EllisIslandLoop

Monday, October 30, 2017

Saturday, October 21 - Cumberland Plateau

The Marina office opened at 8:00 and we were there to get the key to the loaner van - BREAKFAST! We decided on Cracker Barrel even though it was a little further. Alex, Deb and Gil’s grandson, was excited when the waitress said yes, he could get chocolate pancakes even though they weren’t on the menu (and she even brought him extra chocolate chips). I was excited because they have a new breakfast sandwich. You would think we had forgotten our manners - I ate Gil’s bowl of grits and he ate Danny’s bowl of gravy. The cute waitress got us all straightened out.

This seemed to be one house with a big rock in the yard!

Scenes along the river.

This 1,000 foot stack at Widow’s Creek power plant is one of the tallest structures in the Tennessee Valley region.

Somewhere close to where I took this picture we passed the Cumberland Plateau. It's top is more than 1,100 feet above the river.

I saw agricultural fields along the north bank of the river, but Google Maps showed that land to be an island with no bridge connecting it to land. I was a little confused until Danny spotted the barge that the farmer used to cross the water.

We had trouble finding a spot to anchor that had good holding. We ended up in this spot on the back side of that same island with 4 other Loopers. And this picture gives a better view of the Cumberland Plateau.

Friday, October 20 - Guntersville

This is a better view of Decatur Marina as we pulled out.

Just before noon in Madison, AL, we saw hundreds of birds! They were amazing and we enjoyed watching them fly around the boat.

The scenery along Wheeler Lake is beautiful, reminds me very much of Ft. Loudon back home.

Speaking of scenery, this is Painted Rock, in Union Grove, AL. An appropriate name, don’t you think?

Going up Guntersville Lock was pretty uneventful, thank goodness. Just after we exited the lock, we passed this cave protected by a wire fence. This is a sanctuary for the federally endangered gray bats. The number of bats living there ranges from 20,000 to 45,000 between April and September. Thank goodness this is October!

Danny has a special interest in docks on TVA lakes. When he applied for a permit to build a dock at our lot on the Emory River, there were all kinds of restrictions about square feet and enclosures, so he checks out the ones we past, commenting on their illegality. Last year the number of enclosed dock houses on Lake Guntersville struck us, because that’s illegal where we are. This year, also on Lake Guntersville we saw these huge docks being built. Then just up the way we saw what looked like the beginnings of a golf course, so we figured this was some kind of development rather than just a big house.

This is looking through a pass toward the town of Guntersville. I just thought it was a pretty view.

We had reservations for the night at Guntersville Marina but we couldn’t find it on the chart plotter. The name was different, plus the dock staff didn’t have VHF radios, but we finally made it to the gas dock, with Chrysalis pulling in behind us. As we left the gas dock headed for our slip, the guy told us to swing wide. We didn’t swing wide enough! Deb called on her radio to tell us to get wider, then again to tell us to stop. Close call.

We had a wonderful view of the lake, and a great sunset.

And another boat name for my collection.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Thursday, October 19 - Wilson Dam

This is what 5:30 am looks like - DARK! We are following Chrysalis, who is following Satisfied Frog, from the marina up the canal to Wilson Lock.

And here is Wilson Lock, the oldest and highest on the Tennessee River. When it was completed in 1925, it was the world’s largest dam.

Rather than swing open, the gate goes down into the water.

We exited the lock just as the sun was coming up. Really pretty, but really early!

Fourteen miles later, we came to Wheeler Dam. We cruised a few hours in Wheeler Lake, then pulled in to Decatur Marina for the night. We were all tired.

This was the first marina we stayed in when we began our Loop. It hadn’t changed much, and the catfish at the restaurant was still good!

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Wednesday, October 18 - Leaving Aqua Yacht Harbor

Our boat is finally ready, so we pump out, gas up, and take off!

This pontoon boat lost its water!

We tried to guess how much these people paid just for the prep work on their lot.

Our Gold Burgee is now flying!

Wilson Dam, the next lock up the river, is closed to all traffic from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. for repairs. That means we have to be ready to lock through at 5:30 a.m. while it’s still dark, or lock through after 6:00 p.m. which means we would be looking for a place to anchor in the dark. We chose the morning option, which meant staying at Florence Marina tonight.

Kyle, the Marina Manager, was just as helpful and enthusiastic as we remembered from our stay last year. Deb, Gil Danny and I took the marina van and went to WalMart. Where else? We may not have access to groceries for a week or so, and wanted to make sure we had adequate supplies of beverages.

The restaurant at the marina was a happening place! Love the purple lights.

Tuesday, October 17 - Aqua Yacht Harbor Day #7

Deb and Gil had pulled in yesterday. Today they checked out a loaner car and we went to a BBQ restaurant Deb had heard about for lunch.

After lunch, we drove to Shiloh National Battlefield. We only had time to see the Visitor’s Center, but Danny and I had toured last year as we began our trip. I didn’t take a single picture.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Monday, October 16 - Aqua Yacht Basin Day #6

The azaleas are blooming!

Sunday, October 15 - Aqua Yacht Harbor Day #5

No pictures, no activity, just chillin’ at the dock. We are still at the repair dock, not in a transient slip. That means we don’t see other boats come in, but it also means we don’t have to pay dock fees!