A Spook-tacular Day

Day 164 |  Florence (AL) to Iuka (MS)  |  5.2 Hours  |  38 Miles

Harry, the resident rescue heron at Florence Harbor Marina, was perched on the roof of the boat shed as we pulled out of our slip and passed alongside several beautiful red maple trees. Just beyond the lighthouse, we turned right and headed down the Tennessee River. We had traveled this stretch before, way back on October 11. There were two things that we noticed to be remarkably different with the passing of three weeks -- the water level was down almost two feet and the leaves were hitting their peak color.

The overcast morning made for interesting photos. The white pelicans almost glowed from their position in the mud flats. We followed one tow downriver and met only one coming upriver. There was not much activity. The clouds cleared long enough to get a photo in my Halloween shirt. I had brought it back from Richmond just to feel a little festive on this Halloween day.

More interesting autumn leaves. My preference is for scarlets and golds. I'm not convinced the pictures do the scenery justice.

These two photos were my favorites.

We arrived at Aqua Yacht Harbor around 1:30 and pumped out before heading to our slip. We took a few seconds to relax before finishing up our unpacking from the trip home. I believe everything is finally back to normal, with all suitcases stored beneath the floor. To our surprise, there are quite a few Loopers here, including three families with children. We all gathered for Docktails and a bit of impromptu Trick or Treating. There were seven kids -- four girls and three boys -- dressed up as Harry Potters, TMNTs, and princesses. There was even a surprise arrival by a Mermaid (one of the locals) who brought a dock cart loaded with candy. It was a fun evening and I was very glad that I had on my Halloween shirt.

The weather will turn overnight, with heavy rain and wind predicted. We will change the main engine and transmission oils tomorrow and then turn our attention to route planning. The next stretch of our journey will require some long travel days, have sketchy phone service, and be split between anchorages and marinas. We also have the option of several side trips along the way before parking Crossroads and traveling home for Christmas. Part of the excitement is not having a real plan.

A Rag Top Day

Day 163  |  Florence

One more day with the rental car allowed us to take in a few highlights of the Florence/Muscle Shoals area. In all of our travels of the day, nothing was prettier as the maple tree in the marina's parking lot. It glowed red in the low morning sun.

Our first stop was the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, a state-supported museum and educational facility. The first gallery featured portraits of all inductees since the first class of inductees in 1985 (all painted by the same artist). Musicians from every genre are represented and include Nat "King" Cole, Hank Williams, WC Handy, Alabama, Jake Hess, The Commodores (and Lionel Ritchie individually), Emmylou Harris, and Jim Nabors.

Interior exhibits included clothing, recording studios, gold records, and Alabama's tour bus (circa 1990). The sun was out, the temperature was rising, and the back seat of the rental car was finally empty so we put the top down and made our way to Destination No. 2 -- Coon Dog Cemetery.

This is the only cemetery of its kind in the world and has close to 200 certified coon dogs from across the United States interred here. We enjoyed walking around and reading the gravestones -- some very simple and others elaborately carved. Others had water bowls and leashes laid with the marker.

Back into the Mini Cooper, we zipped through curvy and hilly backroads, enjoying the colorful foliage. I had the heat on full-blast to combat the effects of shade and windchill. Barry caught a wasp in the face and I had one land on my leg before smashing it with my phone. So much for a peaceful trek through the woods. As we returned to civilization, we passed many cotton fields which had just been harvested or were in the process of being done before the heavy rains predicted later this week arrive. I had never before seen rolled bales, each weighing about 5,000 pounds and wrapped in plastic. The Muscle Shoals welcome sign marked the return to retail development.

We then visited Ivy Green, the childhood home of Helen Keller. The actual well pump where Helen first communicated with Anne Sullivan is still here. The statue depicting that historic moment summed up the experience. Also on the grounds were numerous tribute monuments from Lions Clubs across the world. At this point, it was getting late and we still had to make our Walmart run before returning the rental car. We zipped through the store, picking up our usual collection of stuff. We returned to the marina by driving through the University of North Alabama campus.

I put everything away and removed the sunscreens from Crossroads as Barry returned the car. We will leave in the morning for Iuka, MS where we will do an oil change before entering the Tombigbee Waterway and making our way to Mobile, AL and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Road Back to the River

Day 162  |  Richmond (VA) to Florence (AL)   |  12 Hours  |  709 Miles  |  1 Time Zone Change

Morning arrived and we loaded our little red rental car for the ride back to Alabama. Thankfully, it was not as full as when we came home, granting us a bit more visibility. A final goodbye was shared with Glenda and Jaxon, and we smiled while recalling all we did in six amazing days. We've reset our countdown timers for a short seven weeks until our next visit at Christmas. We pulled out just after 7:30 and jumped on I-64 West. The foliage was shining brightly against the blue sky and the miles flew by with the help of a driver change or two.

The Tennessee Welcome Center provided a much-needed opportunity to get out and stretch our legs. We spent what seemed to be hours yo-yoing with the Little Debbie truck, initially hoping it would dump its contents, then just wishing for separation. We raced through Knoxville where we once again bypassed the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Signs beckoned us to explore multiple sights in Gatlinberg. Hopefully we'll do so in the future. Traffic was again heavy through Chattanooga. Then we saw the sign "Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama." We were getting close. The sun set perfectly in the middle of the road (and windshield), making the final stretch through Huntsville a tough and stressful drive.

Persistence paid off and we were rewarded with an amazing sunset.

Finally back in Florence after 12 hours, we grabbed some dinner at Rosie's Mexican restaurant and then hit Walmart for a half gallon of milk. We unlocked Crossroads, turned on the heat, and unloaded the car in three trips. Most of the unpacking will wait until tomorrow morning. It has been a long day and sleep calls.

The Best Parts of Being Home

Days 155-161  | Richmond (and Beyond)    

Brrr ... it was way too cold on our first morning back in Virginia. We woke up to see frost on the car windows so I elected to stay inside, start a few loads of laundry, and unpack. The temperature did not climb out of the 30s all morning and I was in no hurry to go outside. Eventually, I grabbed a heavier coat from the closet and headed to Williamsburg for lunch and some good times at Pierce's with Linda and David. I left empty-handed from a side-trip to the outlet mall on the way back to visit my parents. Then it was off to get my flu shot and pick up a new pair of sneakers before meeting Michelle and Debbie for supper (I forgot to take our souvenir selfie). It was a great first day home. Thanks, ladies, for squeezing in a visit on such short notice. For those I couldn't see on this trip, I look forward to catching up on our next visit at Christmas.

Glenda and Jaxon came up on Tuesday and we excitedly headed back to Clemmons. We thoroughly enjoyed our 30 hours there and were able to visit both the Mrs. Hanes Moravian Cookie Factory and Childress Vineyards with Aunt B. As always, the highlight was just hanging out and laughing on the porch or around the table following a fantastic meal. Thanks to everyone for coming together.

Jaxon kept me entertained all week and we made the most of his time at Camp Newland, teaching him some new puppy skills. We raked the yard and cleaned off both the front and back decks to make the house look lived-in. A coastal storm blew in for the end of the week so Glenda and I went to Plan B, skipping the Wicked 10k in Virginia Beach in favor of catching a movie (A Star is Born) and some Gelati Celesti ice cream. Over 2.5 inches fell, but had stopped by Saturday morning when she and I went pumpkin hunting with her three grandkids and daughter-in-law. In the afternoon, we had fun assembling a few Halloween crafts and decorating the pumpkins. As a grand finale, I carved the largest pumpkin as the kids picked out the seeds for roasting.

Sunday was full of family visits, spending time with Barry's dad and then with my parents, sister, and brother-in-law. Lisa brought in two casseroles for our final meal on our final night home. We returned to the house and began packing for tomorrow's early departure. It is amazing how quickly the time has flown by. Each and every day has been spent with dear friends and family. Great memories!  

Home Sweet Home

Day 154  |  Clemmons (NC) to Richmond (VA)  |  4 Hours  |  256 Miles  

A long-standing tradition in my family is to go out for breakfast on the morning of my departure. Eight of us gathered early and enjoyed more stories and laughter. I was super-excited to see Rebekah (who was missing at last night's supper) and officially congratulate her on receiving early admittance to Catawba College. As an added bonus, I was able to be in the congregation as she passionately delivered the morning message as part of Youth Sunday at church.

We reloaded the Mini Cooper and pulled out of Clemmons in early afternoon, squeezing every moment possible out of our time together. Two and a half hours later we were back in Virginia. In another hour and a half we passed by Main Street Station and the "Welcome to Richmond" sign which sit alongside Interstate 95. At this point we finally felt like we were getting close to home. We pulled into the driveway, unloaded the car, turned on the heat and the hot water heater, and called it a night. We each have busy weeks planned. I will take a break from the blog while I'm home, but pick up again when we return to Florence on Monday, October 29. Please check back in a week when we resume our Great Loop journey.

In the two days since we left the AGLCA Fall Rendezvous, two pictures have been shared that I'd like to post here for posterity. The first is our group photo of over 250 attendees. The second is of Barry (blindfolded) and his partner taking part in the dinghy race.

Life In The Fast Lane / Here's Our Sign

Day 153  |  Florence (AL) to Clemmons (NC)  | 8.5 Hours  |  549 Miles  |  1 Time Zone Change

A steady rain was falling as we loaded up the rental Mini Cooper to its max fill line. After closing all the through-hulls and emptying the deep freezer into the regular freezer, we gave the dock lines and fenders a final inspection and bid Crossroads adieu. Our route took us on a few more switchbacks over the Tennessee River and the clouds hung low all morning. The cotton fields were a blur as we passed them.

Neither I nor Barry had ever been in this part of the country and we saw several interesting things as we zipped by. There was an original McDonalds, an RC Cola branded convenience store, real ranches with their branding iron logos above the gates. When we entered Huntsville, we passed the US Space & Rocket Center. No time to stop for a tour today. We were on a mission. After five months of traveling of no more than 10 mph, our reaction times have slowed, and it was frustrating to not be able to "see" things as we drove by. We entered Tennessee, then Georgia, and then Tennessee again. The rain stopped as we made our turn onto Interstate 40 that would take us to Clemmons by way of Knoxville. Somewhere along the way, we passed back into the Eastern Time Zone. We realized that the car's estimated arrival time did not take into account this lost hour. Ooops, all of a sudden we were running late.

Fireworks stands were everywhere. The sun came out and there was some blue sky that peaked through the clouds. The drive into the Great Smoky Mountains was beautiful. Traffic was moving right along, nine or 10 times faster than our boat speed. The little red car handled well on the curvy road with steep ascents and descents.

In a week the fall foliage along this drive will be absolutely stunning. The reds and yellow are just now beginning to show in the leaves. More signs popped up to let us know we were getting closer. Not sure how the UNC national championship warrants a sign, but it made me smile to see it.

We passed through two tunnels dug through the mountain and marveled at the engineering feat that this road is. Still more signs trying to direct us to places I really want to go ... someday. Luckily, we saw no tractor trailers who needed to one of the three runaway truck ramps located within a mile of each other. We cleared the mountains and pulled over for a driver change. There are no pictures of Asheville because I fell asleep. Around Statesville, we pulled over for the final driver change.

I took us into Clemmons and finally found the sign we were looking for. The whole family (minus one) had gathered at Aunt B's and Uncle Bennett's and welcomed us with a great supper and even better fellowship. We were all dog-tired and called it a night.

From Clemmons we will head to Richmond, a four-hour trip that I've done hundreds of times before. For the final stage of this trip, the road signs may not even be noticed.

Florence On The Flip Side

Day 152  |  Rogersville to Florence  | 3.9 Hours  |  18 Miles  |  2 Locks

Barry made the call to the Wheeler Lock at 6:45 and the lockmaster instructed our fleet of six boats to make our way quickly to pass right through. The sun had not yet risen and the sky turned many colors from dawn to sunrise.

We sorted out our locking positions in advance and entered orderly, each of us tying to a floating bollard under the watchful eye of a heron perched on the railing. On this return trip from Joe Wheeler State Park to Florence, we locked down. Going down is a gentler trip than going up, with much less turbulence. When we entered the chamber there was just a bit of gate showing. The water was released from the chamber, lowering the boats and exposing the full height of the lock doors.

In the 12 miles to the next lock, our flotilla grew to 10 boats. We had a slight wait for the lock to reset and all the boats lined up behind us anticipating the green light to enter. The Wilson Lock, with its near-100-foot drop, is the largest lock we'll see on the Loop. For a change of scenery, Barry watched our line tied to the bollard at midship and I went up on the flybridge to view the process. Another heron was watching us from a position similar to the one at the Wheeler Lock. The photo of our boats filing out really captures the massiveness of this lock chamber. We were all thankful for no tow/barge traffic this morning. Our passage today took three hours less than it did last week.

As was the case on our prior trip through the Wilson Lock Canal, waterfowl was everywhere. Upon each new siting, I typically say "common heron" or "another egret," but still can't resist snapping a photo. These birds (also including pelicans and eagles) will be what I remember most from our trip through the inland rivers. At Florence Harbor, we and half our fleet turned in and the other half, including Change of Pace, continued on. We said our goodbyes over the radio, thankful for a great week together and looking forward to catching up again.

We stopped for a pumpout then moved to our slip where Crossroads will stay for the next nine days. Barry went and picked up the rental car while I began to pack. We will again depart at first light tomorrow, taking our Mini Cooper Convertible to Clemmons, NC, for an evening stopover, before continuing to Richmond on Sunday.

Saying Farewells ... for Now

Day 151  |  Rogersville  |  AGLCA Fall Rendezvous Day 4

Following the blog post last night, we had one last chore to complete -- defrosting the freezer. Once Barry removed the one-inch thick slab of ice from the drip pan, things flowed much better. We did end up using almost every extra towel onboard to soak up the water. The task was long overdue.

Morning came quickly and broke colorfully on our final day at the Rendezvous. The early route-planning sessions took us from Jacksonville, FL to Norfolk, VA. When I returned to prepare Crossroads for the afternoon boat crawl open house, I was shocked to see where Barry had hung all the wet towels out to dry on our flybridge rails. Horrified, I quickly removed them, before visitors could arrive and get an eye-full.

Dinghy races capped off the afternoon's activities. There were power and manual divisions, but each required one person to propel the dinghy in reverse while blindfolded and directed by a partner's verbal instructions. It was a bunch of fun and I got to see Jeff and Terri (Change of Pace) make their run. Barry became a late entry, but I was onboard and didn't see any of it. No pictures have circulated, but he came in second -- by less than a second.

Our final dinner was a ton of fun and the room was full of laughter all evening. It was a great four days and we learned a lot. Joe Wheeler State Park was a fabulous host. We took our ninth walk through the buffet line. (Does that count as exercise?) The best part, however, was catching up with so many of the great folks we've met along the first half of the Loop. Tomorrow we will begin to head our separate ways, but hope to meet up again further down the route. Some Loopers will winter on the Gulf Coast, some in The Keys, some will go on around to the east coast, and some will "Cross Their Wake" and be done.

Tomorrow's departure is planned for first light. We will head back to Florence where we will park Crossroads for a week and head home. This journey to the Rendezvous took over eight hours because of lock traffic. We're hoping we can scoot through much faster on our return trip. We have to pick up our rental car ... and pack.

Marco (Island and) Polo

Day 150  |  Rogersville  |  AGLCA Fall Rendezvous Day 3

The sunshine returned this morning, but it remained chilly for our Looper Group Photo. I do not envy the photographer who attempted to corral our group of 300. We found it much easier to snap a selfie with Chris and Roger from Miss Utah while we waited. Our route-planning seminars continued today, taking us south from Tarpon Springs, around The Keys, and back north to Jacksonville. The screen below identified comfortable travel distances between major cities, based on average boat speed. The afternoon session was devoted to exploring the Abacos. Knowing there are many more areas of The Bahamas I wish to visit, we'll use this information as a starting point. Following six hours in the seminar room, Barry came back to Crossroads and demonstrated the proper use of the Hook & Moor, a specialized boat hook that promises to make grabbing mooring balls easier.

At 4:30 we loaded into a school bus for a short ride to Peytona Farms, the home of Bluewater Creek Polo Club. Upon exiting the bus, we climbed into a hay wagon for a quick tour and history of this beautiful complex. I had pulled my boots out of storage and it felt good to be properly attired for this evening. Blue Water Creek Polo Creek was once a junkyard of buried cars until Ed Robbins transformed the property. Mr. Robbins, now 86, is a Guinness Book of World's Records honoree as the oldest active polo player. The innovator is also the developer of Centaur flexible fencing, and all of the paddocks are enclosed in white Centaur fencing -- a polyurethane fence with three strands of high-tensile wire. It is both safe for the horses and very durable. The vast majority of the fencing we saw was over 30 years old. It only needs an occasional pressure-washing to keep in looking great.

Our hayride went right down the middle of Centaur Racing Stables. Four race horses currently reside in these luxury apartments (but were grazing in a paddock when we passed through). Until just recently, Centaur was the home of two mares bred by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Those horses are now advancing their racing careers in California. The facility also has a 3/4-mile racetrack and a smaller polo field used year-round for a youth development program. Our ride finished at the pavilion where I enjoyed meeting up with Debbie (Bucket List) and Teri (Change of Pace) and one of the polo ponies (Margarita).

We were treated to an exhibition two-on-two polo match. It was the first time I had ever seen polo in person and other than in Pretty Woman. We were not given the opportunity to partake of the time-honored tradition of stomping the divots.

We enjoyed a nice dinner presented by the Chamber of Commerce. The raised party pavilion overflowed with Loopers and several additional tables were set up in the field. A sharp band performed a diverse set of rock and country on the upper level. Everyone enjoyed the evening right up to 8:30 when most of us piled back onto the bus to return to the marina by Boater's Midnight (9:00).

The Rendezvous finishes up tomorrow with another full day of seminars and then a farewell dinner.

A Little Rain on the Looper Parade

Day 149  |  Rogersville  |  AGLCA Fall Rendezvous Day 2

Our meetings started early on Day 2 of the Fall Rendezous with a 7:45 breakfast session. The first morning seminar focused on getting from where we are now through the rivers to Mobile, AL. The second session provided tips of moving from Mobile to Carrabelle, FL. The afternoon picked up on the Gulf Crossing and more deeply covered weather windows and timing. Our final session, "Families on the Loop," was presented by 11 year-old Maddy with assistance from 8-year-old Molly. They have lived aboard for three years and are homeschooled. I enjoyed their take on their travels -- from learning history in Yorktown to attending a local school in the Bahamas. Maddy's list of favorite boat activities is not much different from mine.

We were dismissed at 3:00 only to find that it was raining and our Boat Crawls were threatened with cancellation.

The showers continued for another hour and no one was venturing out on the docks to tour boats. We had cleaned and straightened up Crossroads and were disappointed that we couldn't show her off, so I took a few photos of "home" to share here. Below is the main living space, an open concept great room/salon, with a settee and dining table, off of the galley.

My bathroom has a stall shower. The second bedroom features bunk beds. The master stateroom is bright and has tons of storage.

The pilothouse is the command center and where we (mostly Barry) drive the boat. Then back out, looking at the salon from the other direction.

Thankfully, the showers let up and folks began to wander around. We had a dozen or so people come by before it was time to head back up to the lodge for our dinner session.

Tomorrow will be another full day of seminars followed by a visit to Peytona Farms for stable tours, a casual polo match, dinner, and a concert. With all the rain today, I am very glad that I have my paddock boots stored away. I haven't pulled them out since May 30. They probably still have some Cape May, NJ, mud on them.

Hitting the Trail

Day 148  |  Rogersville  |  AGLCA Fall Rendezvous Day 1

The orange and pink hues of this morning's sunrise provided the boost I needed to get out of bed and hit the trail. Today was our last free morning here at Joe Wheeler State Park and I wanted to explore the hiking trails around the marina and lodge. Following the blue markers, I took off. A brief distance in, I saw the marker for a historic elm. Its not often you come across such a specimen, so I took a quick selfie with the said tree.

Although leaves have begun to fall, the canopy was still full and provided plenty of shade. Impressive saucer-sized fungi grew from the trunks of trees. The broken marker for a champion chinkapin oak was tiny against the massive trunk of the tree. From the blue trail, I moved to the yellow trail which led around the rim of Wheeler Lake. These trails had steep elevation changes, but since I move pretty slow, footing was not an issue. I surprised two does (or maybe the same on twice) and they scampered off into the underbrush with only their white tail visible.

The yellow trail intersected a nicely maintained woodland disc golf course. I opted to follow it back to a main park road and was glad I did as I met up with this little fawn. We both stared at each other for a while before continuing with our morning activities. I was out for about an hour and it was good to use some muscles that won't see much action while sitting in seminars for the next three days. The morning sun was warm and I soaked up a few rays by the pool before returning to Crossroads.

Around noon, we took a shuttle into Rogersville for lunch and a quick stroll. The Old Town district, with its multiple antiques stores and boutiques, was festively decorated for fall.

The large metal rooster was a permanent feature on a local deli's facade. The sign hung from the bandstand in the town square where we sat and checked emails. Our shuttle picked us up just before 2:00 and returned us to the lodge in time for the AGLCA Rendezvous kickoff at 2:45. Executive Director Kim Russo welcomed everyone before turning us loose for the afternoon boat crawl (open houses). In the span of an hour that we were indoors, the weather turned windy and much colder. Barry and I both needed a change to jeans and to grab a jacket before walking the docks. On the way back, my lanyard whipped around in the breeze, quickly turning into a tight-fitting choker necklace.

Every boat is different and some little detail or trick can always be learned by visiting other folks' boat homes. Crossroads is open for tours and inspection tomorrow. We have washed, vacuumed, and decluttered for parts of two days now. We think/hope we're ready.

The Day Before

Day 147  |  Rogersville

It didn't take long to learn a bit more about Joe Wheeler. Obviously an important man, he has a lake, dam, and state park named after him. The monument at the end of our dock gave us a more complete picture of "Fighting Joe" who was a Confederate calvary general, general in the US army, and a US congressman. Joe Wheeler State Park is a 2,500 acre resort park that includes a lodge, 18-hole golf course, marina, cottages, cabins, and hiking trails. We found a short one today after walking up the hill of the main entrance road. A first for me today was seeing a real armadillo. I gave him a good look and don't believe he was sleeping. I think they must be kin to our infamous Virginia possums as they "sleep" in the same locations and positions.

We returned to Crossroads and I found a photo of us as we came in last night. It was posted on the AGLCA Facebook page and shows how expansive and pretty the area is. Crossroads, however, was filthy and we needed to give her a good exterior wash.

I removed items from the decks and screens from the windows, Barry scrubbed, and I wiped everything down with the chamois before reinstalling all of our covers. As part of this big cleaning, we took down the flybridge enclosure. I think she looks a whole lot better with the open-air top deck. At 3:30 all the ladies gathered on Miss Utah for a nice happy hour. While I was visiting, Barry walked the docks and found this sailboat that just moved here from Gloucester Point, VA -- small world. It was a beautiful afternoon here in Alabama.

Sunset came with just enough color to be photo-worthy. (And since this was a slow photo day, I am thankful.) The trees on the hill across the water are beginning to change color. I'm hoping they'll be closer to peak color by the time we leave here on Friday morning.

We get down to business tomorrow. We'll explore a new hiking trail in the morning, then come back and clean up the interior before Rendezvous events start at 2:45.

A Slow Trek to Rogersville

Day 146  |  Florence to Rogersville  |  6.8 Hours  |  18 Miles  |  2 Locks

Barry made a call to the lockmaster at 6:30 to find out the schedule for our fleet of six Looper boats to pass through the Wilson Lock. There was one double tow already in front of us, so our predicted entry time was 10:00. We had a few hours to wait, but at least knew in advance. We pulled away from the dock at Florence Harbor Marina at 9:20, passed the funky lighthouse on the point, and entered the lock canal. Florence wins the award for best graffiti. This lake monster probably looked really good last week when the water was a bit higher. Within eyeshot of the lock, we were told they were running behind and it would be closer to 10:15. So we waited ... and waited some more. Finally around 11:00 we received the green light to enter the chamber of our largest lock so far, and the highest lock east of the Rocky Mountains. The gate door dwarfed our boats and when we were lifted to the top, we had 109.5 feet of water under us.

The good news was we only had 14 miles to go to our second, and final, lock of the day. The bad news is were were still stuck behind the same double tow and would again have to wait hours for its passage before we could enter. A double tow requires two cycles in the lock. The barges are untied into two loads. The first half is put in and lifted up. Cables pull the barges out as the lock resets. Then the back half pulls into the lock and gets raised up. The two halves of the tow are reassembled and then it moves out of the chamber, allowing the lock resets again. It is a long and drawn out process taking about 2.5 hours.

To kill the time, we poked along at 3 knots (walking speed). We watched a regatta. We looked at more trees and clouds. Oh, look -- a spectrum was cast across the pilothouse bench. Finally, I just gave in and took a nap.

The tug eventually loaded in for the final segment of its journey. We knew that in about 45 minutes, it would be our turn. The lift on the Wheeler Lock was half that of the Wilson Lock. We were all happy to exit and opened our boats up to high cruise speed to cover the final two miles of our long day as quickly as possible. We tied up in Joe Wheeler State Park as the sun was dropping towards the treetops.

Tomorrow will be cleaning day in preparation for the Rendezvous Boat Crawl (open house). Barry will wash the outside while I vacuum and straighten (hide clutter in cabinets) the inside. We hope to be done by noon so we can walk around and reconnect with all our Looper fiends.