Oh, the great folks we have met. They say this is really all about the people you meet. Floyd and I often wonder what we would have done without the Kallemeier's and the great words of wisdom and encouragement they gave us at Polestar Marina before we even left. Ann and Bob treated us like long lost relatives, let us read their log book and the journal of their loop trip five years ago. The day before we left, we were thrilled to have them show up on the dock, help us carry in the groceries, and give us a few last minute words of encouragement. I think I'd have gone home with them if they'd asked. I was not feeling like a woman of courage and adventure at that point. That first night at Hoppie's was pretty scary. Just docking the boat was a huge ordeal...the marina is just floating barges right on the curve of the Mississippi. Strong current made just pulling up so very difficult. (We were so nervous we forgot to take a photo.) The Hoppie's not only gave us vocal instructions but also helped us tie up. Then Fern gathered us all together and went blow by blow through the charts of the river, pointing out what to look for, where to find anchoring places, how to talk to the tow boat captains. Of course, she was talking from memory with no charts and we struggled to even keep up. The other group there sure impressed me. Two women with very limited boating experience on a new 36' Selene trawler they had recently purchased . One just retired from Univ of Kentucky, School of Ed Psy; the other has three days until retirement. They have sold their house to live on this boat. They hired two female professional boating captains to instruct them and help move the boat from St Charles to Kentucky. They had been in front of us all day but we had no clue. I think maybe they were as skittish as me. They were here at Green Turtle Bay when we arrived. What fun we had comparing our experiences coming down the Mississippi. Then, of course, Nate and David, the two fellas from Univ of Northern Colorado recreating Huck Finn's float down the Mississippi. You can check out their blog site to see how they are doing. It is http://www.bearnakedrafting.com/. We've looked in on them a couple of times. What an adventure they are having. Course, I just think they are too young to know any better. Since arriving in Kentucky we have met the folks from Chicago who just purchased a 46' 1983 Chris Craft in Florida. They are parked to the right of us on the transient dock pictured above. Nice boat!!! Bill and Bobbie left us this morning because the high water was going to prevent them from getting through. So they rented a car to go home, then will return after the water goes down. Several folks around here have been very helpful. We've eaten at great restaurants (one is high and behind our boat in this photo), gotten rid of Big Bertha, rented a golf cart to see the sites, and have relaxed and rested. Neal, an airline pilot from Tennessee, and his family who recommended other marinas on the way east. His boat is "Plane Money". The mechanics have assured that they can fix our inverter, get our 110 volt electric system in good shape, fix the winch that lifts the anchor, and finish the installation of the lower helm chart plotter. We are about at the end of our list of things to get fixed, purchase, paint or overhaul. Tomorrow we rent a car and head to Oshkosh, Wisconsin fora week of their big air show. Muriel (Floyd's sister) will return to the boat with us on Sunday for a few days of cruising. We plan to head toward Nashville do some touristy things and see the Opery. So probably no new posts until next week when we start that run. We hope some of you will think about meeting us along the way. After Nashville we'll head back here then south on the Tenn-Tombigbee to Demopolis, Alabama. Right now we're thinking we'll be back in Wichita round Sept 15.
