Here we go again (10-24) thru (11-12) Back and forth days 143 to 163


 This is the longest that I have gone without letting our group know how we are doing. Sunday had us docking in Paris Landing State Park for 2 nights. Staying a few days makes time to rest up and see what different places have to offer. There were some Raptor cages here, and we saw owls and a hawk. Went on a long walk on the raptor trail which led us to a place called Gravel Shore. Also walked around the wetlands loop. Returning to the boat we met up with O 'Tug, it was nice to see Tom a fellow looper. Tuesday came and we were on our way to Birdsong Marina in Camden TN. Arriving in Birdsong we were greeted by dockmaster Bob and his crew, and escorted to the TN River Pearl Museum, were they harvest fresh water pearls. the only one in the US.

We went to the Patsy Cline memorial, where her plane went  down. It was a solemn place. The courtesy car was an older Lincoln, which took us to Walmart and Krogers for supplies.  We got our booster shots at Walmart, and I had a slight reaction for 2 days, while John had no side affects. Anchored the next day in  Swallow Bluff Island which was very silent. The next day we spent the night in Rockpile anchorage. On to Florence Marina. Her we stayed 2 nights. John went to see

Muscle Shoals sound studio.

Being Halloween I made a crocheted  spider web and hung it on the helm door, with some spiders. Leaving Florence had us going through the

Wilson Lock. Once inside we were on the last bollard, with a barge. With the line in the wrong position we were turned around 180 degrees . Trying to control boat I hit the wall and damaged the anchor pulpit. The rollers on the pulpit were broken, but John temporally fixed it to be operable. A  free docks  awaited us  in Decatur, Guntersville ,and Nick  A Jack, AL. These dockages did not have power or water, but they were nice and sturdy docks. While we were on our way to Chattanooga we heard  charges being set off to bring down the power lines in this section of the river. Chattanooga was a one night at the transient dock. The next day Dockmaster Mark gave us a regular slip for 3 additional nights. The river was closed all weekend because they had a huge Scull racing event. There were 5000 boats in all. Interesting to watch, as we walked over one bridge and then over a complete pedestrian walking bridge.

We  went to the pinball museum here to let off some steam. Old time entertainment, for us older folks. Got to see the Aquarium here also.

Had a visitor while we were here , named Bat, a black cat who lives on a boat nearby. Came over and toured our boat from the bow to the stern. Heading back again with stops in Nick  A Jack and  Guntersville, we had a 2 hr wait in Decatur for the Wheeler Lock. The next lock was Wilson, which had us waiting 1 hr. to enter. There were seven boats that entered here with us. This time there was no damage done. (PHEW) Back in Florence we met up with Loopers Courtney and Diana on their boat

Legacy from FL. We had a wonderful time at dinner here talking and getting to know their stories. The next day had us doing that laundry business again. John dropped me off and headed to the verizon store to take care of some phone  issues . Very messed up experience.

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