Mike and Brenda on "Velsignet"

JoAnn and Scott Broslma, Mike's sister and her husband, made the 6+ hour drive from the Indianapolis area to Chattanooga to spend the weekend with us on Velsignet.  We had a great time exploring together and discovered this mural on a building that gave us pause:  Who are these men and why are they in this line-up?  Scott's curiosity (which makes him a really fun guy to hang around) wouldn't/couldn't let the evening end until he had answers to these questions (and he found them...see the end of this blog for the answers).  As we think about you, our family and friends, we wonder what you might be pondering. On Saturday, JoAnn and Scott and Mike and Brenda learned more about the Civil War and confrontations that occurred in the Chattanooga area.  At Point Park, we read about Lookout Mountain's famous "Battle Above the Clouds," and walked where civil war soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies walked. The weight of Americans fighting agains...

One of the pleasures we are enjoying is visiting with Loopers from the Seattle area.  They provide another link to what was our home for many years and friends we hold dear.  While Ken and Karen (MV "Island Girl") lived in Puyallup, WA until they retired and moved to Florida, they had good times cruising the San Juans.  Ken and Karen's Washington visitor and friend, Kennedy, continues to work for Weyerhaeuser.  Another couple, Roger and Kris (MV "Miss Utah"--named after their beloved pooch), calls Missouri home and yet, Roger lived on Lake Sammamish for more than 20 years.  Roger was a competitive water skier.  When I asked him if he ever wore a Santa suit while water skiing, he smiled and confirmed that indeed he had! This evening starting at 5 pm, fourteen Loopers (2 couples from MN; 1 couple from MO; 1 couple from SC; 2 couples from IN; and 1 from FL) gathered on one of the city docks downtown Chattanooga for "docktails."  Docktails are informal g...

"Velsignet" followed "Red Pearl" into the Goose Pond Colony Marina yesterday about 2:30 pm.  Mike had called ahead to the marina about our arrival with a request for the use of a courtesy car so that we could find out what the store "Unclaimed Baggage" was all about.  And so it was with disappointment that the courtesy car was not available.  Disappointed but not discouraged, Steve called the "Unclaimed Baggage" store and we were delighted to learn the store would send a shuttle to the marina for us!  Now THAT'S customer service! "Unclaimed Baggage" retail floor space is about as large as a Macy's or large JC Penny Store.  According to our driver, Michael Foster--a retired native of Scottsboro (who also went on a 10-day mission trip to Guatamala a few years back to deliver dental services to the poor), "Unclaimed Baggage draws shoppers from around the country and the world.  The merchandise includes unclaimed items lef...

Every day on Velsignet is a learning day.  In the past few days, we have learned: (1) Immediately sign-up for the next Rendezvous to lock in seats; (2) It's comforting to cruise with others in a group;  (3) While our dinghy is small, it'll get us to where we want to go; and (4) Potlucks with Loopers are great gatherings and provide a delicious meal even when each participant must scrounge for their contribution! Velsignet left Joe Wheeler State Park Marina yesterday morning with 4 other vessels:  Red Pearl, Just Right, Justified, and Halcyon. We cruised roughly 55 miles where Velsignet anchored in an oxbow area and the others docked at Ditto's Marina just off the Tennessee.  After setting the anchors and getting ourselves and our things together, Mike got the motor on the dinghy  and we made a maiden voyage from our achorage to Ditto Marina (less than 1 mile) for "docktails" and a potluck meal.  When we arrived, 2 tables were being set up by the marina...