So Happy Together!

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 crew and Loopers were getting their folding chairs arranged.  By 5:15 pm, 15 Loopers gathered (Texas 2 Step, Island Girl and Sea Life -- also joined us) to share their food and stories and laughs.  With flashlights pointing forward and aft, we said our good-byes to the group and ventured back to Velsignet in the dinghy before darkness, arriving aboard at 6:40 pm.

By 7 am this morning, Velsignet had pulled anchor and departed in the rain with 6 other vessels: Island Girl, Red Pearl, Justified, Just Right, Halcyon and Sea Life. Larry (Sea Life) called ahead to the Guntersville Lockmaster to let them know a group of us would be coming through and it worked out perfectly (we can all communicate using our VHF radios on channel 69).  We arrived at 10 am  with the Guntersville Lock doors opening for us and we went right through without delay or incident.  This was the first time we locked with so many other boats--a total of 9 (two "dive boats" went in with our group).

This evening, Red Pearl and Velsignet are planning to spend the night near Goose Pond Island, most likely at a marina near there.  We hope to get a courtesy car so that the four of us (Mike, Brenda, Steve and Kathy) can shop at the "Unclaimed Baggage" store in Scottsboro, AL.  "Unclaimed Baggage" is a store that sells to the public and donates to charity unclaimed baggage from the airline industry.  Anyone want us to pick up what they've lost on a flight?  (Best to text me!)

As you can see by this picture, we are getting into the hills and even in the rain and clouds, it is beautiful.  We are traveling in a group of 7 vessels, keeping a safe distance between each other.

We departed Joe Wheeler State Park Marina at 8:30 a.m. yesterday; If you're looking to reunion with family or friends, we understand you can rent a cottage for $170/night; each cottage will house 12 people! 

We assume this is an electricity-producing plant.  Its size was impressive along the waterway!

While not nearly as busy as what we experienced in Mobile, AL or on the Tenn-Tom Waterway, we keep our eyes open for tugs and barges on the Tennessee.

Decatur had a couple of pet food producing plants; we detected cooking odors as we passed by.

So much along the Tennessee River we see how the land rises out of the water.  When rock is exposed like as is in this photo, it takes our breath away!

Not sure what bridge this is.  I took the photo because it was the beginning of where we started to see hills in the background, foretelling what is to come!

We anchored in this oxbow channel off of the Tennessee River last night.  

We're finding each morning to be very cool, with temps rising to the low 70s during the day, then cooling again when the sun goes down.  After anchoring in the heat of the day, we relaxed a bit on the bow of the boat and the gentle breeze cooled us off.

We're traveling under clouds, in rain, with cooler temps today.  We like steering the boat from the flybridge and have a space heater that keeps us in comfort.

Here's a photo from Velsignet looking back on others in our Looper group.  We are in communication through our VHF radios, channel 69.  Some in the group will stay near Goose Pond Island; others will continue on with hopes of getting to Chattanooga, TN tomorrow.

Mike took this photo while we were in the Guntersville Lock.  You can't see it, but I'm still in my pajamas!