Day 121 & 122 October 19 - 20, 2022

Day 121 Wednesday October 19, 2022

Florence Alabama MM256 to Ingalls Harbor Free Wall, Decatur Alabama MM303

Very cold, 40 degrees at 5:15.  PopTart breakfast. EARLY morning call to the lock at 5:30am for arrival instructions.  Lock master directed us to arrive for 6am as he was emptying the lock. Seven boats left Florence Harbor Marina in pitch dark headed to the lock.  The Wilson Lock is 91 foot lift, the largest change for us so far! 

 

  

Picking our way in the dark on our way to Wilson Lock.

We entered the lock at 7:00 and were out at 7:30, pretty quick for such a big lift.  This lock is different from others -- the back wall drops to let you out instead of swinging open.  

We arrived at Joe Wheeler Lock at 9:10 and out at 10:05.  56 more miles to our destination at the Decatur Free Wall.

The Decatur Free Wall is actually a long floating dock with lots of room for boats to stay.  Water depth is good with a boat ramp for the local fishermen.  We arrived at 1:45pm, a 7 hour 45 minute travel day.  We enjoyed visits and docktails with The Grand Wazoo, Phil-N-Wild, Arion, Masquerade, and No Agenda.  BBQ leftovers for dinner.

Good news for the day -- we were able to get reservations in  Key West Florida for a month.

Day 122 Thursday, October 20, 2022

 Decatur to Guntersville Free Wall, Guntersville, Alabama  MM358

It was a cold night with 2 extra blankets on the bed.  34 degrees at 7am.  It never got above 60 degrees all day.  It was so cold that Jerry drove from below for about an hour to let the canvas dry but ended up staying the entire day.  It was really different being inside -- I got a lot accomplished!  I spent a good share of the morning preparing the necessary paperwork for our stay at the Florida marina and then emailing it to them.  

  

When we got to Guntersville Lock we had to wait for  a tow inside and another waiting to come through from the other side. Once out we had another 9 miles to go to the free wall. 

We arrived at 3:30 and set out for a walk into town.  The stores and businesses were decorated for Fall and Halloween with pumpkins, bales of hay, corn stalks and costumed figures.

The Police Department even had a tribute to the Sanderson sisters. Guntersville has developed the waterfront, improving the docks and encouraging businesses at the waterfront.  We visited the Co-Op Brewery and shared one of the best soft pretzels we ever had!  We were entertained by all of the 8th grade students celebrating before their homecoming dance.

Arleen invited all of us to their boat for homemade chili. Laura made salad and brownies, Susan made cornbread and we brought pumpkin pie.  Dinner was delicious and the company even better . We spent the evening playing Catch Phrase.

Tomorrow we head to another anchorage  at Shell Mound.

Day 119 & 120, October 17 - 18, 2022

 Day 119 Monday, October 17, 2022

Aqua Yacht Iuka Mississippi MM448 to Florence Alabama MM256

NO fog, but cold morning start, with a beautiful sunrise. We traveled with Grand Wazoo and Arion.  Phil-N-Wild planned to catch up after they get new batteries installed at the marina. We traveled 6-8knots and enjoyed a sunny day.  It was 59 degrees at 10am, but 52 degrees at home!

 

We try to appreciate the tows when we meet or pass them.  I waved as we passed and the captain actually saw me and blew his horn.  You can be sure that it made me jump!

We arrived at Florence Harbor Marina at 12:30.  

 

 An early enough arrival to get some errands done. the dock master recommended that we check out the Visitor Center only a short walk from the marina.  That was a great suggestion -- we learned a lot about the local attractions, where to eat and how to get a free t-shirt! The marina has a courtesy car and we signed up as soon as we arrived, so next we headed for groceries at Publix.  Jerry and I even got our flu shots.

We enjoyed docktails with Arion, the Grand Wazoo, La Vida (we saw them last at Green Turtle Bay), Phil-N-Wild, and their company Stephan and Sandy.  We were entertained by the local fire department as they did an emergency response exercise on the docks.  The firefighters were very considerate, asking several times if we minded that they were there.  We told them we appreciated them and the entertainment. The wind was cold and the sun was going down, making docktails very cold.  The ladies called it and everyone headed to dinner.  We enjoyed BBQ from our last stop in Iuka, Mississippi.  Don't worry we will be sure to check out Alabama restaurants.

Day 120 Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Today was filled with sight-seeing.  We had the courtesy car for most of the day.  Each boat signed it out for a 2 hour time slot.  First stop was FAME recording studio, then Muscle Shoals recording studio and then The Alabama Music Hall of Fame, all by 1pm.  Phew!! 

 Rick Hall was the founder of FAME Recording Studio.  The studio is still a working studio and has worked with Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Duane Allman, Paul Anka, Otis Redding, the Osmonds and many others.  Musicians seek out the studio for its' coveted "muscle shoals" sound.

  

 Rick Hall's wife.

 

 

Checking out the instruments used by legends. 

 

Muscle Shoals Sound Studios was founded by the "Swampers"  -- the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, originally working out of the FAME studio.  

  When Cher recorded her solo album at the studio she titled it using the studio address.  Later the studio used the album graphic as the sign for the building.

  

 

   Many artists have recorded at Muscle Shoals including Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Cher, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones.  Keith Richards wrote "Wild Horses" while sitting on the john.  Check out the 2013 documentary "Muscle Shoals".

We collected stickers on our "Backstage Pass" and were able to redeem them for a free t-shirt at the Visitor Center.  If we had been able to collect all 5 sticker locations we could have been entered in a drawing for $2500 worth of prizes...

Alabama Music Hall of Fame 

The Hall of Fame celebrates Alabama natives who have contributed to the music industry including such greats as Lionel Ritchie, Hank Williams, Rick Hall, Jim Nabors, and the band  Alabama.

     

 1960 Pontiac convertible owned by Web Pierce.  "Golden Country Car" has over 500 silver dollars and 12 silver guns mounted in the car.

We collected our t-shirts at the Visitor Center and chilled until it was time for dinner.  We managed to get the courtesy car from 6pm to 10pm so we definitely had enough time for dinner and live entertainment at Swampers' Restaurant in the Marriott.  Good music and food and back by 9:30pm, no worries about returning the courtesy car on time.

Early morning departure for Decatur tomorrow.

Day 118 October 16, 2022

Day 118 Sunday, October 16, 2022

Swallow Bluff Island Anchorage MM169 to Aqua Yacht Marina Iuka, Mississippi MM4489

Swallow Bluff Island was a quiet and calm anchorage for the night.  Many of the anchorages we have used have been recommended at the Rendezvous or by boaters we know that are ahead of us along the route.  Nebo has been helpful too since we can see where other boats are stopped each night and message them to see how deep the water and how good the anchor hold was.  

We had a great dinner and cards on Arion.  Seven boats in the anchorage -- The Grand Wazoo, Arion, Phil-N-Wild, Ultima, Sea Clef, Eider and us.  We left at 7am with no fog but a light drizzle.  Our boat parade got longer when Irish Lass and Sunset Dream joined us.

We finally started to see lots of color.  Lots of homes on stilts and even a landslide with the house in danger of sliding into the river too.  I didn't get a good pic of it.

 

 Check out the river bank.

Our first goal was Pickwick Lock.  Conversation with the lock master is important -- he asked us to arrive by 12noon so we increased our speed and actually arrived at 11:40.  We waited for a tow to exit the lock.  Directions from the lock master required us to wait on the WRONG side of the markers to give the tow enough room to maneuver out and around the river bend at the lock.  Thankfully the river was wide enough and water deep enough for us outside of the channel!

 Can you see the green buoy between the barge and our boat?  Normally we would be on the same side as the barge. 

We were finally in the lock at 1pm; 12 boats in, out at 1:35pm.  

Pickwick Lock is MM206 on the Tennessee River.  Our marina is on Ten-Tom Waterway at MM448.  MM450 is the top of the Ten-Tom.  

One way to cover your boat --

 More house than boat!!  Nearby Grand Harbor Marina - golf carts required.

The Ten-Tom joins the Tennessee and Tombigbee Rivers.  We are planning a trip to Chattanooga Tennessee;  Aqua Yacht will just be a pit stop for the night.  We have been 2 nights "on the hook" and this will give a chance to fuel, pump out and fill water tanks if needed.  

We were met at the dock by the local Harbor Host, Charlie McVey.  Charlie is very friendly and helpful guy -- with a recommendation for dinner at the local Mexican restaurant.  He was also a presenter at the rendezvous.  I hit the ground running, hoping to do laundry.  While I did laundry Joe and Jerry took the courtesy car and found BBQ take out (planned for easy dinner tomorrow).  Laura and Danny watched football.

Laundry and football over, 10 of us headed to Neuva Vallarta for dinner.  Good Mexican and huge margaritas were enjoyed by The Grand Wazoo, Arion, Phil-N-Wild, Ultima and Eric's Inheritance.  Two courtesy vans were needed to get us all there in one trip!

The Tennessee River is beautiful!