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Published: November 12th 2010
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Foggy first morning
Across the inlet from Wildlife Cove This is the beginning of our Great Loop adventure. The Great Loop is a water route around the eastern USA. We are beginning on the Tennessee River and will join the Tombigbee Waterway south to Mobile, Alabama. From there we’ll cruise the ICW to Appalachicola, then cross the Gulf of Mexico to around Cedar Key, then south to St. Petersburg and the ICW to the Florida Keys. We’ll winter in the south Florida waters then head north up the Atlantic coast ICW to New York’s Hudson River. Then up the Hudson to the Great Lakes, through the Great Lakes to Chicago, from there down the Illinois River to the Mississippi River to the Ohio and back to the Tennessee. A trip that will total 5,000 to 6,000 miles, depending on side trips and beautiful spots that make us want to linger. So now we begin…
Saturday, 6 November, 2010
We woke to frost and fog, but clear skies. We had a nice dinner last night with Tommy and Claudia before turning in early. We were happy to have the electric heater overnight, knowing we won’t be able to use it until we’re in a marina hooked up to shore power,
Wildlife Cove
Our home port, goodbye for now. a few nights from now. We got out fairly early, 8:40 am, not as early as we’d hoped, but we had to wait for the fog to clear. It was exciting to be underway at last, but sad, too, to know we wouldn’t see our dock, family and friends for many months.
We cruised a longer day than usual, making 70 miles before anchoring near Swallow Bluff Island at river mile 170 near Saltillo, TN. The sun was already behind the trees when we got anchored. We ate dinner and turned in early, both because we were tired and because it was so darned cold.
Sunday, 7 November, 2010
We were up early, actually earlier than we thought, as I’d forgotten about Daily Savings Time ending and hadn’t changed any clocks. Again a cold, frosty and foggy morning. Our down comforter kept up quite cozy last night, but it was difficult to get out from under it for bathroom breaks.
The morning was uneventful, as we wished, and we had more current against us the nearer we got to the dam at Pickwick Landing. It took us about an hour to get through the lock, because when
Foggy again
Second morning fog at Swallow Bluff Island. we called, the lock was filling for a sailboat locking up and we had to wait for it to be emptied for us. Then once we were heading into the lock, another boat called to lock up and we had to wait for him to get there and tie up in the lock. But, all in all, an hour for a lock isn’t bad. The 57’ lift was fairly quick and then we were in beautiful Pickwick Lake.
As we approached the entrance to Yellow Creek and the Tombigbee, we spotted a sailboat that looked familiar. It was Sara and Trevor arriving from the opposite direction. What timing! They stopped at Grand Mariner marina for fuel and we went on to Zippy Branch, where we dropped anchor and waited for them.
We had them raft up with us, which made it easier to move from boat to boat, rather than use the dinghy and have to climb aboard. We had a lovely evening together, having dinner and sharing adventures.
We did get some bad news. Our beloved Aunt Lolly passed away yesterday in California. She was a dear and we miss her already.
And thus the
Savannah, TN
This is the house where Gen Grant and his staff heard the first of the cannons from the battle of Shiloh adventure begins.
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Bill Kilp
non-member comment
Charlie and Kerry Happy to hear you got a good start and warm send off... You will need the warmth for a few days with weather like we are now having... I look forward to reading about your adventures and wish you all the best of luck and happiness as you head out... Your friends at Wild Life Cove Bill and Trena