Rendezvous

The rendezvous at Joe Wheeler State Park ended last night with a sing-a-long gathering at the lodge.  Instruments ranging from dulcimer to harmonica provided the back-up.  Great fun.  This has been an amazing experience.  People from as far away as Australia, many Canadians, some beginning, some ending, some dreaming.  All very interesting and down to earth.  Everyone has stories and all are willing to share information and tips.  Some of the stories curl my hair and make me wonder why we are doing this, but most just make us want to get going. My brain needs more megabytes to absorb all the new information. The speakers were very knowledgeable and I am sure as we go along it will all come together.

                                                             Sing-along last night at Wheeler

Highlights besides the people, seminars and beautiful weather:

Tom and I entered and won the dinghy race.  Tom, the driver, was blindfolded and relying on me for directions.  Now most of you know I have a slight problem with right and left, so I was sure we would go in circles as did many of the contestants.  But we actually went quite straight, around the marker buoy and back to the finish line in just under 2 minutes.  Tom actually listened to me!  Other rules were the dinghy had to be in reverse the whole time and the navigator could only talk--no touching.
We were bused to a concert at a b&b outside Rogersville Tuesday night.   Two very talented singers with equally talented back-up band performed mostly country and a  s'mores bar along with our own wine (dry county) completed the evening.  A bit on the chilly side, but lots of fun.
My washer-dryer is working!!!  A call to the company tech (who was fabulous and should get a raise) and Tom rewiring the door latch (How does he know how to do this stuff???) and we are in business.
 The NEW radar (replacement dome for the other new radar arrived here Friday) has been attached again by Tom and seems to be working as it should.  The defective one has been sent back to Overtons.
Pictures may be limited as we realize we have left the cord to transfer from the camera to computer at home.  That is on the list for Thanksgiving pick-up.  So beware, we will inundate you with photos after that.
That's it for now.  Linda

Beginning the Loop

                          Farewell party Saturday night.  Great friends and great food.  Who would have thought such a great restaurant would be in Hopkinsville?  Thanks everyone for a wonderful send-off. 

                           

                                                                Now THIS is retirement!

We left Kenlake on Monday around 8 a.m. with Bob, Mavis and Ed seeing us off.  The weather was perfect and the lake calm.  We spent the first night at anchor behind Densons Island at mm 125.5. (Missy and Rich, this is the same place where we spent the night with you two years ago.)  As we settled in, we watched a large bald eagle strutting as it hunted for dinner on the edge of a sand spit. Earlier in the day we passed large flocks of white pelicans.  Tuesday started off cool and dry with a destination of Pickwick Lake. As we passed Shiloh the rain began.  Luckily the downpour ended and we locked through Pickwick Lock in just a cold mist.  That night we anchored in Chimney Hollow across from Pickwick State Park.  The wind was blowing and the temperature dropped about 30 degrees.  Today we crossed Pickwick Lake and are staying in a slip at  Florence Harbor Marina in Florence, Alabama.  In a few minutes we are off to watch the Cardinals in the World Series.  We have passed some interesting boats along the way.  Hope to post those pictures soon.  Those of you who had day 1, 2, or 3 in the overboard pool are out of luck.  Neither of us has pushed the other over YET!!!

Heading out Monday morning.