Trip Diary (mostly land travel) for October, 2008

Wednesday, Oct. 1:  Following a pancake breakfast aboard, Judy and Glen left for Cordova at 10 AM.  We started boatkeeping chores: laundry, general cleanup, removal of electronics to be returned for repair (chart plotter and dinghy fishfinder), and packing for tomorrow's trip to IN and IL.  After early evening showers we took advantage of our new wheels to drive into Rogersville for McDonald's dinners.

Oct. 2-19; IN and IL: We drove out of the park at 7 AM CDT Friday, pausing only briefly for egg-McMuffin breakfasts.  The drive back to IN was pleasant and uneventful with a stop for lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Louisville, KY.  Saturday began with the President's Council Brunch before the 1 PM football game with Penn State.  We attended the first half of that game before departing for our Macon High School's all-class reunion in Decatur, IL.  Ten of our 25-member 1995 class attended; it was a delightful affair.  Sunday church at Macon with Larry's sister and brother's family preceded an extended lunch in Decatur with Lola's four brothers and five sisters-in-law before dessert at Sharon Lowry's before driving back to W. Lafayette.  The next two weeks continued to be hectic with doctors, dentists, and vision appointments.  Lola included a one-day trip to MI with Sharon Hawks while Larry spent a day on campus with Purdue duties. Of course, we had to check on the status of the new great grandchild. Finally, we had completed local commitments, prepared the condo for winter and packed the car for returning to the boat.  We left Friday at 7:30 AM EDT, arriving back at 5:20 PM CDT; it took both of us making 3 trips to transfer everything onto the boat.  It had rained 1.1 in. while we were gone, the most rain we've seen to date.  Saturday was a day to recuperate and stow all the returned "stuff."  We enjoyed reuniting with looper friends who had docked during our absence as numerous others began arriving.  It was a delight to again attend Sunday services at Rogersville UMC after a 3-year gap.  Seventeen additional boats docked throughout the day.

Oct. 20-24; AGLCA Wheeler Rendezvous: Monday was registration and the evening reception and welcome dinner.  Numbers were down slightly from 2007: 65 vs. 82 boats and 185 vs. 225 attendees, but facilities better accommodated this year's size.  Concurrent sessions, a first this year, provided very comprehensive, excellent information about the southern sections of the great loop Tuesday-Thursday.  Friday we drove 60 mi. to Corinth, MS to visit the newly opened Civil War Interpretive Center that is a museum for the historic Shiloh and Corinth battles.  The center's inside displays and its outside fountain can only be characterized as outstanding.  We then visited the huge Shiloh Battleground, enjoying its film, a drive past the outside field markers and the Methodist church (both replica and active) where the battle started. Returning, we packed for extended land travel.

Saturday, Oct. 25:  We left Joe Wheeler Park at 7:15 for a 3-hr. drive to Harbor Lights Marina in Soddy Daisy, TN (near Chattanooga) to visit looper friends Rich and Lee Johnston aboard Crazy Eights.  They suspended their loop in 2007 for Lee to resume her real estate business.  After lunch aboard we enjoyed loop reminiscing, updating each other about life since our April visit to their new home in Hoschton, GA, and learning a new-to-us dominos game, Mexican Train.  Following a delightful rib dinner at Steve's Landing, we returned to the boat for an evening of the card game Hand and Foot (ladies won).

Oct. 26-28; Knoxville, TN:  Sunday morning was an opportunity to learn the Chicken Foot dominos game before a light lunch and departure for Knoxville.  We reached the Hilton a bit after 5 PM.  We enjoyed sleeping-in Monday morning and catching up on computer work before meeting granddaughter Samantha Swinford for lunch at Panera's.  She went to her afternoon UT classes while we went shopping.  Sam picked us up from the hotel for dinner at the Downtown Grill & Brewery before returning to watch the Titans beat the Colts.  Sam brought Tuesday breakfast to our hotel.  She and Lola then left to shop while Larry stayed to take advantage of the excellent WiFi service to catch up on Purdue work.  He then met them for lunch at Gourmet's Market before departing on the 5 hr. drive back to Wheeler.  Arriving at 7:30 PM gave time to unpack and turn in early to reinvigorate.

Wednesday, Oct. 29:  A day for laundry and boat projects prior to finally resuming waterway travel.  At 4 PM we were invited to join 16 other loopers for heavy hors d'oeuvres aboard Roy El' (Roy and Elvie Short).  That sufficed for dinner.  We left the group at 6:30 to go into Rogersville for supplies prior to tomorrow's departure.  Returning, Lola ironed while Larry refilled water tanks and updated web pages.

Oct. 30-31; Grand Harbor Marina:  With Lola not feeling well, we cast off at 7 AM Thursday after calling the lockmaster at Wheeler lock 3 mi. downstream.  She informed us they were working on the gate interlock switches, but to come ahead.  Ultimately, we waited 1.5 hr after tying to the lock wall.  We locked down 48 ft. with two other pleasure boats to head for the 94 ft. Wilson lock 15 mi. downstream after overtaking a commercial tow just below the lock.  Fortunately, all 3 pleasure boats arrived about 30 min. before the tow and we were locked down first with only a 5 min. wait.  This enabled us to clear the final lock for the day by 11:30 AM.  With a current of 1.5-.5 mph, we made Grand Harbor Marina by 4:20 PM.  This was fortunate since Larry began developing stomach cramps about a hour earlier.  We were just able to get tied and hooked-up before we both crashed to recover.  By Friday morning we were both feeling much better and, with a good WiFi connection and reliable cell service, spent the day catching up on electronic billing, fueling, pump-out, etc.  After a week of 10 degree below normal temperatures, the weather started warming with highs approaching 70 and lows in the upper 40's.  Taking advantage of the excellent courtesy vehicles, we enjoyed a light dinner with Halloween costumed waitresses at Freddie T's.  Returning to upload the web, we were shocked to receive a message that our hosting site, Our World, had been permanently shut down!

Water miles traveled to date: 1,185; this month: 63

Questions or comments?  Just e-mail us.