Hola

Cherry Mansion, Savannah Tenn. Where Ulysses S. Grant was having breakfast and heard the guns at Shiloh

Andrew, does this not look like a goblin Haven?

The doors of perception? no Pickwick Lock

gotta start at the bottom and work up

as we leave Pebble Isle Marina, fog setting in

It’s Sunday and we are at the Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina in Mississippi. We have finally entered the Tenn-Tom Waterway to Mobile. Only 448 miles to go and we’ll be able to sail the rest of the way home. We anchored out for three nights with a pit stop at Clinton Marina. Very down home Tennessee folks. Each evening and morning Juan was dinghy-ed onto shore as promised. He rewarded us with quiet nights. Maybe this will work out after all.

Spoke the S/V Scotia, anchored in a lovely cove on the Tennessee. Brenda and Hugh are from Scotland and are slowly making their way to the South Pacific. Save travels to them.

We passed through our third lock, The Pickwick Lock and Dam, elevating us 80 feet. The lock master took us right away and put us at a good mooring so we had no turbulence. Turbulence is greater on the way up. All the rest of the locks are down. Twelve more to go. I’ll be honest with you I was dreading the Pickwick but it was easy as pie. Being courteous and listening to the lock master’s directions helped immensely. Todd Smith was his name and he came out to visit with us. He and his wife are expecting their first child. 

We’ve been out of touch because Virgin Mobile has let us down. Any advice y’all?

We maybe later arriving than planned, will try to call as soon as we are able.

 Sorry the pics are out of order but ....

Got to strike while the wifi is hot. Over and out.

At Pebble Isle Marina

leaving Green Turtle Bay

the cove where Juan decided to swim ashore

a building for grain storage, they couldn't destroy it when the Dam flooded the Tennessee.

This is Wednesday. We had a lovely day on Monday. Beautiful crystal clear skies and anchored in a romantic little cove. Lots of birds and trees. Saw eagles, a wood duck, herons, blue and green. Slept well, arose early had coffee and watched the day take shape. All cats quiet in the night. We let them roam the boat as we made ready. Jack started the engine, I looked for all cats, no Juan. Searched the boat, no Juan. Shut down, called and called, he called back....... FROM THE SHORE! Unnoticed, he slipped into the water and swam ashore. So we had to launch the dinghy, and Jack rowed it ashore to get him. 

Resumed our journey and got as far as Pebble Isle Marina, mile marker 95.6 on the Tennessee. Love the cove, but a snake-like channel to enter. Folks very nice and easy. Courtesy car to get supplies in New Johnsonville, a pizza for dinner as it was getting late. Just getting into bed when a rain squall blew in, causing the straps holding the mast to sing a whole german opera. :). Juan cried all night to be let out. Around 4:30am I 

got up, fed the lot and Juanie calmed down. I fear the young gray one is not happy with the cruising life, but we’ll keep working on him. I don’t want to lose him and perhaps its our stress over losing him that feeds his restlessness.

 So far the Tennessee River is beautiful, though because it’s so wide its kinda boring too. There are lots of sailboats up here because of the Kentucky Lake and this part of the Tennessee has so much sailing room. The season is over and we see very few boats.

The engine has been running hot and thanks to Nick we have a solution, so guess Jack will work on that and we’ll leave tomorrow. Perhaps Juan will get his fill of land for awhile. We are right next to the Johnsonville Historic Park, so a nice place to walk. Lots of Civil War History in these parts.

Hope all of you are keeping well. Cell phone service is mostly non existent, but the wifi is usually pretty good. At Pebble Isle they are using Wild Blue, not that great a service. Very spotty. Gray and wet today, a two cup coffee morning.

Funny story. We had just gotten underway when Maggie appeared in the cockpit. She started to prowl around and headed to the bow to get under the life raft. But being restless she was soon back, only to go forward once again. On her second trip back she investigated the large open hatch in the middle of the cabin top. She decided that that would be a good place to be. Now, all our hatches have screens, lovely heavy screens, but, wait for it, all are attached with velcro. Now we saw her going there and called out to her, I was at the wheel and Jack was relaxing with Mickey and Ridley, so, too far to get to her. She had just curled up nicely when the screen gave way and down into the boat she went. Laughter, much laughter, but behind our hands so she wouldn’t get offended. I’m chuckling even now as I write this.

Birthday

Happy Birthday Captain Jack!!!! Hope you have a happy day cruising. Love you always, Arlene

More Trouble and his name is Juan

Yup, all day Sunday, a good day to be cruising, we sat at the dock waiting. While other boats came and went, we sat at the dock. Saturday we did all the engine chores we could think of, so we were raring to go. Gave the cats free range Friday night and they were fine, thought Saturday night would go the same way, but no. All cats accounted for in the morning except Juan. We called and called, walked and walked, posted signs, told anyone we passed, but no glimpse of his furry-ness or sound of his kitten like cry. By sunset, just as we began to despair, who should come sauntering back?  Juan the wanderer.

The day was pleasant though, met some of the sailboat residents and they were gracious with information and compliments for Night Music. Got in a nice long hot shower and slept cozy cuddled til the cats could stand it no longer. Oh yes they were confined to quarters. Sorry for the three who are more well behaved. By the way, Mickey, who had been so very ill last month is doing great. Really, they are fine on board, only Juan is the prowler, so it is hard on him.

Well, Jack is stirring. Time to make ready to depart. This time without incident we trust.

some boats at the the marina, the cute little house boat is the Becky Thatcher. The green hull boat is one of two "Nimbles" both from New Brunswick, Canada. They are doing the Great Loop together. People doing this in land circumnavigation are called what else? LOOPERS!

Unexpected Trouble

the castle on the cumberland, Kentucky prison

our slip our first night at Green Turtle Bay Marina

the transient dock, sunrise Friday the 20th

Juanie imprisoned

Her Serene Highness Magdelaina von Night Music (Maggie to friends)

It is seven o’clock on a Saturday morning. Friday had some terrible moments. We were in a good slip at Green Turtle Bay, the cats could easily get ashore and feel the earth under their paws instead of concrete docks. Showers were awesome, laundry right beside, hardly any walking to do as at the other marinas. Had a heart stopping 30 minutes when Juanie went missing, but found him and got ready to leave. 8:30 saw us underway but not 10 minutes into the voyage we were pulled up short by smoke coming out of the engine room. We hastily anchored and shut down. The marina came out to tow us back in and put us at a working/live-aboard dock, no charge. The mechanics came after lunch which gave us plenty worry time to imagine worse case scenarios. Fortunately, the problem was fixable. A crimped crank case pressure release hose  caused pressure to build blowing out the dip stick and spewing oil. Replaced the hose, put in 2 1/2 gallons of new oil and started the engine no problem. Jack used a hand held bailer to get out most of the oil which ended up in the engine bilge. A cool front started passing through bringing buckets of rain, so we also had a chance to discover any leaks. Only one place, a deck prism in the aft cabin, easily fixed.

We want to thank Carol and Bill Gary the Third of Green Turtle Bay Marina for their most wonderful hospitality. Bill came out and very expertly towed us in and even remembered to find us another dock with easy access to land for the cats. And many thanks to Gary and his cheerful band of mechanics. Their expertise was invaluable.

I’ll leave you now to finish my coffee and put on warmer clothes, it’s 58 degrees y’all!

Close to the End of the First part of the Journey

This will be short but hopefully sweet. But first I find that this journey has become a sacred trek to find my voice hidden all these years by the ones in my head from family, friends and teachers. And my own need to close out the hurts that I felt I might do to to others while doing what I hoped was right for me. Little did I know that hardening my heart against that pain would close me off from feeling love. But I’m actively seeking to mend.

We are safe in Green Turtle Bay Marina, ready to cross the channel to the Tennessee River. Really are there any green turtles? I don’t think so, but we have seen small river turtles. We are so enjoying the Cumberland River. The Tennessee is supposed to be even more lovely. While we are happy to be doing this journey we so long to sail. But this gives us a chance to become one with Night Music.

Welcome to baby girl Clark, who arrived Tuesday, September 17th. YeeeHaw!

 scenes along the river from Clarksville to Dover Island where we anchored for the night

The Journey Begins

Alright then, the actual cruising story has begun.

 Sarah and Mickey arrived late Friday night. With all their chores; tending to their 3 dogs and 2 cats, buying groceries, getting the house ready for sitter, driving a car to Clarksville marina so they would have a way home, etc., it made for a hectic day for them. We very much appreciated the effort they made to come and begin the voyage with us. We took our time leaving the marina as we had last minute things to do but by 10:24am we were on our way. The day was as beautiful as one could wish for, cool enough for sweaters, a cool front having passed through. After an hour we reached the first dam, Old Hickory Lock and Dam. We had to wait about 2 hours for a double barge carrying coal to come through going upstream. Because of space limitations  the tug could only push one set at a time through. The drop/lift is roughly 60 feet and while the Lock master can hurry the flow, he must  attend to the turbulence that would cause. We were all a little nervous having never experienced locks but we did fine. You tie up to floating bollards that are in channels in the walls every 300 feet or so. That means one’s boat is very close to very yucky walls, so fenders out and a boat hook handy. Left the Lock around 2pm and went merrily down the stream for 30 minutes til the engine died. Anchored, checked fuel filters, sought advice via phone from Gene and then Nick, determined it was a loose connection on the lift pump. Yay, got underway at 4:30, went for another 2 hours and found an acceptable anchorage. Steaks on the barbie and good friends and wine, a lovely evening. By 5:00am with the flow stopped from the dam, the boat had swung perpendicular to the shore, so off we went. River smoke danced and hovered above the water like dragonflies as we moved along. Traveled through downtown Nashville, Sarah and Mickey pointing out landmarks. Made Cheatham Lock and Dam around 4:00. A much smaller dam, smaller drop and no waiting. Got into Clarksville around seven. Nice marina here, brand new and we are the only transients. No live a-boards here. Dinner at a Mexican restaurant, a quick run to the grocery store and Mickey and Sarah departed for home. Did some chores, let the cats explore and went to bed. On waking this morning, decided another day at this marina was in order before resuming the journey. The Cumberland is lovely, mostly trees, rocky cliffs and some pleasant homes, the people are friendly but we’ll be glad to be sailing in blue waters. Not many pictures as I forgot to charge the batteries, alas.

getting underway

the port cat

the starboard cat

Jack and Sarah charting the course

the two of us together again at the helm

Some Thoughts

First I'd like to say thank you to Nick and Stacey Clark, two of the loveliest people we've ever met. They kindly sold us Night Music and their meticulous care of her has made moving aboard a joy. All our equipment and life essentials have been absorbed into various storage bins and such with room to spare. The, to us, luxuries like Auto pilot, battery chargers, refrigeration, to name a few are in great condition so we do not feel one bit deprived. The Clarks are expecting their second child any day now and we wish for them an easy birth.

Dragonflies throughout history have been mythical creatures signifying change and change in the perspective of self-realization. Their whirling flight across water represents an act of going beyond what is on the surface and looking deeper into the meaning of life or perhaps just the day. "There must be change, if there is not this, something vital sleeps in one and is lost. The sleeper must awaken." Jack wrote this many years ago on a painting he gave to me.

More on dragonflies later, for some inner part of me responds deeply to them. For now we begin readying the boat for our departure tomorrow. Sarah and Mickey are joining us for a couple days, a nice beginning.

Okay, we're here and glad of it. Rented a Chevy Tahoe LTZ but because of the dang seats our full space was compromised. But it sure was a comfortable vehicle, all the bells and whistles of a luxury car.

Here it is at the motel. The cats were just great, some howling and jostling for positions, cat hair flying around like dandelion seeds.

Ridley chose at that moment to ride down by Jack's feet.. Mickey was the best behaved, finding his spot and sticking to it.

Here we are at Drakes Creek Marina in Hendersonville, Tennessee. We are at the end of a long covered dock with big power boats and house boats. Man, some of those house boats are huge. Not my idea of heaven, to stay under cover in a marina with no view and being so close to your neighbors.The walk out to the boat was a long one but fortunately we had carts to help with getting stuff to the boat. Mostly its hot and sunny and not as humid and of course a squall had to come whooshing through, but all the gear is out of the car, the inflatable is full of air and cats are safe on board.

They have been very patient, tonight we'll take them for a walk. For now except for Maggie, they lie like stepping stones on the cabin soul and I must negotiate my way over and around them while I stow the gear. Jack has gone to return the Tahoe. Might make a chicken curry tonight, check out the galley, see how it works.

 kk, raining now gotta run

The Bon Voyage

The party can now begin.

Gene and Shane know how to throw a party.

 Is that enough garlic?

Nothing like lovely men cooking and talking.

Low Country Shrimp boil, nothing low about those flavors, yum:)

                                         

 

 

Weather rolling in to join the fun.

Thank you Jessica for the amazing cookie/cake.

                                                                                               One of two rescued marsh bunnies

                                                                           Too sweet.

Ole Yeller, the marina cat.

As you can see, we had a great bon voyage party, we even had an amazing light show and some big booms; enough to make us cringe a little. Thank you everyone for a very special evening. Now back to that darn packing.