Sunday Sunday...only thing on the agenda is blogging and that oil change...which is proving to be more challenging than expected....it is always something...

Managed to stay cool until the approach to the marina...temps in high 90s and no breeze conspired against us...by the time we "no waked" for a mile, slipped under the low bridge and docked at the Pine Harbor Marina...we were dripping and done in!!!! Too hot and tired to even swim...The locals invited us to their holiday pot luck...which was delicious...smoked meats and all the trimmings....but guess what, Tennessee pot luck trimmings include a variety of moonshine....who knew??? peach, blueberry, and strawberry...I imagine they are probably still laughing at those boating Kansans...that stuff curls your eyelashes!!!!

Captain is looking at an oil change in the near future...so made a visit to the local Auto Zone to get filters...then decided we'd move on to Pine Harbor...Holiday weekend boat traffic was definitely noticed....heat element is higher ...95 on the boat is not pleasant...and we departed among the surfboard paddlers...we are seeing this more and more...new fad of water travel/exercise...looks like lots of work to me....

Little "A" league and the AT &T baseball field was sited...and learned the team was in town...so after a quick clothes change (yep, still hot) we headed to the ballpark. Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodger farm team) vs Jacksonville Suns...great seats, good food, packed crowd and fireworks for an encore. Just kept wishing for a breeze...it just never really cooled off. The game went 14 innings before the Lookouts finally put 'em away ...5 to 4....guess we got our moneys worth. Fireworks were intense...lots, loud, and long...though must admit when they wheeled out those two little trailors, we didn't expect much. Actually was pretty amazing...

Friday visit to the Tennessee Aquarium was delightful...shared space with several school field trips and other families...but when you are not the one in charge of children it really doesn't bother you much....guess the teacher in me is fast asleep!!!! We did find Nemo, Dora, and one of Phil's lost cell phones!!!

Thursday about all we were good for was napping and supper up the hill at Big River Brewery...little aft deck visiting and we were out like lights!!!

and of course, those turkey vultures...really reminded us of the tree on the Cumberland...they must all be related...

oops, forgot to tell about the trip into Chattanooga...through a part of the river that follks refer to as the Grand Canyon of Tennessee...talk about cliffs and mountains...windy river passage...we saw both sides of several mountains...what would take you an hour by car took us over four hours...but the scenery was delightful and since we were going this right direction we had a pretty nice breeze....by the time we arrived in Chattanooga, it was hot hot hot...glad to be pluged in and AC blasting.

We were disappointed to learn that people we knew in Chattonooga were headed to Wichita at the time we would be there...but hey, it was our chance to play tourist from a swell vantage point...The Chattanooga downtown docks are delightful and busy place. Our greeting party was this Momma and babies...and of course, the always present Wal-Mart truck on the bridge. Just like at Nashville, up some steps and you are in the heart of downtown. Tennessee Aquarium, restaurants and baseball right there. Across thee river was our old friend the DELTA QUEEN. We had shared space with her in Clarksville in 2008 as she was doing her last cruise...she is now a hotel and restaurant...gonna have to check her out.

Little Cedar Mountain provided a delightful cove...we enjoyed swimming and a little dinghy ride....over to the SLIP KNOT, to meet Gary and Patti Gibson...headed to party with friends in Chattanooga Friday and at the Yacht Club for the weekend...their Carver is bigger and a year newer so Captains compared repair issues...slept to the sounds of tree frogs...night temps in the 60s...getting warmer rapidly.

Foggy mornings...sunny days...short cruises....only one lock a day...this First Mate is getting spoiled. Interesting sites today as we encountered the tallest smoke stack ever...yep, compares to the Empire State building...quite a site from the water...And you gotta love these cranes lined up on the lock wall...ingoring us but waiting for the meal that our locking through will provide...they didn't even flinch at the loud entrance and exit horns the lock blows...they are obviously used to it...but WOW, it is L O U D...

About an hour later we were joined by SLIP KNOT, a local couple headed to Chattanooga from Guntersville. They too had been caught by the storm...but were circling up by the bridge. We talked on the radio and they encouraged us to join them Wednesday  on the hook at Little Cedar Mountain...an anchorage that wasn't mentioned in our books. We enjoyed a beautiful post-storm sunset on the aft deck...this is what it is all about...

Just as we approached the entrance to Jones Creek, our anchor spot for the night, we noticed a small problem...rain storm moving our way...that break in the trees is the narrow entrance into a narrow channel where we would carefully follow bouys to our anchor spot...we didn't think it was a good idea to do that in wind and rain...so we turned around and waited it out...though we did get wet...and loud lightning, thunder and wind became a constant...we circled for about an hour before it finally blew on out. Glad we did...

No need to hurry around when you got a short day...so we ambled out and headed toward our anchor spot at Jones Creek...enjoying the sights along the way...these guys were busy busy busy...building the bridge in the middle, while cars whizzed by on the bridges on either side...and, of course, boaters and fisherman...

A short three hour cruise, and we arrived at Allred Marina.  We are carefully following manufacters instructions about breaking in this new port engine. Varying speeds and taking shorter hops just like the manual says. You know the Captain is a rule follower...unlike the First Mate...Stayed on a brand-new dock...so new the office lady who told us where to dock totally described an imaginary place. We finially worked it out..story is that they had serious tornado damage and the transient dock had been rebuilt...she'd obviously never been out of the office to see them...it was a quiet, rain filled evening. We'll spend the next two nights on the hook.

Went through Guntersville Lock like the pros we are...and then noticed this interesting cave...seems that this is a sanctuary for the endangered gray bat. Protected by a wire fence, 20 to 40 thousand gray bats live there from April to September....This is just one of 12 caves in the Tennessee Valley that appear to be critically important to saving this bat from extinction...glad we passed in the daylight. Can't imagine what all those bats exiting would be like!!!!

Monday, May 21st we had planned to top off the gas tanks and get a pump out before leaving. Wouldn't you know it...the marina had such a busy weekend (which we had noticed) that they were outta gas...1400 gallons in two days. So we got our pump out...and didn't worry about the gas, we didn't need much and figured it would all work out. The Tennessee River scenery has not disappointed us...and we know it is even prettier in the fall based on what we saw last year...but the cliffs...wow, they are something else...

We did take time out on Saturday night to attend the local races at the "Legendary" Huntsville Speedway. We have heard the races on weekends since arriving...finally "google" mapped and discovered they were less than two miles away from the marina. With such fond memories of the Virgina Speedway we had visited two years ago with Bob Jackson and Hilary Derby...we couldn't resist. What a hoot!!! Great weather, small crowd, good burgers, interesting little mom and pop operation...ever so glad we took our earplugs. The 100 lap highlight race was obviously the crowd pleaser, but we sure enjoyed the last race...open field regular cars zipping around. In fact, a four cyclinder , automatic Saturn won the race. Who knew they were so fast??? sounded like a bunch of bees though....lol...oh, BTW, Foyld wouldn't let me count yellow cars on every lap...what a killjoy!!!

My apologies for being soooo very far behind on blogging...we have been some very busy people. We spent most of the 17, 18, 19, and 20th getting ready to head out on our adventure up and down the Tennessee River. Getting groceries and doing laundry, washing the boat, cleaning and polishing all those neglected places. The most exciting thing that happened really was the case of the lost laundry bag...weirdest thing...it went to the laundromat with me...then when it was time to load up and leave it had dissappeared. went back the next day and...poof, there it was. Saved us from buying a new one or even worse having to change the way we stored those dirty clothes. We did lots of schlepping during those four days....

FYI...we looked up the family of cute critters that crossed in front of us on the Blue Ridge Parkway...ruffed grouse... I'm telling you that Momma Grouse had her hands full...5+ little ones...I'm sure it felt like herding chickens!!!

So now it is back to reality aboard the TUMBLEWEED...making lists and getting prepared to head up river...yes, laundry!!!! We hope to pull out on Monday, May 21st. We think we'll be out about 5 weeks before returning here. Then eventually back to Wichita and our friends and family there. Some one is a little anxious to check on that "bun in the oven"....Kelli and Lance, Linda's daughter and son-in-law, announced they were adding to the family just as we left. The phone lines and computer connections have been sizzling ever since.

Glad to say we stopped there...but don't need to go back....loads of interesting junk! Kind of a down scale, TJ Maxx or Tuesday Morning.... just so weird to consider that it is all someone's lost luggage....

After a quick stop in Knoxville West Marine (we needed to replace TUMBLEWEEDs American Flag) we were back on major highway...headed to Scottsborro AL....home of the Unclaimed Luggage Store.

As we came out of the Smokey Mountains and approached Gatlinburg, we were still patting ourselves because we had not had to wait long at that road construction site...and then we entered TOURIST CITY...OMG, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville are a nightmare of people and vechiles...6 lanes...tourist trap after tourist trap...Dollywood, go carts, bungie jumpers, and fast food....We saw two cadillacs tangle as both were backing from parking places and neither had checked rear views!!! Just get me back to the boat!!!! Again, ever so thankful that we opted to not take this scenic route to Asheville....we'd have never made the time we needed. We now know why so many were waiting at the construction site to come the other way...they had spent the weekend in Tourist Cities and were taking the scenic route home....good luck with that!

In the early morning hours, we encountered several critters...a turkey (missed that photo)...and this little family crossing the road...aren't they cute??? Floyd was not impressed....though we waited ever so patiently....in fact, it took us 4 and a half hours to cover the miles that we covered in an hour and a half on Monday....four lanes with semis vs two lanes up and down, round and round!!! We loved every minute....and are still thanking our lucky stars that we had gone this way.

We spent many moments thinking about our friend Doug Nelson, now known as Hill Hiker Doug, who is currently walking the Appalachian Trail. We think about him seeing these sites daily...and encountering such things on foot...admire his fortitude and determination. Sure hope he takes some great photos!!!

Wednesday ...we decided to head back to TUMBLEWEED by taking that scenic route...Blue Ridge Parkway....speed tops at about 45...that morning we encountered very few cars, motorcycles...and NO semis (trucks are prohibited from traveling this road)...as noon time approached, we encountered those dreaded orange cones...road work ahead!!!! single lane....yikes, we waited briefly then drove right through...but then we saw ALL the cars waiting to come our direction...hundreds...backed up for miles! Suddenly it dawned on us that had we come this way as we had originally planned we'd have never made the Biltmore on Monday to tour the house before those private tours began on Tuesday. We thanked our lucky stars that we had done this the way we did!!!

Tuesday dawned fog mist over the mountains...but what did we care???? Back to Biltmore for silliness in the gardens...private tours...First an hour or more behind the scenes giving us the Friends and Family gossip and a look at several guest rooms not on the public tour.I think there were about 8 poeple in this group. Then lunch in the courtyard and shopping in the converted stables...then tour two...The Butler tour...another behind the scenes look at the staff quarters and the inner workings of the BIG house...all things not open to the general public...fantastic!!!!! We were with one other couple here. Then down to the winery areas for what ended up being a very private tour (yep, just Floyd and I) of the winery and tasting their wines (paired with gourmet chocolates)...it was awful!!! NOT...then more shopping, had to buy some of that wine!!!! (more rain...but again what did we care???)  Dinner at Cedric's at Antler Hill Village brought an end to our very long, extremely enjoyable day!!!!

Our Biltmore experience was truly magical...and the more we learned and did...the more magical it became. We booked a "bed and breakfast deal" that allowed us unlimited access during our stay. So the plan was to get up early Monday, drive a scenic route, arrive at Biltmore early afternoon and tour the house. We did get up early and leave right on time. Can I just say a thing or three about traffic on the major highways...during the week...and not during summer vacation time...holy cow, it was bumper to bumper...so we decided against the scenic route....good thing cause we had neglected to consider that fact that we were crossing the time zone line....yep, lost an hour, just like that!!! But it all worked out just fine...when we arrived at Biltmore at 3 (instead of 2) there was plenty of parking...and plenty of time for us to pick up the audio, self guided tour package...oh, and we were inside during most of that HUGE rain storm that came blowing in. Though we did think the lightning could have eased up a bit...wow, what sound at the top of the mountain....by the time we finished the rain had let up enough that we didn't get toooooo wet searching for our car!!!! cause for much laughter!!! Good thing Floyd is a good man...he had grounds to ditch me on that deal!!! hehehehe

Ice maker installation went well...and the dinghy has cleaned up better than we had hoped...with things going so well, we booked a trip to the Biltmore in Ashville, NC for next week. It is some sort of bed and breakfast special...includes unlimited time at Biltmore, wine and chocolate, hotel, and breakfast. We also booked some behind the scenes tours...butler, friends and family type places. We are excited to see the place...stay tuned for full report. I think Floyd is just as pumped about this as I am. As we were looking at the travel route, we also discovered that we'll be traveling through Scotsborro AL...home of the lost luggage store. LOL...yep, we'll be stopping there. Should be the high and low of it!!!! Happy Mother's Day ...we are taking it easy...like always!!!!

As I have always loved magnolias, I have certainly enjoyed seeing all the trees here in full bloom. The fragrance is awesome. When I commented to Floyd about those at the cemetery, he decided to take a closer sniff. Interestingly, they seem to have a stronger aroma downwind that at the bloom...must be the bark as well. Anyway, it smells really good when magnolia trees are around!

Next stop, the Bunganut Pig Pub and Eatery....big burger and curly fries...we had worked up a hunger. Then a couple of hours and we were back at the TUMBLEWEED....where the ice machine had been busy busy busy....a full day of chores on Friday...ready for the weekend...yea, like that'll be different!!! Ha....

Hundreds of tomb stones...identified by the state, initials and a number...records kept by the family to help relatives identify their fallen soldiers....all maintained and handled by private citizens.  This is believed to be the largest private military cemetery in existance. It was a site to behold....

And just a way up the road and across the railroad tracks we last visited the Carnton Plantation, Home of Carrie and John McGavock...which served as the largest Confederate field hospital...blood stains still mar the hardwood floors. Again a house furnished with lovely antiques, very few of which were original to the McGavocks. This family also donated two acres for a cemetery and oversaw the reburial of nearly 1,500 soldiers. Carrie is immortalized in a bestselling book, THE WIDOW OF THE SOUTH...yep, I bought it and will be starting it shortly. We were there with a rather large gathering of elementary students...in period costumes...while scary, they were very well behaved...and actually kind of cute...those little lunch pails...and some creative moms had tried really hard to make 'em look Civil War...ish..was extra nice to remember that I'm out of that business...LOL

The next morning we returned to the same intersection...and just across the street is the Lotz house...another compelling story of the battle and family...and a truly spectacular collection of antiques (none are original to that house...but an awesome collection of antiques)...We learned that one side of this house was completely blown away...during the repair process, the owner chose to not replace the windows on that side...I imagine it wasn't a hard choice...windows would have been hard to come by...and who knew if and or when there might be another battle...

We arrived just in time to catch the last tour of the Carter House which now sits on a busy Franklin intersection. However, on November 30, 1864, this middle class farmer and his family found themselves just inside the center of the Union defensive perimeter.  As Rebel troops approached, no one thought they would attack. Boy, were they wrong. The Battle on Franklin lasted 5 hours and was one of the most savage and bloody...and it happened right in their yard.  Nearly 10,000 casualties...2,500 dead, 6,500 wounded, and over 1000 missing...including 9 Generals dead. The buildings still bear the obvious scars of the shooting...not to mention the scars left on the families that took shelter in the basement...and dealt with the aftermath of all those bodies and injuries...amazing....

A quick tour of the town...a wasted wait at Miss BoBo's Boarding House led us to lunch at the local BBQ place...pretty darn good...then we were back in the car headed to Franklin. We wanted to see the battle field and the homes there that were caught in the crossfire.

We stopped at the bottle shop...we got a special one engraved to bring home ...but I think you can guess which one Floyd really wanted...and picked up the brochure about their purchase a barrel program. Floyd thinks it sounds like a better investment than the stock market...if only we live that long!!!!LOL



Floyd and Jack...on the rocks...just a little whiskey humor....