SOME GOOD ONE BAD! Oct 6

October 6 My Birthday started out so beautiful. Bill and I ate breakfast at the Clifton Marina and started our journey at 0930a. Most of the morning was uneventful, sights were beautiful fall foliage, and georgeous homes on top of the rising cliffs.

Our first near clamity was about mm177 a cruiser passed us going fast and caused a wake that rearranged the furniture in the flybridge. All was set back to normal. THEN another boat called out to pass, which is the right polite way to pass but we didnt turn into the wake fast enough and again rearranged the furnature. Somewhere near mm 180's we passed a dredge no problems all was calm.

Worth the day this mansion along the river right after a highway bridge near Savanna, Tennessee. About 230-300pm clouds gathered, Bill and I discussed weather to anchor or go on to Grand Harbor or Aqua harbor for the night. From the Skipper BOB book we read of an anchorage behind Diamond Island. Thats was decided our destination for the night. We arrived behind Diamond Island next near clamity we tried 4 times to get the anchor to set all the while trying to avoid snags in the river, wind and strong current. Finally it set, generator turned on. By 430pm we were eating chicken and cranberry sandwhiches. I was so cold wet and tired that I changed into my jogging pants and shirt. Plugged up the electric blanket and snuggled down to warm up this was the first night I felt like crying and wanting to go home. WHERE IS HOME? Hot Chocolate and a movie works wonders...I got up did dishes cleaned the kitchen and checked our position again, and again and again. Between 730p and 800pm a light shone in the back window so I got up to look, there was a heavy fog but eriely so beautiful coming off the water. I watched a while then woke Bill up, he had fallen to sleep early. SURE enough there is a tow coming toward us. Bill called on the redio the tow captain spotted us and said we were well out of the way. Who knew they would be coming this way? All was well. Settled down under the blankets generator off. Anchor light have been on long before sundown BUT, I'm not sure so I get up to check lights and position just in case the anchor let go, it did not so I try to rest again. A thunderstorm wind and rain, people talking on the radio...Oh MY! I finally fell asleep then Bill could not sleep. Hope today Oct 7th is better, after all its Sunday and we have a lock to go through my first one.

October 5, 2012 Clifton

Clifton October 4 to October 6 We had a wonderful and relaxing time at the Cliftom marina. The owner Gene and staff were very nice and hospitable. On the evening of the 4th we were met at the dock by Cindy a dockhand and Sally from m/v "Elegant Lady", both helped us to dock our Proud Lady. We had a little trouble with steering as we tried to enter the harbor but Bill was awesome in getting her to the dock in spite of the problem. When Bill traced the problem with steering he found the fluid low on the port transmission. He added the needed fluid and she (Proud Lady) is steering beautifully. No leaks were found during his operational inspection. On the 5th after seeing Elegant lady and The Zone off we moved to another slip to spend our second night here at Clifton. Cleaning time.

Before walking into Clifton Bill and I did laundry and cleaning. A 10 min. walk into Clifton was good. Clifton is a historical town, old homes, historic sidewalk, craft shops and restraunts. Here is a picture of downtown.

Here is one of the historic sidewalk.

Here is the historical Presbyterian Church with a sign about its history in the civil war. (to Brent)

By 330pm we were very tired, we ate salad and chicken strips, went back to the boat to rest. Another fine day on the water. On October 6 we will leave Clifton and head south on the Tennessee river.

The Hills are wrapped in happiness!

Psalms 65 says, v9 You visit the earth and saturate it with water; You greatly enrich it; the river of God of God is full of water.....v12 the hills wrap themselves with joy. That passage is so beautiful it fit this time in our lives October 4, 2012.

This is the sunrise Oct 4 from the beautiful bay we were anchored in on night Oct 3rd. I tryed to tell of the peaceful, beautiful look and feel of this anchorage but my words would not describe it. We left the Bay about 08:15am heading to a next anchorage. The entrance to the cove behind Rockport island is tricky bottom line we learned from that departure experience is to use the same track that we used getting in there. Proud lady kicked up mud at the entrance Bill had to back away twice then returned to the original track on the GPS where we entered to leave that bay. We made it and was on our way down the river.

During this part of the trip we passed, dredges, trees with long roots into the water and beautiful homes along the river. Here is 2 homes that look like lighthouses.

This next sight was a marina on the river I thought was cute, called Mermaid Marina.

I'll end this blog with a picture of a picture of the river as it narrows and the rolling hills so that hopefull you can enjoy some of the beauty and spendor and truely say, The hills are clothed, wrapped or girded with joy Psamls 65 v6 "Who by your might founded the mountains being girded with power."

"Sail Away Lady Sail Away"

There is a song I heard at a old time music festival that says sail away lady sail away ...if I die in tennessee send my bone back home to me sail away lady sail away...

Sunrise on October 3rd at Paris Landing Bill and I had so much fun the first 2 days we were exausted but we had a great time crusing to the next anchorage. There is a bridge that leads to nowhere. An abandoned mill. A ferry boat that was hauling folks across. Beautiful homes along the shoreline and lots and lots of rocks and trees. Trees in the middle of the lake.

The anchorage mm 106.5 was behind Rockport island it was beautiful and peaceful. It had deep cool water. It took me about 45 minutes to set the anchor. Then we ate a bowl of chile while we watched a tow with 15 barges go down the river. I took about 65 pictures throughout the day they will not all fit in the blog of rocks, trees and hills its so beautiful. God made beautiful country didn't he? OCTOBER 4 2012 Got up very early, cleaned the boat made and nice breakfast then headed up the river we may stay the night in a marina we will see........

Began Our Great Loop Trip October 1

October 1st was cold, cloudy and rainy bit it did'nt dampen our spirits or stop the trip. Our Tanks were filled, holding pumped out and we left Kentucky Dam Marina about 0930 am our first destination Ginger Bay 30 miles south on Kentucky Lake, we have anchored here before. Ginger Bay is a beautiful quiet cove with birds, herons, deer and other critters that look at us with curiosity as we enter their cove. The Bay is surrounded by trees and rock formations that have been wash smooth and round by the waters.

We arrived in Ginger bay about 230pm set the anchor, then made a started the generator and cooked a delis meal of spagatti with garlic biscuits. With our bellys full and having warmed up from the cold cruise we then took a nap. It was too wet and cold to be outside. Our first night uneventful very peaceful and long. There is a sad story about Ginger bay that a couple ancored there, turned their generator on and fell asleep never to wake again. NOT us we woke to live another day on our way to the Great loop. Day 2 October 2 2012 Leaving Ginger Bay for Paris landing. left the Bay at 830 am, we met our first barge and tow of the day just outside the bay we passed with no problems but it was so dark and drisseling rain that we had to turn the running lights on.

In this picture the I79 bridge and a tow barge in the distance we could hardly see it, by the time we arrived near Paris landing the sun was trying to peek out and our excitement was building.

The entrance to Paris landing has a coast guard station. Sooo cool! On arrival to Paris Landing we met a couple on a beautiful albin trawler "No Regrets" Berry and Denise helped us dock, they plan to do the loop someday, too.

In this picture Bill is helping to send Berry and Denise off on their M/V "No Regrets" they are heading to Joe Wheeler for a short cruise then back to Green Turtle bay. Bill and I hope to meet them again someday. At Paris Landing we checked in, today we are doing laundry and hope to meet up with a friend we met at Rottering Marine summer of 2011. He lives on a sailbaot here in Paris Landing.

While our laundry washed we walked around the campgrounds to help pass the time. There are persimmon trees, I have not seen persimmon trees since I was very young. There were persimmon tress at Grandma and Grandpa Rauls in Fredricktown, Missouri. You don't want to eat them until it frost because they are bitter. I guess they are for the birds. However I have seen recipes for persimmon pie. We met 2 other couples doing the loop Ross and Laura on their M/V The Zone and katie and Jessie on their sailboat The Next adventure. Docktails were on The Zone a 52 foot Jefferson, then we walker about 1/4 mile to eat For supper we ate at the Paris Landing Lodge "Crazy Chicken Night"

Ross and Laura told of their experience around the Loop it sounds so exciting We can hardly wait for the adventure to unfold.

Only 6 days

Here we are 6 days before we beging our trip. I have been back home to Missouri to visit with family since last Thursday, came home yesterday, all went well I slept in our real bed and took a real shower. The boat is stocked with groceries and supplies. Bill is working on last min. repairs to the electric and gauges. Todays weathter is cloudy. I have pinned on Pinterist 2 years of crock pot cooking recipes. Today we will finish gettting the dingy ready by painting the boat name and starting the engine then do a trial run . I will try again later to post pictures to the blog spot.

2 weeks before we leave Kentucky Dam Marina

Bill and I have 2 weeks before we leave! It still feels like a dream but here we go! This summer has been full of adventures and exploring here at Kentucky Dam Marina. I will try to upload pictures very soon.
Proud Lady is in the best shape she has ever been in since we owned her. We purchaced a different dingy and engine to handle stronger currents. Today we are doing some cleaning, changing oil.

It feels to me like its has been longer than a 16 months since we moved to Kentucky. Our plan to leave in 2011 was delayed by repairs to Proud Lady some because she is old some because she was damaged in the flood 2011.

Now about the name Sarayu sails thats because we had a sailboat when we began dreaming but when we seen the waters that we will be traveling WE HAD TO GET A BIGGER BOAT then we bought Proud Lady.
So here she is 2 weeks before we set out on the GREAT LOOP ADVENTURE.