AGLCA FALL RENDEZVOUS

The annual AGLCA FALL RENDEZVOUS was held at Joe Wheeler State Park in Alabama. The 2,550 acre Park and Lake are named after the Confederate General and US Congressmen Joe Wheeler.

The RENDEZVOUS includes a series of educational seminars about the Great Loop route, and how to plan and implement your adventure. During the RENDEZVOUS there is plenty of time to swap Looping stories and experiences!

The Looper Crawl is a highlight of the RENDEZVOUS, where RENDEZVOUS participants have the opportunity to board all of the Looping boats for an Open House "Look and See". We have included (below) pictures of all the 2017 FALL RENDEZVOUS vessels.

All of the RENDEZVOUS participants are divided into three categories:
      Blue = Planning
      White = In Progress
      Yellow = Completed
For this year about 1/3 of the participants are "In Progress", 2/3 "Planning" and a very small percentage "Completed". (We guess there are lots of dreamers :) There are also a few, Speakers and Sponsors.

A great time is enjoyed by all, with a good combination of serious classes, physical challenges and social events.

The biggest challenge this year was departing Joe Wheeler State Park. The Wilson Lock is currently under repair. It is mandatory that all Loooers pass this Lock to continue the Loop. The Lock is being repaired from 6 am - 6 pm daily. We can pass the Lock prior to 6 am or after 6 pm ? This time of year in Alabama it's dark with either choice ... We decided to Lock with twenty-two Looper boats in the evening. Happy to say we all made it safely together back to Florence Harbor Marina at dusk :)

Tomorrow, weather permitting we will continue to backtrack to Pickwick Lake and then start on the Tenn-Tom River to Mobile.

Looper Tip: The FALL RENDEZVOUS is a must .... the camaraderie with fellow Loopers is extremely unique and special!
It's also a great time to Schedule your Vessel Safety Inspection ( Happy to say Thistle passed :)

The AGLCA !

The FALL RENDEZVOUS was at Joe Wheeler State Park in Alabama.

The Park is on Wheeler Lake that is part of the Tennessee River.

The Park location is about 60 miles off the traditional Great American Loop route.

We Passed two Locks (Wheeler & Wilson) to dock at the Park.

The FALL RENDEZVOUS schedule.

2017

(Can you find Greg & Reenie?) 

Imagine This, Slow Hand, Dash Away & Observer.

Gypsy III, Home Office, Total Eclipse & Lady Bug. 

Don't Think Twice, High Spirts, Red Pepper & Mother Ocean. 

One Eye Dog, Tasteful Traveler, Tortuga  & Junipero.

Bucket List, Never II Naughty, The Perch & The Good Life.

Act III, Next Act, Rula Bula & Odyssey. 

Angle Louise, Ariel, Nectar & Heavens' to Betsy. 

Happy Ours, Viridian, Unruly & At Last. 

Robin's Nest, Nellie May, Golden & Resolute. 

Pharm Life, Sandrobber, First Forty & Ramble On.

Gettin' Looped, Hour Plan, Le Rive & Decisions. 

Ocean Star, Catalina, Phantom & Seaquest.

Thistle on the Looper Crawl :)

Cheers to a successful day! 

Kayak Races, Polo Matches and Dinghy Races! 

Favorite two and four legged Looping friends XO.  

"In Progress". 

A beautiful sunset to end the FALL RENDEZVOUS! 

Twenty- two Boats and one canoe clearing the Wilson Lock at sunset.

Our Post RENDEZVOUS flotilla headed to Florence Harbor Marina.

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TENNESSEE RIVER

How are Y'all doing?

We both like the South, although sometimes it feels, tastes, and sounds as if we are in a foreign  country! 

We traveled about 50 miles along the TENNESSEE RIVER, from Pickwick Landing State Park to Florence, Alabama. Florence is in the Northwest corner of Alabama.  It was a pretty day with light winds, and big white cumulonimbus clouds.

We docked for a week at the Florence Harbor Marina. The Marina has a favorable weekly rate for Loopers. We were also a little nervous about the remnants of hurricane Nate, and decided to stay at port for the week. The first couple of days in Florence were very fun, we arrived on the towns monthly First Friday celebration, and then watching a parade on Saturday morning. 

After a couple of days in Florence, our weather reports indicated that hurricane Nate wasn't going to effect us much (except lots of rain). We decided to secure Thistle and rent a car for a few days and visit Nashville. We wanted to visit Nashville and it was a good excuse to avoid the rain. 

Nashville was so much fun! We totally enjoyed ourselves for three days:) Nashville is the Capital of Tennessee. It is also home to The Grand Old Opry House and The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Old Downtown part of Nashville features Honky-Tonks with live music! The music starts everyday at noon and continues until the wee hours of the morning. We listened to great music all three days! It is a tradition that no place of business charges a cover. There are 1,000's of tourists and locals walking from Honky-Tonk to Honky-Tonk enjoying live music of their choice (the people watching is pretty amazing too!). The new area of Nashville is called The Gulch, with many fantastic restaurants. 

Missing Thistle we headed back to Florence to finish our week at the Marina.

Florence was incorporated in 1826 and us known today as Alabama's Renaissance City. The city is very proud of its diverse history. There is an Indian Mound (largest of its kind in the South) and Museum. It is a Indian ceremony area called Wawmahona, built circa 500 AD. Popes Tavern is a renowned historical stop in Florence, it served as a hospital for Civil War soldiers for both Union and Confederate armies. The W.C. Handy Home and Museum is dedicated to Florence's most famous son. Handy is known as the "Father of Blues" and was born in a log cabin in 1873. Every summer there is a large music festival here in his honor. We enjoyed our time back in Florence, especially visiting with fellow Loopers at Stanfields River Bottom Grill at the Florence Harbor Marina.

After a nice week, weather permitting, we are heading to Rogersville, Alabama tomorrow morning. We will attend the annual America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association Fall Rendezvous .... 

Looper Tip: Many of the Marina's along the river system offer Loopers a great weekly rate! We really liked Florence and all it had to offer :)

A pretty day along the TENNESSEE RIVER.

Florence is located in the Northwest corner of Alabama.

The Florence Water Tower. 

Y'all is a contraction of you and all. 

It is strongly associated with Southern American English.

The TENNESSEE RIVER has a large rock formation on the river bank across from the Florence Harbor Marina entrance.

Florence Harbor Marina at Mike Marker 256 on the TENNESSEE RIVER.

The City of Florence, Alabama is named after Florence, Italy.  

We arrived in Florence for their First Friday town celebration.

It's an October tradition to drop a huge pumpkin from a tall crane???

Splat..... onto the pavement!!!

We had a "smashing"  good time :) 

The University of Northern Alabama is located in Florence.

Saturday morning was the Homecoming Parade.

Everyone was dressed in purple!

We were a little nervous about Hurricane Nate!!! 

With Thistle secure at the dock ... we rented a car and drove two and a half hours to Nashville.

From Florence to Nashville we drove through Tennessee, Amish Country. 

Nashville is a very colorful town:) 

The Country Music Hall of Fame, western wear and lots of live music! 

And... more live music! 

Honky-Tonks....

Milk and Honey was our favorite restaurant. 

Our server went to culinary school in Laguna Beach, CA.

Nashville, Hank You XO

Too much fun :) 

Good night, from Nashville XO 

Back to Florence for a few days, to enjoy our favorite stops. 

Thistle enjoyed a boat cleaning in Florence.

Bye Bye 

How Niiiiiiiice :) 

CUMBERLAND RIVER to The TENNESSEE RIVER

We departed Paducah, Kentucky in the morning and traveled 10 miles on the Ohio River. After 10 miles we veered left onto the CUMBERLAND RIVER. There wasn't a drastic change of conditions between these two rivers. After about 35 miles on the CUMBERLAND we entered The Barkley Lock. This was our one and only Lock of the day. In The Barkley Lock we were lifted 57 feet up!

Soon after the Barkley Lock, we arrived at Green Turtle Bay Marina. We filled up wth diesel and then docked for three nights at Green Turtle Bay. Our time at the Marina was productive, but rather routine. Yes, everyone needs a few "catch-up" days every once in a while :)

We used the courtesy car to find a place to refill our propane tank. The propane is used for cooking in our oven and two stove top burners. With Looper friends we made a trip to Walmart for basic provisions. At the Marina we did about five loads of laundry and filled Thistle's water tanks.

The best part of staying at Green Turtle Bay Marina was dinner at Patti's 1880's Settlement Restaurant. The Restaurant is famous for their two inch pork chops and homemade pies. One night we dinned at Patti's with Lesley and Jim aboard Tyre-less (darn no picture?). Another night we went to Patti's with a group of Loopers! It was just as good the second night, but no wish for a third.

The next morning we departed The Marina by ourselves. The last few weeks we have been buddy boating ... it seems like everyone has a slightly different plan the next few days. After a mile we entered Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River. We enjoyed a gorgeous day traveling 96 miles to Pebble Isle Marina.

It was a really long travel day! We were very excited to finally dock at the Marina as we planned to meet with our Gold Looper friends Steve and Sheli aboard Pura Vida dos (their beautiful new boat). We buddy boated together two summers ago in Canada. We had pizza delivered to the Marina... and enjoyed each other's company laughing well past Looper midnight (9 pm!).

The next day we buddy boated along the TENNESSEE RIVER to a perfect anchorage at Mile Marker 169. The four of us took a dinghy to a nearby island with wine and appetizers to watched a pretty sunset together. Then ended the evening with a pot luck dinner aboard Thistle.

On our Great American Loop adventure we have been blessed with the opportunity to see and experience so much! After spending the last two days with our friends...we realize, at times like this, the very best part of Looping is the everlasting friendships you make along the way :)

The following morning we got a head start to Pickwick Lock. There were six Loopers hurrying to the Lock, in order to lift up before an approaching tow. All six of us made it before the tow. Exiting the Lock we entered Pickwick Lake and docked with our friends at Pickwick Landing State Park. The four of us rode on Pura Vida's dinghy to dinner at the State Lodge. It was a beautiful full harvest moon on the short dingy ride back back to the Marina.

The next morning we finished some chores, said our goodbyes. Thistle departed for Florence, Alabama on the TENNESSEE RIVER.  Pura Vida dos departed for another Marina. We hope to buddy boat again together this winter.

LooperTip: Pickwick Landing State Park is a hidden gem! (Most Loopers head to other marinas in the area.) We enjoyed the State Park atmosphere.

The red line was our navigation course the last few days on the CUMBERLAND and TENNESSEE RIVERS. The green dot is Green Turtle Bay Marina. The blue dot is Pebble Isle Marina. The yellow dot is Mile Marker 169 anchorage. The purple dot is Pickwick Landing State Park.

Green Turtle Bay Marina in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. 

Yes, there are lots of real turtles in the water! 

Dinner at Patti's ( We shared :) ...two inch thick pork chop, flower pot bread with strawberry butter and homemade pie! 

The Looper dinner at Patti's. 

While trying to find propane, we tried Catfish for Sunday brunch... surprisingly good :) 

Departing Green Turtle Bay Marina on the CUMBERLAND RIVER. We only traveled a short distance on the CUMBERLAND RIVER. The river is 690 miles long. Nashville is  190 miles up the CUMBERLAND, we decided it was too far for a quick side trip on Thistle.

We headed onto Lake Kentucky. The Lake was created  when dams were built  on the TENNESSEE RIVER. 

 The TENNESSEE RIVER is 650 miles long and we will traverse about 190 miles. We only saw two barges in the last four days (Can't  say that we miss them?). 

Because the Lakes were man-made, there a few buildings and bridges underwater.

Pebble Isle Marina in Tennessee, gives Loopers fresh homemade cinnamon rolls every morning :) 

A tranquil day on the TENNESSEE RIVER.

The water level on the rivers is still very low, but almost every house is built on stilts.... for a reason!

We see huge fallen trees on the river banks, if the rivers were at a high level, these trees would be floating down the river? 

Happy to be anchored at Mile Marker 169 on the TENNESSEE RIVER.

Our private island with goats! 

The Baaaaaayer's were a little nervous that the goats would jump in the dingy:) 

Greg took a dip in the TENNESSEE RIVER.

Our view for the night :) 

Sunset! 

Pickwick Landing Lock. Greg and Reenie wear headphones to communicate ( privately!) when locking and docking. 

The Fall colors are just starting.

Thistle docked at Pickwick Landing State Park.

Friends XO