coming from the other direction! We were a group of 8 boats by the time we went into the second lock of the day. Once we arrived at Florence (stopped here on the way up river so we knew it was a nice place), it was off to WalMart with the marina courtesy car for 30 weight oil as we are due for another oil change by the time we are back to the start of the Tenn-Tom as well as a few groceries. Tomorrow: we should arrive at Grand Harbor where we intend to spend a few days and will hopefully meet back up with Surona as they make their was south toward us.

Friday October 29: Ditto Landing, Huntsville, AL

We left Chattanooga behind on Wednesday after breakfast and returning the rental car. The day was not the best and the plastic went up and down as the rain came and went. Never really hard rain but enough that we were getting wet without it. Lookout mountain was again in and out of the clouds. It's no wonder that between the fog and the smoke that the battle of Lookout Mountain is often called the "Battle Above the Clouds." The views along the river were still wonderful - especially the reflections of the mountains in the almost perfectly calm water. It was definitely a cool day on the flybridge but that didn't stop us from enjoying the views. We arrived at our destination in the early afternoon: a park about 40 miles down the river. Peter and Steve of course had to immediately check out the area to see what was around. We were docked at the end of a small dock at this park area. Thursday morning was quite different than the day before: sunshine and almost no clouds - really brought out the colors in the trees. Two eagles were spotted early on in the trip - two in one tree was a first! It was a long travel day to Goosepond Marina where we once again said goodbye to Peter and Cheryl. They headed back to Pebble Isle to deal with the boat issues (a 4 hour drive away so we really appreciated that they took the time to join us as we had a wonderful time!).

Meanwhile we spent the night and were up early with the courtesy car headed to breakfast and the grocery store. Steve once again somehow made it off of the boat without an inspection and ended up with white socks and brown boat shoes! Sometimes he just forgets to put his tennis shoes on but really???? Headed out of Goosepond marina about noon and moved another 45 miles down the river. The current is now with us so we are making about 8.5 miles per hour overall. The Guntersville Lock was very nicely timed - waited about 10 minutes! The views continue to be incredible.

NOTICE: We are now officially on BOAT TIME. We just got tired of moving from eastern time to central time and after thinking about, decided that we could be on any time we wanted to be! So for now we are staying on Eastern time no matter the time zone we are REALLY in - so the sun will be setting about 7 pm. And when Daylight Saving Time ends on 10/7 - we will simply just ignore it! The sun will still then set about 7 pm. Personally, I think it's a great plan :-) Sleep until 8 everyday and still have daylight until 7. (Of course when the days actually get shorter we may be getting up when it's dark - but who cares?)

Tuesday October 26: Surona Joins Us at Chattanooga!!

Yesterday started out overcast after a thunderstorm overnight (several in fact) but we bravely headed out toward Lookout Mountain anyway. Couldn't see the top - is this going to mean we won't see down when we get there? Pretty much! But it was still an enjoyable and very enlightening visit to the first of the National Military Parks. The best information gleamed from this visit was that the Union named their armies after rivers and the Confederate named theirs after states. So there were Union forces called the Army of the Tennessee (after the river) and Confederate forces called the Army of Tennessee. Shiloh would have made much more sense with that little tidbit of information!

Shortly after we started into the park it began raining. Then it began storming. Then it began hailing. And here we stand with our own personal lightening rods on top of the highest mountain in the area. What's wrong with this picture?

We were in touch with Surona (Peter and Cheryl) as they had returned from Midland, Ont after celebrations of birthdays and an anniversary (Peter and Chery's 40th - congrats on that!!). Their boat was still at Pebble Isle Marina on the upper Tennessee with some issues and agreed to meet us at Goosepond Colony Marina (two days downriver from Chattanooga). So we met them, left their rental car at the marina and they will spend a couple of days traveling through the best part of the upper Tennessee back to Goosepond! We've had a lot of fun already and it's only Tuesday :-) First of course breakfast and the a visit to the Delta Queen which has been turned into a hotel - near a park on the opposite side of the river as we are docked. Very nice facilities!

Then a trip to the aquarium. There are actually 2 buildings: fresh water fish and salt water fish. We started with the fresh water. Steve joined the fish in the tank - I am standing by the otter tank. I particularly liked the sign on the glass by the alligator tank :-)

After a wonderful stop at McDonalds, back to lookout mountain we went - just in time for it to rain again! But it blew through pretty quickly and we had a great view of Chattanooga below. Steve showed off his strength by holding the tilting rock in place while Peter, Cheryl and I walked under it. Back again to the aquarium - this time the salt water. Thankfully it was much smaller as we spent 3 hours at the first one! You were allowed to pet the sting rays and sharks so we all did that - it was weird how smooth the sting rays were. And you know Steve loves penguins - this display was perfect for him! Meanwhile, I tried out the shark cage. No fear here!

Walking back along the fountain to the boat, it's a reminder again of the plight of the Cherokee. Reminds me of the t-shirt for sale on the Navajo reservation which says: Fighting Terrorism Since 1492

More on this topic is available at: http://www.cherokee-nc.com/index.php?page=62 (you may have to cut and paste this into your address bar).

Monday October25: Chattanooga, TN

As we moved up the river the last 30 miles to Chattanooga yesterday, it was like boating in the mountains. This is why everyone says to go to Chattanooga if you have the time. Fortunately the early clouds cleared by 10. We got our first glimpse of Lookout Mountain as we turned the corner about 10 miles from Chattanooga. The River twists and turns so much it seems we really went 20 miles to cover the 10!

Spent part of the afternoon watching the Browns WIN!!!! Beating the New Orleans Saints IN New Orleans! What a feat - great game and Becky and I got to watch the second half together as we both taped it. Really fun.

Fun things around town: they have Ducks here! The camouflaged amphibians were very similar to the Ducks we rode on in Seattle but I didn't hear any quacking at all. I'm sure it's because they didn't have a great driver like Davey Quackett! The waterfront here is wonderful and this fountain dedicated to the Cherokee People is wonderful. The best part is kids can play in it and enjoy it as well as it being a monument. The plaque at the waterfall talks about it. You will have to click on the picture to enlarge it in order to read it.

We spotted a sign for instructions on how to use the back in parking places and thought maybe Wendy could take it to Leucadia to give them some ideas! Carriage rides are available (although we didn't do one). Each carriage has a dalmatian dog riding along (and the only city to do this). We were told the dogs used to be trained to lead the horses through streets filled with livestock. Apparently the horses would not go through but the dalmatian would go ahead and clear a path for the horse! This area has all kinds of fun bridges and things that seemed to really draw the locals out on this nice fall day. Look closely - Steve is on the bridge.

Chattanooga is on both sides of the Tennessee River and has 4 bridges including a pedestrian bridge and a drawbridge. Lots of green space - Steve is sitting with the aquarium in the background. There is a special exhibit with jellyfish and glass and an IMAX theatre - on the list of things to do tomorrow!

More about Chattanooga tomorrow also :-)

Sunday October 23: Chattanooga, TN!!!

From Ditto Landing we continued up the Tennessee through northern Alabama with some of the trees showing colors but many with leaves that are just dried up and brown. There has been a definite lack of water so because of this the colors are not what they might be. But still plenty of them and still fantastic scenery. There are lots of cliffs along the river now as we go higher and east toward the mountains. We spent Friday night at Goose Colony Pond Marina. Very nice folks. It was hidden away about 1/4 mile off of the channel - the last picture is looking back at the channel going to the marina.

Once again our luck held with the locks. A bunch of buzzards were sitting on the handrail awaiting our entrance - not sure if that is good or bad! This is the Nickajack Lock is the last one before Chattanooga. All of these locks are basically the same (except for the height of the lift) and are easy to use. There are floating "bollards" that Steve wraps a line in the center of the boat to so we are tied to the bollard. It then floats up with the lock. Very little turbulence - not like the old locks on the Trent used to be. He always keeps a knife handy in case the bollard would stick so he could cut the rope quickly. This is suggested in the guidebooks for the river - sounded like a wise thing to do!

Yesterday we passed the remnants of a nuclear power plant that never went on line! The twin cooling towers are still there but that's it. Strange. Saw another eagle. Wished he would have turned around. They are still fun to see along the river. Steve made a great lunch today (we typically have been cruising 6 - 7 hours a day so it's always lunch on the run): a hot turkey sandwich!! One of my favorite things. No mashed potatoes but can't have everything :-)

Last night was spent at anchor. It was a very pretty spot and the leaves in our little bay were some of the most spectacular we've seen! It was very quiet and we were the only ones there. Up early this morning to move on. Once we are in Chattanooga, we are back in Tennessee and also back in the Eastern time zone!

More tomorrow about our time in Chattanooga! Go Browns - I have seen the end yet (waiting for Becky to watch the first half and we'll watch the second half "together")