Mike and Brenda on "Velsignet"

It’s lunchtime and Brenda opens the (tiny) refrigerator to maneuver out of it a salad.   In doing so, a container of cooked brown rice (which was going to be part of our dinner this evening) topples and its contents are distributed throughout the fridge and floor.  Brenda shuts the refrigerator door to the mess inside and is picking up sticky rice kernels from the floor when Mike appears.   “What’s going on here?” he asks out of curiosity.   Brenda—having learned a new language from the SNL video posted in yesterday’s blog—let's out a fairly low growl, “You should see what the inside of the fridge looks like.”   Then, looking past Mike to avert eye contact, she brightens and adds “I LOVE IT!” We’re still in the Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, AL, just 13 minutes from Mike’s folks in Orange Beach, AL.   After researching our options, we’ve decided that Homeport will be our home base until March; it’s conveniently located to family and provisions and th...

Most every day while drinking our morning coffee, we review our email to read the Looper discussion forum on the AGLCA (America's Great Loop Cruising Association).  The forum covers topics all across the board...marina recommendations, electronics, best places to eat, how to clean isenglass, federal regulations, valuable websites--you get the idea.  A question posed today was "Is Boating Like RV-ing?" and a Saturday Night Live skit was included in the posting. The answer to this question is more complex than one might think: 1.  We've made the decision to do America's Great Loop (great adventure!).  2.  We're committed to living on a boat (small, small space; tiny house living) for at least a year to do so.  3.  We're meeting interesting people and exploring new places.   4.  Some days are more challenging than others, and  5.  Every day offers something different....   ...and something to laugh a...

We are now in the land of palm trees and manicured landscapes, wide sugar-sand beaches, outlet malls, movie theaters, banking services, easy internet access, and lots of food places that offer the freshest of gulf seafood.  We're in the resort towns of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL.  Appreciating the change in scenery and conveniences, we are most grateful for our time with Mike's parents, Glen and Marlys, and sister, JoAnn, and brother-in-law Scott. First things first, we were happy to take Glen and Marlys on a tour of "Velsignet."   We enjoyed lunch at Wahlburgers at OWA, an entertainment and amusement center.   Trying out the camera Glen is loaning us during our loop-y adventure, we found the zoom works well! We celebrated New Year's Eve at Glen and Marly's condo in Orange Beach.   Glen and Marlys's winter place is spacious and comfortable. New Year's + TV Remote=FOOTBALL! There's a beautiful view of the ...

After the heavy rains a couple of nights ago, we’ve been keeping a keen eye on the river water to avoid logs and other floating debris that have resulted from the flooding.   We were told that the river down from the Coffeeville Lock had risen 9 feet after the storm!   The frequency of dodging “drift” is just enough to keep us on our toes.   We’ve also been told that as river levels recede, the trash and debris will worsen.     And so we cruise southward with caution and “Good Karma.” “Good Karma”—with captains Kermit and Katherine—and “Velsignet” have been traveling together since Bobby’s Fish Camp.   Kermit and Katherine completed the loop a few years ago, decided they like the boat life, and are taking their 1983 live-aboard trawler from their home state of Ohio to Florida.   Last evening at our anchorage on the Tenshaw River, they introduced us to the concept of “rafting.” Rafting is when the larger boat (“Good Karma” is a Hattaras 53’ ya...

"Lock master, Velsignet is secure."  Our boat is tied to the wall of the Coffeeville Lock, ready to be lowered and released to continue our way down the Tombigbee River towards Mobile, Alabama.  Once secure, we expect a confirming "Roger, Captain" from the lock master.  Today, however, the lock master gave us an alarming response:  "Captain, it's not too late to turn around." It's 216 miles from Demopolis to Mobile, 3 full days of cruising in pretty isolated territory. We traveled 70 miles yesterday between the hours of 7 am and 3 pm.  Two more long days to Mobile and then another day of cruising to Orange Beach where we'll celebrate New Year's with Mike's parents.  Our intent is to move as many miles as we can in this long isolated stretch of water during the daylight hours and anchor out each night. Today, Thursday, December 27th, is not going according to our plans.  Our 5:30 am alarm didn't go off so we woke up at 6:30 am, t...

So it’s December 23 rd and we’re at the Demopolis Walmart looking at their limited supply of wines.  We’re discussing the “possibilities” for purchase when another shopper interjects with her thoughts about the wine selections.   A conversation ensues (which lasts a good 15 minutes or more), we  hear about her recent trip to California’s Sonoma and Napa areas (her enthusiasm is contagious), and we learn more about Demopolis (she grew up here, and it’s “much more than Walmart!”).  Twenty-four hours later, our new friend, Billie, has invited us to a Christmas Eve party!   YES!! Stopping in Demopolis for a Christmas break, Harbormaster Anna-Marie greeted us at Slip B13.   Our Christmas Eve Day included  “facetime” with Allison, Brent, Iris and Rose as they relaxed in their Arvada, CO home, happy hour with David and Molly (M/V “Teva”, locals) and Van (MV "CCGG"), and by 7:00 pm Billie and her husband, Chuck, arrived to whisk us awa...