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.