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Above Bay Springs Marina view ... looks like Reel Foot lake! We didn't have fog this morning so was underway around 7:30am. We decided to get fuel and stay at Aberdeen Marina for the evening.
Once again the ship photographer failed to capture the brilliant colors lining the Ten-Tombigbee ... cutting back his pay. Tomorrow will be a short run to Columbus, MS. We may stay there two or three days. There is suppose to be many things to see at this stop ... and afterwards very little to see ... but trees and water, until we get to the Gulf.
Fog this morning so we waited until 9:30am for it to lift. We went through 3 locks but had to wait on several locks. Therefore our plan to get to Aberdeen was left short. We pulled into Midway Marina around 2:15pm in time to plug in cable TV and watch the Colts get beat ... at least the first half ... not too hopeful for a win here!
Above left Dave navigates the Ten-Tombigbee. The picture doesn't do the tree colors justice ... it was a beautiful cruise. Above, Joycie in Joysea's cockpit with "Lady in Red" in the background. We maxed out the locks today with 8 boats locking through at one time. Tomorrow we are hoping for no fog to get an early start. We want to get to Columbus ... which will be a long day.
A front came through today and the weather is wet and cold. We took the courtesy van to the Shiloh National Military park, site of the Shiloh battlefield. The two day battle took place April 6 - April 7, 1862 and left 23,746 casualties. For civil war history buffs this is a must see. Above Dave and Joyce stand in front of one of several monuments dedicated to Indiana soldiers/units.
Jane and Joyce with cannons and monuments in the background.
Weather permitting will will head down stream on the Tombigbee waterway and will probably stop at the Bay Springs Marina.
We left Florence Harbor marina around 8:30 am and arrived at Grand Harbor marina around 1:30pm. The water was smooth in the beginning but a little choppy later. Both Joysea and Joycie said it was no big deal .... we are loving it! Above Dave follows Bavarian Cream down the Tennessee river.
A front is coming tomorrow so we plan to stay in Grand Harbor for a couple of days. Above Joyce takes a break after docking in the marina. Tomorrow we plan to take the courtesy car to Shiloh National Park ... the site of a bloody Civil War battle in April, 1862. More on that after our visit.
Today the girls went shopping in Florence, AL and in the afternoon Jane, Larry, Joyce and Dave went to Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller in Tuscumbia, Alabama. It was awesome to see the hundreds of mementos of Miss Keller's life ... what a remarkable woman!
To the left Joyce stands next to the birthplace cottage which is situated east of the main house. Above she is in front of the Lion's International Memorial Garden which is behind the main house. Displayed are gifts given to the Keller Shrine in honor of Miss Keller from many different countries.
Insurance company will let us arrive in Florida November 5th ... happy about that! We left Joe Wheeler marina around 11am, went through 2 locks and arrived at Florence Harbor marina around 3pm. We had smooth lock through and water as smooth as silk. Both Joycie and Joysea worked flawlessly. Above Joyce at first lock and then at upper helm ... great to have her back to work ... if you call this work! At right Dave descends to the lower deck after docking in the marina ... pretty place to stay. We joined up with Larry and Jane and plan to stay a couple of nights. Then on to Grand Harbor marina.
Left to right: Larry, Joyce, Jane, Elvie and Roy
Dr. Joyce making her rounds and saying goodbye to all her friends at Mill Pond. Things happen for a reason (i.e. breaking a hip) and this may be one of them. Joyce is very popular at Mill Pond. Everybody knows her and loves being around her because of the sunshine she spreads ...once a cheerleader always a cheerleader!
Our schedule remains on track. We leave this Saturday for Joe Wheeler State Park in Alabama. All Dave's checkups turned out good ... he and the Admiral are healthy and ready for Joysea! Rob and Angie will take us south and spend a few days with us ... life is good!
Above Joyce enters our soon-to-be condo that sits within the DePauw University campus. The right upper part of image is the football field and directly right is the baseball field ... talk about positioned for some serious tail gating!!
DePauw has a nature park consisting of 520 acres of forest, fields and abandoned quarry. We are within walking distance of the park and above picture is Joyce on the "rim" trail. This trail follows the top of the quarry. It took us an hour to complete the walk ... long trail! We are anxious to explore other trails, but that will have to wait ... we are more anxious to get back to Marathon ... and we remain on schedule for a Saturday departure!
Below some of our children and grandchildren enjoying the weather ... this can't be October weather!
Dave, Joyce, Angie and Rob cut into this beautiful cake ... Chocolate top layer and cream key-lime on bottom ... yum!
Dave
and Joyce's trip to Joe Wheeler could be delayed another week ...
ugh. Dave had a minor incident (and got his first ambulance ride
and overnight hospital stay) and is okay, but needs another procedure
done before leaving Indiana. Hoping to get this done this
week. If so, we stay on schedule. If not, we have a weeks
delay and will post it to our blog.
Joyce is doing great and no longer needs her cane. Pictured left is Joyce, Dave, son Keith and grandsons Brad and Andrew. Dave and Keith (along with help from Rob, Andrew Miller and the Pauls') roasted a hog for the church picinic. The 300+lb hog was on the spit by 6:50am and Keith and Dave had the chore of attending it until fully cooked ... of course sipping beer the entire time. You all know the saying ... tough job but ......
Our plans are to leave the apartment we are staying in (Greencastle, IN) around October 8th - 10th and head back to Joysea. It is about a 6.5 hr drive back to Joe Wheeler State Park and Marina. The AGLCA is having a get-together toward the end of October and we plan to stay for that before heading down the Tenn-Tom waterway toward Mobile Al. From there we will probably cruise to Carrabelle, FL where business partner Doug and wife Vicky will meet us. Joyce and Vicky will then drive to Tarpon Springs, FL while Doug and Dave take Joysea across the Gulf. Dave doesn't want to chance bad weather with Joyce's repaired hip ... so she gets to ride with Vicky. At Tarpon Springs, Joycie returns to Joysea and we head for Marathon, FL. That's the plan for now ... stay tuned in for possible changes later. Life is once again good!!!!
We had a visitor last night, Caralana Kinsey, a service monkey. Was she ever cute! You had to watch your beer or cocktail or she would take a drink. She is on face book if you want more information.
We left the Clifton marina around 6:15am and arrived at the Grand Harbor Marina around 3:30pm.
There was a little fog on the river this morning, but nothing we couldn't see over. It was a nice ride, but slow. We found out after Labor day they start to lower the water. At one point in the trip Joysea slowed to 4.5 knots.
Above Tom checks out Chalk Bluff ... a very pretty bluff.
We left the Pebble Isle marina around 6:15am and arrived at the Clifton Marina around 3:15pm. I took us longer than anticipated because of strong currents against us. The water was high so we think they are letting it drop which causes more current downstream. The Kentucky Lake officially ends at the I40 highway bridge and it is considered the Tennessee River from that point south.
We had nice weather today (except for the current) and we enjoyed the river bank views. We saw very nice plush homes on one stretch and then nothing but cliffs and wilderness in the next bend. It is a pretty awesome river.
Long day today ... left our anchorage at 6:15am and landed in Kenlake marina at 5:15pm ... 11 hours! We arrived at our first lock ... and went straight in ... luck remains in our favor. We turned off the Ohio and took the Cumberland River to our next lock. We only had to wait for them to turn the lock around, however the lock through took almost 45 minutes ... we are still way ahead of the locking game. Above Tom takes us into the Cumberland ... beautiful limestone walls behind us.
Above more nice scenery from the Cumberland river.
... and onto Kentucky lake and our Kenlake marina 12 miles downstream.
Cooler today (Thank you Lord!) but rained quite a bit. Tomorrow we head for Green Turtle Bay or KenIsland. May be a stretch with two locks to get through.
Left Hoppies around 6:20am and arrived at our Diversion channel anchorage aroung 3:15pm ... 110 miles!! Joysea had a 4 knot current pushing her and she took advantage of that! We will be on the Ohio River tomorrow.
Dave's impression of the Mississippi River has changed dramatically. Some think this is the ugly part of the trip. Dave thought it was beautiful. Granted, the part with industry wasn't very pretty ... but interesting. Left picture has Captain Tom taking us by some beautiful scenery. Above another shot of limestone cliffs.
Left the marina around 6:15am and hit the lock perfectly ... no wait. Made it to the second lock and once again no wait. I think Tom has some "luck of the Irish" blood in him. We arrived at Hoppies around 10:45am. We had a lot current pushing us so it shorten the day considerably. The Mississippi River has a ton of barges and commercial traffic, as seen in the above picture.
Fern was standing by to help us fuel ... she runs the place, make no doubt about that!
We had an un-invited visitor that landed in the dingy ... Asian Carp.
... and of course we had to take a picture of the Arch.
A couple of
comments: 1) Fern told us a good restaurant was the Blue Owl, but
it closed at 3pm. Tom and Dave thought it might not be much.
The parking lot was full and we found out it was somewhat famous ... it
has been on the Food Channel and people from all around come here.
The food was outstanding!
2) Dave learned how to crab Joysea into the dock with 4 knot currents
pushing us ... it was a piece of cake. Thanks for the directions
Tom.
Pictured left is Tom relaxing on Joysea's upper deck. Dave meant to take Diann and Tom's picture before she left, but of course forgot. Sorry Diann!