On To Grand Harbor

 

We left Clifton Marina on Wed. the 17th. early.  Again another beautiful fall day.  The Tennessee River is beautiful.  As we travelled up the river we looked like a convoy of boats.  There were many beautiful homes along the way, but we never saw any people.  They must be like our summer homes back on the lakes.  Along the way we had to go around a barge that was dredging in the middle of the channel.

 

We pasted many small marinas also along the trip today.  As we approached the Pickwick Lock and Dam Lady KK had called ahead and there would be a little wait.  There was a tow already in the chamber going up.  As we approached to go in there was a strong wind to contend with as well as the strong current.  We got in and tied up on our starboard side to the bollard with no problem.  Other boats were having great difficulty because of the wind.  We thought that once we were all in that they would close the doors and bring us up, but the lock master waited for 4 other boats that were 30 minutes away, which was actually 45 minutes away.  After we were all in it was an easy climb up to Pickwick Lake.
There were large estates on the port side coming out of the lock.  We had about 8 mile to go to get to Grand Harbor Marina. The water and waves were very rough on the lake.  The marina was busy, what with all of us coming in.  They were very friendly and accommodating.  It was a tight squeeze getting into our spot.  Don is amazing at docking the boat.  He put it in there like putting on his socks....  Once in and all the other boats tied up it was time for cocktails and hors' doeuvre's.  The best time of the day.  The sun was just setting and it was beautiful. 

We met many new Looper's and a few from before.  Grand Harbor is a magnet for Lopper's to stop.   It was windy and cool but no one minded it.  We had all decided to go the Freddy T's for dinner.  There were 14 of us.  It was an interesting restaurant.  Nice servers but terrible food and not cheap either.  We found out later the the owner of the marina (which recommended it) also owns the restaurant, funny hah....  When we got back to the boat Don checked all the lines as they were calling for severe storm, lighting and possible hail.  We stayed up for a nite cap and watch the lightning storm approach.

The next day Thurs. the 18th,  Scott and Don went to play golf at the State Park golf course and KC and I went to WalMart for supplies.  The marina supplied us with a complimentary car.  After groceries and a liquor stop we picked up the boys and headed back to the boat. They had a great time golfing and great weather.  Back at the marina more boats arrived.  They just keep on coming....  Just a few of us for cocktail hour.  Came back to the boat and made lasagna and biscuits for dinner.  Nice quite nite and better food than the nite before.



Scott & KC of Jet Stream

On  decided to stay and take the car to see Shiloh National Military Park and Battlefield.  It was the site of one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles of the Civil War.  There were 23,746 casualties in a two day battle in April 6 and 7 of 1862.  It was a beautiful place and to think that so many men died.  It really makes you stand back and think about a lot of things...  The video before we toured the area was worth watching.  After we left Shiloh we drove back to the boat.  The winds had picked up back at the marina.  Four more Looper boats arrived in the late afternoon.  Barry from the marina asked Don for some help bringing in a couple of the boats.  I am sure that they were glad to be tied up.  No happy hour with the others tonite.  Too cold and windy.  I worked on the blog and Don worked on the boat.  Don talked to one of the boats, Blarney Castle. (John and Denny) leaving the next day for Joe Wheeler.  They wanted to travel with us so we decided to leave around 8:00/8:30AM.   I cooked a marvelous chicken and rice and vegetable dinner tonite, if I don't say so for myself.  We watched a bit of TV and called it a nite.