Ditto Landing Marina, Huntsville, AL

34 34.664N

86 33.559W

At the rendezvous we met several people who told us that we would be missing some of the most spectacular scenery on the rivers if we did not go to Chattanooga, TN. It means an extra almost 500 miles and everyone who had made the trip told us that it was well worth the time. So on Sat. morning we set off for Chattanooga with several other boats.

Not sure what this fisherman is doing
Queen Anne's Revenge and Foreign Exchange passing a barge on the Tennessee River
They weren't too far ahead of us.

Just another beautiful day on the River.

Joe Wheeler State Park Marina

Today was a very rainy day and we rented a van with four other couples and went to the Space Center in Huntsville, AL and, of course, had to stop at WalMart and Boater's World!

Rendezvous, Joe Wheeler, the last night

Group picture of some of the loopers! You can see looper boats in the background.

Nat, Our Turn, Andy & Mary, Good News; Bob and Charlotte, Foreign Exchange; Jim and Lisa, Kismet

Something about a full bouquet

Nat and Linda


Fred and Joan Meyers
Fred has written several books on the southern rivers
We have enjoyed The Nitty Gritty Tennessee




Ed and I; Vickie and Paul Christianson, Freedom; Jan and Tim Kraus, Full Circle
We met in Joilet on the wall. These are our Sea Ray friends. Trawler people can be friends with fast boat people, you just can't travel with them. We got to play golf with Jan and Tim today. We played hooky from the meeting and played 9 holes on the beautiful Joe Wheeler course.




Captain Roy DeLong, Ellen Langer and Nat aboard Our Turn
We have met several times so far. We first met in Little Current, Ontario, and then we met up a couple more times and then spent a week in Chicago together.

AGLCA Rendevous, Joe Wheeler, Rogersville, AL

Dinghy Races--backwards and driver blind folded
Some unnamed people never finished

Fog at the Marina

Joe Wheeler State Park Anchorage

One of those herons again.
Couldn't resist another sunset

We are heading to Joe Wheeler State Park Marina tomorrow to begin the rendezvous of loopers.

34 48.981N

87 18.905W

Villa de Tompkins, McKernen Creek, a great experience in Southern hospitality

Cameron, a very friendly neighbor who is retired and knows every free lunch in the area!
Pride and Kay Tompkins with one of their beloved cats.

A great boathouse and dock.
Some tails about cinderblocks and anchors!
Getting ready to make the jump to our boat.
The picture does not do the yard justice.

Summer kitchen with mosaic designed and completed by Kay.

34 47.722N

87 33.011W

As we were about to drop anchor in McKernen Creek (slough- pronounced slew), we got a call on the VHF from a neighbor on a sailboat offering their dock and electric! What a great stroke of luck! We had the most wonderful evening with teriffic folks. There were some trading of stories, especially how they got their sailboat from the Gulf to their house in the spring in 20 days! The property was absolutely beautiful and even prettier than the pictures. Kay designed the outdoor layout and she and her husband, Pride, did a lot of the work. The Tompkins have several cats some of which liked our boat and slept the night on it.

Wilson Lock and Dam

Wilson is the largest lift on the Tennessee River System almost 100 feet. You can see the bollards that you tie a mid-cleat on the boat to. The bollard rises with the water level and as long as it doesn't stick it is very easy. You can see the gate and walk way that is descending into the water when the lock is at it's fullest.