So now we are back in our covered slip at Ditto Landing...colder weather has arrived, rain is here, fog covers the mountain view, and we've a list of boat chores to do...but we are in no big hurry. Jacque and Doug Nelson will arrive on Monday afternoon for a short visit. Then we pick up a rental car and head home on Tuesday. BOO HOO...sometimes you just wish it could continue for a while longer.

Seemed to go sooooo fast...before you knew it , it was time to head out....and head out they did...57 boats...some headed down the Tom-Bigbee waterway to Mobile; others headed to tour Chattanooga before heading south; just a few like us, headed to a winter home. The parade to the first lock Thursday morning started early and was a sight to see. We said good bye to MAINE VISIONS, as Dianne and Eldon were there among 'em. They are they boat with the orange pod on the back. Larry tried one more time to get the depth sounder working...not happening...and then they hopped in the truck and headed back to Fairview. We headed back to Ditto Landing...cold and cloudy day on the water.

What a difference a few days makes...the fall colors are out in all their glory!!!

Wednesday afternoon we crawled through the open boats...while there were some bigger, better, and/or newer...we found nothing we were willing to trade for...

Can you spot the TUMBLEWEED among this group???

Tuesday afternoon we did our bit for the Rogersville economy by shopping downtown...then attended an outdoor concert that night. FUN FUN FUN..

Monday night the door prize drawing was a big deal to us. Cindy was elated to learn that her friends at Grafton Marine had donated a "message in a bottle" prize...and I was elated when my friend Julaine @ BOREAS won!!!

Monday and Wednesday afternoons the highlight of the rendezvous was an event they refer to as the Looper Crawl. Boaters in attendance volunteer to host an open boat...and attendees crawl through them. It makes a great hands-on learning experience...folks ask all sorts of questions and look in all the nook and crannies. Floyd and I loved participating in this as the crawlees three years ago...the educator in me said this was a must-do for us as the boaters this time. So we opened up, and let them come in. As we expected people were always amazed about how much more livable space we have than most trawlers. The big surprise was how enamored many were with the books I'd printed from the blog. One lady was reduced to tears...I totally got that. TUMBLEWEED looked so good...and we were proud to show her off. We were hosts on Monday afternoon so that we could be crawlers on Wednesday afternoon.

After supper the first night, it was time to introduce the GOLD LOOPERS. That's us...folks who have completed one loop. Floyd somehow managed to make a name for us...first he convinced them we were from the boating capitol of the nation..that it was none of their business what we'd been doing since completing the loop 5 weeks ago...and that we were the harbor hosts for those who were brave enough to travel up the Arkansas River. Ever the class clown, he had them laughing. During the rest of the conference, people would start conversations by commenting about his introductory comments. He is a keeper!

Seems like everyone had lots to chat about...sponsor vendors hosted wine and cocktails before the evening meals...sometimes the wine was good; sometimes not so much...we even managed to get overserved a couple of times...then we really had lots to say. This photo includes Larry, Cindy and Eldon.

That first evening of events included introductions of those currently in the process of looping...and believe it or not, we located a couple of Kansans. Last August, we met Marc and Shelley Colby, former Wichitians now living in Austin, aboard ROCKCHALK. They joined us in Chicago at Columbia Yacht Club. We had such fun catching up with them again. This photo is Floyd chatting with new loopers aboard WIND SONG, Jerry and Janet Guyer from Louisburg. They'll be heading to Chattanooga when the rendezvous is over so we hope to catch up with them along the way as well. We also met Nancy and Rik Robinson from the Grand Rivers, KY area...she has ties to Western Kansas and was a Special Ed teacher...they adopted us or we adopted them...with Eldon and Dianne Morrison aboard MAINE VISIONS we always had a table full...sometimes two!!!

The docks were packed...lots of loopers in process, just starting, or like us, finished a loop and headed for friendly dockage for the winter. I'm guessing that this event helps keep this marina afloat...cash flow to get through those cold months ahead. At one point they announced 57 boats here for the rendezvous ... plus all sorts of folks who drove here. We think there were about 400 total attendees. Several Linda's; no other Floyd's. Needless to say, none who claim to be based in Kansas. Well, we did...

Larry and Cindy are due to arrive this afternoon...I'm blogging and talking on the aft deck ... Floyd is taking the bus to town to find an ATM and bread...registration starts at 3...then organized chaos with braggart boaters begins!!! We expect to be in the thick of it!!!!

It was most fun catching up with Mike @ HAPPY HOURS V...we spent quantity time with them in Brewerton...and haven't seen them since! These poor Aussies are leaving next week for time in Jamaica...something about needing to spend time outside the USA in order to renew their visa. Oh, the suffering!!!

The reason for two dock parties was the BIG EVENT that was taking place outside behind the lodge and between the docks. I don't know...do you think they wanted drinking boat people traipsing by during the ceremony??? I do know there were lots of long, loud boat horns honking afterwards...

Quick clean up and check in...then time for docktails....one group on our side; another over under the gazebo....amazing!!! We are just a few slips away from our friends ROCKCHALK and HAPPY HOUR V. MAINE VISION is over by the lodge and BOREAS is just across the way. Needless to say, we are exchanging boat cards and making new friends.

OOOOOH, HHAAAA!!!! The place was packed!!!! Seems this is like a Mecca experience...People have been here for weeks...waiting! We were among the last of the boats to arrive...and the bunch that was waiting on the dock all had their ideas about which line and just how the Captain and I should enter our slip. Somehow even with all that help, we managed just fine, thank you very much.

Cool, cooler, coolest... all scenery we had seen just a day or two ago... Floyd did get a nap...and I managed to stay below til it was time to round the bend into Joe Wheeler State Park...the lodge there is close to the marina and has lots of dockage for transient boaters...the site of the AGLCA Fall Rendezvous...Seemed so calm and peaceful as we entered...thinking we were getting there a day early...beating the crowd!

We expect to arrive at Joe Wheeler around 3:30...getting a great push from the current so we are zipping along at 9 to 10 mph instead of our usual 7-8. Then the fun (craziness) begins. Floyd's high school buddy, Larry and his wife, Cindy, are driving down from St Charles. Plus we'll be catching up with several boaters we have met along this journey. The TUMBLEWEED is looking good, sporting her "Gold Looper"flag, clean and shiny. We plan to fly the state flags again like we did for the "Close the Loop" party. We are so very thrilled to be attending the rendezvous aboard our own boat having completed the Loop. I'm sure there will be plenty of Kodak moments ... Oops, it is a Canon...(did I mention that Floyd gave me a new camera for my birthday??? nnniiicceee!!!)

Saturday is our travel day...and just like the rest of the week, it dawned and then grew foggy...foggier...foggiest. We watched boats leave and then return...yep, getting out of the marina in the smokey stuff is one thing. Getting under the bridge on the heavier river fog proved to be a bit much. Captain Floyd waited til around 9...by the time we hit the river the fog had lifted. But whew, it is a tad bit chilly. Just so you know, this is what 60 degrees looks like on the fly bridge. I didn't last long up there. I'm below, doing important stuff...like catching up on the blog!

And what a party it was! Two other looper boats came in that afternoon, so Dianne had everyone over. It was fun comparing events and boat stories...getting reacquainted with Eldon and Dianne..

we'll see them all again at Joe Wheeler.

Laundry at Ditto Landing leaves a lot to be desired. We are across the bay so it means a dinghy ride to haul laundry...then the facility (if you can call it that) is a good hike uphill by the RV park. One washer and one dryer shared with the marina and RV park. Luckily I just had three big loads and no one else was around. Not so luckily, I forgot to bring the stash of quarters with me. So that meant an extra hike and an extra dinghy trip...all in a days work. Dianne and Eldon @ MAINE VISIONS invited us over for cocktail hour...

Thursday was colder and drizzly...we were in a cleaning mode zone of some sort. We know that while we are at the AGLCA Rendezvous they will have a boat crawl, asking boaters to volunteer to open up so others can tour the looper boats. Floyd and I learned so much about organization and what not to do by looking at those boats that were open three years ago. We want to be among the hosts this year. So...even though we do keep a "tight' ship...it is time to clean up. Tomorrow he'll wash the outside and I'll do laundry...then we'll be good to go. Saw activity on MAINE VISIONS today...BORAES headed on to Joe Wheeler.

Still no activity on MAINE VISIONS, but late that afternoon BOREAS appeared. They'd been way up the Tennessee River and were returning to attend the Looper Rendezvous at Joe Wheeler next week. We dinghyed over and had a nice chat with Fred and Julaine. We learned about other folks they had been traveling with and several anchorages we'll be exploring next spring as we head up the Tennessee.

Not much going on today (Wednesday, Oct 19th), so when we returned from the store, I whipped up a pot of chili and convinced Floyd that it was probably time for another of his famous Key Lime pies...yyyuuuummmy.

We donned our rain gear, preparing to dock at Ditto Landing in the drizzle. As luck would have it, just as we rounded the corner, the sun came out and the rain stopped. We docked, fussed with the lines, marina guy installed a new electric meter and outlets, and the greeting party arrived. Luckily I had that squished loaf of bread I wanted to get rid of. They made short work of a couple of slices...the rain returned and we turned in for an early night. We'll explore tomorrow! We seem to be across from the gas dock and on the other side of the marina facilities. We see a couple of looper flags...but boats look empty. One is MAINE VISION, a couple we last saw in Killarney, Canada. It'll be fun to catch up.

The sky threatened rain...and then did. The scenery changed back to the pretty cliffs and colorful trees we like. Just an hour out of Huntsville, and we are once again liking what we see and hoping that the rain will stop before we have to dock at Ditto Landing. Lewis Cliffs are a sight to behold...wonder if there is a spot there where folks jump off??? Oh, flashback memories of summers at Table Rock Lake....

What is it about Railroad bridge tenders??? We'd still be sitting in Chicago, if not for the barge that happened by ...and now this one in Decatur is just as bad. Even the tow captain couldn't help. We called on channel 13, then 16, no response. A Tow captain said he monitors 13...so back to 13...still nothing. By now we are getting verrrrryyyy close...we honk the horn...we honk again. The Tow Captain says he has a phone number, he'll try calling...he doesn't answer the phone either .... FFFIIINNNAAALLLYYY, we see a guy coming down the sidewalk from the parking lot, enter the building, and almost instantly he radios...we'll raise the bridge shortly...and just as fast, up it goes!!!! We are still shaking our head!

And then I thought I smelled cat food...and guess what???? I did!!!! Ha, who knew that Decatur was the home of Meow Mix???? Well, now you do!!!!

The river through downtown Decatur was not any better. I'm sure you wouldn't want to water ski through this...the Solutia Chemical plant, a big 3M plant, and, of course, the warning signs to stay out of the water...in the water....

And let's have MORE power lines...and then maybe three different channels side by side to try and follow...thank goodness for Raymarine chart plotter, paper maps, GPS phones, and FLOYD.

And then there were working barges...and empty tows everywhere..WATCH OUT!!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Mother Nature cranks up pretty early in the morning...and so did we. The scenery which for the last week has been so lovely quickly gave way to industrialization...things to watch for in the water...factories and industry on every bank. We began to wonder what we had gotten ourselves into.

We did have a visitors ...this barge with tows went zipping by, these two fisherman came around, and then there was a small white dog who appeared to bathe in the shallow end...but they didn't stay, weren't very friendly, and didn't interrupt our plans. So Hah!!!

The First Mate has continued to whine about the lack of drinks with cute little umbrellas aboard this TUMBLEWEED cruise line. Soooooo that evening Captain Floyd went to great lengths to create that illusion for her. Isn't he just the best???? Yep, think I'm gonna keep him!