December 7, 2015

Pelican on a green "7"

One of 1000's & 1000's of navigational buoys.  The green ones are called cans.  They always have an odd number and they have a square top.  You match #7 to the navigational chart to see where you are.  Traveling counter clockwise on the Intercoastal, green is on the right or starboard of your vessel.  If you are in a river or channel, it could be different.

Sunrise at  Bluewater Bay near Destin

A real bird bath 

 Month of December

At St Andrews Marina in Panama City, FL

Seagulls standing at attention in St. Andrews at sunset.

 St. Andrews Pelican Tree.

The Pelican Tree stands as a marker of rebuilding St. Andrews community after Hurricane Opal.  Once a large live oak, the tree was destroyed.  But, instead of removing it, the city hired a local chainsaw artist to create this fine piece of beautiful art.

If you are ever in St. Andrews, eat at Uncle Ernie's (the yellow building in the background). Delicious fresh grouper.


To be continued 1st of January 2016 . . .

Eastward Bound

Nov 30, 2015

We have begun heading toward Florida . . . with a couple of guests: Maggie & Ellen. 

Spent first night in Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, AL.  The home of Lu Lu's, Jimmy Buffet's sister.  We had fried oysters and Landshark.  Yummy.

December 1, 2015

Florida!!!!!

We have seen many dolphins since yesterday.  According to Wildlife Promise, dolphins are considered lucky in many cultures.  For Christians and Native Americans, they are a symbol of protection.  Dolphins swimming around ancient sailors indicated that land was nearby.  

Spending the night at the  Palafox Pier Yacht Harbor, in Pensacola.   Quaint downtown with lots of bars and banks.  We are having dinner at Shux.  More Oysters and beer.  No grocery stores downtown.  I stopped a neighbor who was on his way to the food store on his bike (almost 2 miles away) and he bought me a loaf of multi grain natural bread.  Looking forward to our toast in the morning.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Florida

October 28-30th

After a couple of days on the Black Warrior River with its gnarly roots and twisted trunks, the trees started to become covered with layers of moss.  Sea oats replaced the water hyacinths.  We began smell the salt in the air.  Pelicans posed along with the white plumaged egrets we had enjoyed along the way.

It was only a matter of time before the Mobile city scape loomed over the Mobile Bay.  Lots of industry and activity lined the water way.

A friendly tow captain.

A seagull bejeweled shrimp boat.

Leaving the river systems, we made it through and pushed our way to Dog River Marina, our October destination, where we will leave Sea Jamm to get her bottom painted and gel coat buffed and waxed, preparing her for the salty waters ahead.

We will go home and start preparing ourselves for the next adventure.  East bound Gulf of Mexico.

Later . . . skippers.

Rainy in Demopolis

Tuesday, Oct. 27th

One more day staying dry in west Alabama.  But, we did make in the Red Barn last night for some catfish!

Oct. 21st

Anchored at Bay Springs our first night.  Arrived early.  Dinghied to recreation area to stretch sea legs.

Day of the LOCKS

Thursday, Oct. 22nd

Practice makes perfect.  We locked 7 times today: Whitten, Montgomery, Rankin, Fulton, Wilkins, Amory, and Aberdeen.  Slowly making it down to sea level.

We made it to Columbus Marina right before closing time around 5:30.  Someone else had the courtesy car so Blade let us borrow the Dodge Ram work truck to drive to the town about 5 miles away.  Alan and I shared delicious redfish Ponchartrain at Huck's Place downtown Columbus. After we sat down we realized we didn't know where Columbus was.  Our waitress told us we were in Mississippi, but only 8 miles from the Alabama line.

We didn't need a food store stop.   I had packed well in the beginning. In our freezer was enough dinners for 2 weeks.  But it is fun taking advantage to go to town and eat local fare when you have the chance.

Sleep was good and easy this night.

River Swimmers

Friday, Oct. 23rd

Alan spotted a buck with a large rack swimming from east to west shore this morning.  Later, we spotted a coyote swimming in the same direction.  The coyote had a small head swimming, but after banking it, he was actually tall and camouflaged next to the brown shoreline.

We anchored all alone in a 17' ox bow called Cook's Bend Cut.  We had to watch for "jug" catfishing. After enjoying the most peaceful and quiet night, we awakened to the most beautiful sunrise.

Nothing is more lovely than a new day. . . especially when we pause and remember the One who gives it.

Black Warrior River

Saturday-Monday, Oct. 24-26th

After locking through Howell Heflin, we continued to our next our next destination.  We met and followed Corkscrew.  What beautiful scenery.

White Cliffs at Epes on the Tenn-Tom

Leaving the beautiful Tennessee-Tombigbee River, we enter our last leg, the Black Warrior that takes us all the way down to Mobile.  We stop at Kingfisher Bay Marina in Demopolis, Alabama to wait out a storm passing through the south.  Waiting out a storm provides a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors!  Kingfisher has an excellent guest house where we shared food and drink the night we arrived.  And, this morning I found a huge platter of oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies when I went out to stretch my legs.

Did I tell you that we are going into town tonight for dinner at the Red Barn.  Let you know how that is next blog . . .

Good-bye Goose Pond

Sunday, Oct 18^th

It's time to head to Mobile.  Sharing the experience makes a great time an awesome one.  Buddy & Mackie Nix join us on the front 3 legs of our journey.  

After locking through Guntersville Lock, we spent the night at the Ingall's Landing pier in Decatur, Al.  

Painted Bluff

After moving on Monday morning, we locked through Wheeler, and then the Wilson, the largest lock east of the Rockies.  The 94 ft single lift requires 50 million gallons of water to be drawn in or drained out for each locking.   Buddy & Mackie became quite proficient handling the lines and fenders.

Tuesday evening, we met Bob & Becky Black in Florence at the marina harbor. After dinner at Odette's and a good night's rest, they joined us Tuesday morning and we continued our cruise to Grand Harbor on Pickwick Lake. Leaves have begun to change colors and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.

Time to say good-bye to our good friends and begin the next leg of our journey.

THE GREAT LOOP

October 20th

Alan and I officially started the Great Loop adventure at Grand Harbor Marina on Pickwick Lake!

A New Adventure

No guts, no glory...

We found it.  Our second home. On the water!  A 4788 Bayliner in Chattanooga. We loved her.   After numerous inspections, we wired the money Friday, April 24th to secure our boat.

Saturday, April 25th.  The fun begins.  

Molly came along to help us organize logistically.  We had seen our boat a couple of times and spent a whole day previously on it, but nothing compares to the anticipation we experience before embarking our vessel.  You would have thought we had never seen her.  After spending $300 at Walmart for supplies, we boarded our new home!


Sunday, April 26th 

ISLAND COVE, Chattanooga, Tennessee to GOOSE POND, Alabama where she will stay until July.
Before starting our journey we enjoyed our 1st meal of pancakes and sausages cooked in our small galley.

The twin diesel engines cranked with no effort.  We were on our way.  The Captain (aka Alan )maneuvered her like she had been his all along.  Our path was smooth until it was my turn to take over the wheel.  We encountered a flock of sailboats.  Great.  They have the right of way and they were dead center of the course we were taking.  We managed despite my white knuckles!  

We continued.  Red buoy on the left and green on the right.  Rivers are marked that way when you are traveling down stream.   While waiting for the Chickamauga Dam to open for us we had our 2nd meal of ham & cheese on honey wheat. Why are sandwiches always better outside on the water?


Empty Swings  

After a 3 hour wait for the Chickamauga Dam to open for us, we set out for Nickajack Lake where we planned to anchor for the night.  What a breath taking cruise.  The Tennessee River is beautifully edged, sometimes narrow and sometimes wide, with the green, lush mountains.  We cruised at 16 MPH at times to make up for the time we had lost waiting for the dam to open.  We decided, however, 10 was more pleasant.  The captain explained to me that in the river system, one used MPH instead of knots which are typically used in open seas.  One observation:  there were way too many empty swings along the river for a 70 degree Sunday afternoon.

We finally found our little cove on the west side of Nickajack Lake around 18:30, much later than we desired, but well worth it.  Our view for the night was amazing.  We had mountains, a stone rock wall on our starboard side, and a peaceful, picturesque peninsula on port.  Sitting on the stern we could see a railroad track across the lake a couple of miles away.  I counted 3 trains as we enjoyed our dinner of grilled rib eye, new potatoes and asparagus. We toasted with some 2008 Mollydooker Shiraz from southern Australia that Alicia and Gerry back home had given us.  Delicious.  

 However, everything was not perfect.  Alan couldn't get the generator turned on.  We were so exhausted, we decided to wait until we got to Goose Pond to figure it out.   Good night.


Monday the 27th 

Boy is the Tennessee river bottom muddy.  Alan can't say anything about Molly's long showers, for he spent 30 minutes bathing our anchor.  He also got the first cut.  The anchor wash down door fell on him cutting the bridge of his nose.  Needless to say, the door now has a safety rope tied to secure it from falling down when he's hoisting the anchor.

Nickajack Lock

They were ready to take us in soon after we radioed to tell them we were coming.  Not much traffic today.  The captain, Molly and I were becoming pros at this job.  We put the fenders over on Starboard, tied up to the bollard and waited for the water level to lower us.  Afterwards, the Captain cruised on. And as I said, we were feeling pretty proud of ourselves.  After several miles downstream I noticed the fenders were still over the side.  Oops.  We were greenhorns.  The Captain always says that about fenders left over the side of water vessels.  What is it that they say about pride? Oh well.

Creeping Wisteria Vines and Gray Silos 

When reaching the  Guntersville Lake area around noon we realized that we hadn't seen another boat all morning.  We felt special to have had the Tennessee River laced in Wisteria vines all to ourselves.  We enjoyed everything from an old railroad trestle to an old arched bridge, in an little town called South Pittsburg, that reminded me of the one in St. Louis.  Our journey had taken us about 100 miles and if you don't count waiting for the Chickamauga Lock, it took about 11 hours to get here.

NOW, it's Bahama Mama time.  We reach our new home, Goose Pond Colony in Scottsboro Al. where we will dock our new lady for the next 3 months.  We met a few neighbors in between working on the boat and settling in.


Tuesday the 28th  

We spent the day cleaning and continuing to make our new home.  With hardly any trouble, Alan got the generator working again.  Only a  popped circuit breaker.  Another Bahama Mama time!

Captain, Molly and I got to walk one of the walking trails after lunch.  Dinner tonight was a little stroll across the parking lot to The Docks where we ate “all you can eat” catfish.  What a treat!  Glad we had had our walk because the food was delicious!  If you are ever there, make sure you save room for Linda's homemade bread pudding. Yum!


Wednesday, April 29th 

Sadly, Molly leaves us today.  Hopefully she'll not forget her time with us as our first guest!  I will be reminded of her many contributions etched in the corners of our living space.


Thursday-Friday 

We continue exploring every crack and corner of our vessel. Space is limited and its price escalates daily.  Our frequent discussions go something like this:  “Are you sure we need that?” “You don't want to be in the middle of the Dismal Swamp and your toilet breaks.”  Who can argue with that. 


SEA JAMM

One thing we didn't argue about was the name of the new lady in our lives.  After the pleasing approval from our children, we decided on SEA JAMM, the first letters of our many children plus our names: Sherry, Ellen, Alan and Jonathan, Anna, Maggie & Molly.  Alan gingerly placed her name across our stern and we quickly poured our nectar over the side into the sea to appease Neptune.  

Friday, May 1st

Anna arrives around midnight with Ryan, her lovely housemate from Louisville.  They unwind from their 5-hour journey and we head for bed.  The weekend promises to be sunny and beautiful.  

It does not disappoint.  We cruised, hiked, sunned, and took SEA JAMM for her first poop pump out.  Sounds pretty disgusting because we all have visions of Robin Williams' RV.  However, it wasn't really bad when you have help that does this everyday.  I'm sure Captain was disappointed when he didn't get to do it by himself.  Not.  We are definitely going to have to get more tip money to show these dock guys just how much we appreciate them.  

After a great weekend and a cheeseburger at the Bait and Tackle store, Anna and Ryan departed for their long trip back to Louisville.  They will be missed.


“One doesn't do well with what one doesn't love.”

I would be remiss if I didn't introduce you to three people that love what they are doing and that have helped to make our dream a reality.  These three need no introduction because any boater east of the Mississippi knows them.

Our time with Captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell aboard their beloved Sandy Hook enhanced our dream for this lifestyle enough to last a life time.  They are excellent teachers.  They have made the start of this journey much easier.

Another person that must love what he does is Curtis Stokes.  This renowned Yacht broker gave of his time so generously.  We felt like we were his only clients as he tirelessly showed us numerous yachts all over the east coast.  He helped make our dream become a reality with SEA JAMM.

What is exciting is that we are only beginning this  journey.

The rest of this year we are looking forward to continuing our exploration of the Tennessee River system before making our way down to Florida in the Fall & Winter season.

To be continued . . .