Oh, two new engines are running fine! A full set of new house batteries....anchor straightened...new anchor chain...the fresh sealer...all have made TUMBLEWEED sea worthy. We think she is looking and running about the best she has in a while. Curtis Stokes (boat broker) and his wife Jill came aboard during the looper rendezvous and made several suggestions for upgrades. They sure thought she was in great shape. Interesting to note that Floyd and I have never really liked the carpet covered walls...but really didn't know what to do about them. Curtis suggested we tear off the carpet and cover the walls with formica! Well, who knew????  Something we hope to do in the Captain's quarters this winter.

Saturday we cruised to Iuka, Mississippi...Aqua Harbor Marina, a lovely place we visited in 2009 while waiting for Hurricane Ike to blow out. It is much more pleasant this time. We've met several looper wanna-bees....and Dakota is making friends right and left...left and right. A couple on a big boat that passed us this morning are here...taking photos of Dakota, our boat name, etc....seems they once lived in Wichita and are messaging their Kansas friends about us. Tonight we re-visited Freddy T's Restaurant and Beach Club....not as special as we remembered...but then we are older, wiser,  married, and not escaping the rain and winds that came with Ike....

Let me also say that today we traveled 5 hours....drove the entire time from below...and I wore 3 layers of clothing...including cuddle duds, gloves and ear protection....ready for the predicted warming trend to kick in...thank you very much!

It is a terrible feeling to be locked out of your blog!!! So tonight I got serious about figuring it out! As you can see...it worked!

We had a lovely cruise on Friday from Joe Wheeler to Florence. 21 miles and 2 locks...going down is so much easier. Though Dakota didn't care much for the noisy floating bollard in that second lock. Especially since we went down 80 feet....but arrived in Florence and he found a new playmate, Andrea or maybe his name was Armon....and we found the LADY J...Alan Jackson's former restored boat....and it new owner has started a restaurant in Florence. That meant a trip to Dale's Steakhouse! WOW! We were picked up at the marina by the chef (Eddie)...and what a great meal we had. Totally delightful experience.

Oct 17

It's another Looper Rendezvous ! Since this is our third one, we sure know how it works. The experience is a little different with a dog on board...and then add a day of rain. Can't say that we've attended many lecture sessions, but we have re-connected with Larry and Cindy as well as made nice with lots of folks who are also headed south. At past events, we were known as those crazy Kansas folks. This time around, we are Dakota's parents. This time tomorrow we'll be watching the flotilla exit...some headed to Chattanooga ....and we'll begin preparing to be asphalt tourists. Mom and Muriel arrive in Nashville noonish on Sunday....another chapter!

Oct 9

My how time flies! Poof, here we are back aboard the TUMBLEWEED. Somehow we managed to spend two years at Ditto Landing...two new engines and a new polish job....we are getting ready to head out to Joe Wheeler for the fall Looper  Rendezvous...Oct 14-17. They will probably all head south but we have other plans. My mom and Floyd's sister are going to join us for some fun at the Biltmore....Dakota, the wonder dog, is going to enjoy a stay at Bark Avenue. We probably won't head south til after  the 25th. Plans are for us to be in Mobile on Nov 6. We'll leave the boat at Dog River Marina over the holidays for bottom paint, new crew air conditioner, and a few other repairs. 2014 plans include boating to Key West and Bahamas....new canvas and salon carpet....and who knows what else. He has convinced me to do the loop again....though I've encouraged him to include some guys to go through the ugly parts....I'll stay home....or maybe not?? Stay tuned to see how this works out! For now, we are re-organizing , training and playing with the dog! He's pretty cute and well behaved! Floyd, too!!

Best of plans....change. We went the other direction. Took a seven hour ride back to Jones Creek to anchor out for the night. Testing the dog and our house batteries. In spite of hourly attempts to get him to use "turf" and potty pads...Dakota, the wonder dog, went over 22 hours without any action! We took a dinghy ride to shore bright and early Sunday morning for relief. We knew he had to go...and oh, boy, did he! House batteries didn't fair much better. We ended up running the generator in the middle of the night. Captain says new batteries before fall rendezvous time! All in all, it was a very pleasant night on the hook. Temps in the 60s...Rain clouds moved in mid-morning...so when there was a break in the action, we anchored up and headed to Guntersville Marina. It was a very windy and somewhat rainy four hour ride....but we liked it! Dakota loves it here....dog walk area and pet friendly. We are a little disappointed....stopped here to try the restaurant ....which is closed on Sundays.....such is life! Monday we will head back to Ditto Landing.

Life is good...running water has returned! New kitchen faucet righted that situation. Chores keeo getting checked off the list. Dakota is adjusting quite nicely! He experienced his first dinghy ride today....hopped right in and didn't seem to mind the whole life jacket experience. His first TUMBLEWEED ride also happened this afternoon...after a moment or two of  anxiousness, he settled in and tried to find a spot....but with Norm, our mechanic, and his nephew Mason aboard...spots were few and far between. Cuddled up to mommy seemed the best option....that is until she needed to work the lines and fenders....but again, we have no complaints. He has traveled well and adjusted just fine ....we are learning lots. Like travel with ALL his papers...spent a major part of my day tracking down a trifexcus pill (seems we forgot to bring them...and without paperwork would have been a major expense). He is learning a few things as well...like...don't dig up ant hills! What an experience that was...for all of us! We are planning a little trip down to Joe Wheeler on Wednesday or Thursday ...anchoring out will force us to use the indoor potty routine...we'll see how that works. And no one has been in the water yet...heat keeps up and we'll all be swimming soon! Oh, I really need some photos...I'll work on that! Stay tuned!