Colombus Marina, Mississippi

Today is Wednesday, October 23, 2013 and we arrived at this marina on Monday evening having stopped previously at Midway Marina along the Tennessee Tom Bigbee Waterway. We took a day to relax and replenish our food supply using the loaner car and making a trip to the local Wal-Mart. Bill Seward has been traveling with us in his boat but today we separate. Bill rented a car and is driving back to Green Turtle Bay to retrieve his car which he left there. Then he plans to drive back to San Antonio for a family gathering on Saturday. We had a nice evening last night as Bill came over and we barbecued his steak and our hamburgers (boo). Anyway, it was a beautiful night although a bit chilly. We plan to leave here shortly with a number of other boats heading south. There's a lock right after leaving but that will be the only lock we have to go through today. We plan to anchor out tonight and get an early start in the morning. Hopefully we'll arrive in Mobile by Monday giving us time enough to clean the boat before heading back to San Antonio.

Cuba Landing Marina, Tennessee to Clifton Marina, Tennessee

Today is Friday, October 18, 2013 and this is the first opportunity I've had to add an entry to the blog as we have wifi at this marina. We stopped the first night at Parris Landing after leaving Green Turtle Bay. These marinas are virtually out in the boondocks with nothing around but the scenery is beautiful as the leaves are beginning to change. Last night we stopped at Cuba Landing Marina and discovered that was the first day they reopened after the government closed down all national parks. They're located in a wildlife refuge center. Once again, nothing around but natural beauty. We were fogged in this morning and had to wait an additional hour before leaving because visibility was nil. After a very cold start the day turned out to be warm and beautiful. Tonight we're at Clifton Marina and at least there's a small restaurant and we enjoyed dinner with several other couples who have stopped here. Tomorrow we're headed to Grand Harbor Marina which is located near Shiloh Battlefield and I'd really like to go there but we're traveling with Bill Seward and I'm not sure he's interested in going as he's already been there. We should have a little more excitement tomorrow as we'll be going through a lock. So far the engine is running like a top and we've been enjoying the Tennessee River.

Day one of a New Cruising Journey

Today is Monday, October 14, 2013 and after a year of many surprises and happenings, we arrived back in Grand Rivers, Kentucky to take Queen Kathleen to her home state of Texas. We left one year ago for a knee replacement surgery and with the intention of selling her. After having two contracts fall through and the boat enduring one hard Kentucky winter, we've decided to go back to Texas, namely Kemah which is near Houston. We anticipate the first segment to Mobile to take approximately two weeks. Then we'll briefly return to San Antonio. Once returning to Mobile, we'll take the final segment to Kemah which will take another two weeks. We'll finally be able to fly the gold looper flag indicating we've completed the loop! The Kemah area is huge and we think we'll have a better opportunity to sell once we get there. Unfortunately I left my camera at home but do have my phone so I'll see if I can post some photos along the way. If not, I'll definitely have it on the last segment. The plan is to leave tomorrow with our friend Bill Seward who is moving his boat back to Texas also. His journey is going to stop at Colombus, Mississippi temporarily but it will be good to travel with another boat along the Tennessee River stretch as it's fairly isolated. Rain is expected tomorrow so we may have to wait until Wednesday before leaving but we'll see.