We're On Our Way!

It's October 11th and the clear and brilliantly blue skies, comfortable 75-degree temperature, and gentle breeze add to our excitement of leaving Kingfisher Marina in Demopolis, AL.  We—along  with our first cruising guest, Mike’s sister, Carol Lehman—are on Velsignet to begin our America’s Great Loop Adventure.   Part of our preparation includes sharing this info to comfort family and friends. Hurricane Michael has violently attacked the panhandle of Florida and SE Alabama and left devastating death and destruction.  Because Demopolis was not in HM’s path, our boat is okay and we are okay.  We’re safe.

Also okay but concerned about the aftermath of Hurricane Michael (HM) is Ed (another Ed) from Minnesota.  Ed and his Wisconsin friend, Ted (really!), had cruised Ed’s modified pontoon boat from Minneapolis to Demopolis with the intended destination of Pensacola, FL.  Ed’s pontoon, along with 5 other boats, left this morning for Mobile, AL where they will be updated on HM’s effect in regards to availability of fuel, water and other necessary marine services.  Because we are cruising northward, our concerns are on a much less serious scale.

Looper’s typically explore America’s Great Loop in a counter-clockwise direction, which allows them to experience the country in seasons:  Winter in the Gulf states; Spring up the East Coast; Summer in Canada and Great Lakes; and the middle of the country on the river systems in Autumn.  Our plan is to FIRST get to Joe Wheeler State Park near Rogersville, TN for an America’s Great Loop Cruising Association “Rendezvous” (October 15-18) and participate in a “Looper Crawl” (I expect it to be an “open house” opportunity to tour boats while enjoying craft brews on the docks ).  Getting there entails at least 10 locks and about 250 miles up river within 5 days.

We’ve read about and heard first-hand how we should NOT cruise on a timeline as “things happen”  (boat problems, weather problems, lock closures, etc.).  We must be slow learners, because we’re doing it again, pushing ourselves to reach a destination by a certain date.  If we are able to make it to the Rendezvous, we look forward to meeting folks who, like us, are on a journey to experience something new.  We also look forward to taking you with our travels through this blog and thank you for your care, interest, and comments along the way!

Here we are about ready to leave our slip at Kingfisher Marina.  We'll top off the fuel tanks at another nearby marina, then Carol and Mike will begin a 43-mile journey up the Tombigbee River to a (non-)community called Gainesville, AL.  Brenda will do errands in Demopolis and meet them at a boat launch site near the Heflin Lock.

We left Saint Paul, MN in a rented Ford F150 which offered comfort in riding and room to bring belongings (including some cushions we had re-upholstered in Stillwater, MN for Velsignet).  Mike's sister, Carol Lehman, accompanied us on the trip and was our first cruising guest aboard ship.  Jim Lehman, Carol's husband and our beloved brother-in-law (We don't tell Jim how much we love him and prefer it that way....so mum is the word!), thought it nice if he had come with us as well; Jim sent us the following photo to illustrate what was on his mind!

Here  Mike, Carol and Brenda are upon arrival at Kingfisher Marina in Demopolis.  The Marina isn't very large, but it's a comfortable place to meet people and our boat was safe from Hurricane Michael.  After unpacking the load in the back of the pickup, we took a break for a roof-top happy hour with other boaters in the marina.  Afterwards, the three of us went out with back-door-boat-neighbors, Van and Tara for a dinner of local fare at the "Red Barn."

With Mike at the helm and Carol on deck, Velsignet begins a journey north on the Tombigbee River. Today's destination:  Gainsville, AL.