Dakota does like Floyd...which is a good thing!

Seems to be a neat and tidy one...putting all his toys in one place...and then collapsing.

Under the chair in the living room seems to be his favorite spot...he can catch almost all the action from there...and believe me, he doesn't want to miss anything. 

He is an adorable ball of fur!!!

What a great Looper convention!!! Floyd and I volunteered to help with set up for the registration...our effort to get to know some of the in crowd. Can't say that worked but we sure did. That first afternoon Jim and Elaine (who drove down from London, On, Canada) came by our boat and Floyd invited them aboard. We became fast friends and they adopted us for the rest of the week. We had such fun hanging out with them. It was so good to catch up with Larry and Cindy aboard BUCKET LIST...they started their Loop Sept 1st...and re-connect with Nanse and Rik aboard NANSEANN who also just started the Loop...(we adopted them last year!!!) We also spent time with a very nice "boat less" couple from Joplin, Dale and Peg Janssen and their dog, Pete. We fell head over heels in love with Pete....and the more we knew the better we liked him. He met all of Floyd's rather extensive list of DOG MUST HAVES...and before you could say let's get a dog...we were on the phone negotiating for Pete's half brother...Dakota.  So back to Ditto Landing...close up TUMBLEWEED...drive to Wichita...arrive home on Saturday evening. We spent the first part of the week catching up on laundry and making doggie purchases. Thursday we drove to Harrisonville MO and picked up our new male child...a 7 pound ball of fur. Dakota is an Australian Labradoodle...who will mature at about 25 pounds and 18 inches...in the meantime he is very much puppy...quickly becoming spoiled and not so quickly potty trained..but, hey, it has only been 24 hours. He is already enrolled in Puppy Training 101...so stay tuned...photos will follow....

How life changes on a phone call. Norm Lindsey, the local mechanic who replaced our port engine this spring, has voiced serious concerns about the starboard engine. So we are taking a short cruise tomorrow to attend the Looper convention...and then returning to Ditto Landing next week to have him replace that engine next summer...with a new grand baby boy, wedding and honeymoon on the horizon, we can wait this out. Saved us a day of driving and musical cars...no need to boat travel those miles to Grand Rivers/ Green Turtle Bay and store TUMBLEWEED on the hard... we should be back in Wichita early...all things we can handle.  Sad news for those of you counting on having TUMBLEWEED ADVENTURES to look at for the next couple of weeks...its a day trip to Joe Wheeler and then back. The funny (or is it ironic???) part is that we have been saying for the last year that we are getting a new boat...Johnny Cash style...one part at a time...I think this will just about do that!!!!

TUMBLEWEED has spent the past year at Ditto Landing in Huntsville ALA. We plan to move her to Green Turtle Bay, Green Rivers, Kentucky. Stopping along the way at the  Fall Looper convention ...Joe Wheeler State Park. The plan gets tricky as we figure out how to get both the car and the boat moved. We are thinking that it'll involve a rental car on a long travel day. Just wish we could drag that Jag behind us...but alas, they just aren't built for that!  Hope to see our friends Carolyn and Susan along the way. And if Larry and Cindy can get their Loop adventure started (closed lock is blocking their way) we'll see them at the Looper convention. It'll be good to be boating....and we'll have to savor the moments as we don't plan to return to the boat life for a year....!!!! EEEEEKKK, think we can actually be away that long?????

It has been an exciting summer ....Hot hotter hottest!!!! We spent a lovely (cool) week in the mountains of Colorado and plan to do that again next summer. Escaping the heat in a fun way!! I got to spend some quality time helping my daughter prepare the nursery and shop for maternity clothes....  that new grandson is due in December....Without a doubt,  the highlight of this time in Wichita was Floyd's proposal ...and my acceptance. so now, plans are underway for a March 2 marriage. But first let's spend some time on the TUMBLEWEED!!!!

So here's a little summary of this trip...

• Left Wichita on April 30...returned June 25
• Car side trips to Franklin and Lynchburg, then Asheville and Scottsboro...Civil War Battle sights, Jack Daniels distillery, Biltmore and Unclaimed Luggage Store
• TUMBLEWEED traveled Tennessee River from mile 333.3 (Ditto Landing) to 652.1 (Three Rivers junction, just passed Knoxville...318.8 miles
• boat side trips on the Hiawassee River (28 miles), Clinch River(23.1 miles) and the Little Tennessee River (29.1 miles)
• 8 weeks gone from Wichita
• 27 days boat gone from Ditto Landing
• 22 days of cruising
• 12 days on the hook
• 10 locks ( 5 up and 5 down)
• Speed was between 7.5 mph and 12.1 ( we had some current help and then time "blowing out the cobs"
• 798 total miles traveled ( could we round that to 800???)
• 759 gallons of gas 
• 1.3 miles per gallon...we also used the generator for important tasks...like AC, fans, recharging phones and batteries, cooking and MAKING COFFEE....
• Only real boat issue was the fresh water line blow out...easy fix ...$23

Yes, we would recommend this trip to all our boater friends...very pleasant and scenic. though maybe do this in the Fall...it would be so pretty in the Fall!!!! and of course not so freaking H O T!!!!

So now we are into the chore list...though I made blogging first on my list this time...last couple of times I waited till we got home and it didn't happen so well...this time I'm gonna finish and then attack the cleaning, etc. Our schedule will include a couple of days cleaning and closing, fueling and pumping out, covering and storing away. Then we are headed to Grand Rivers, Kentucky Lake area, before returning to Wichita. Floyd wants to visit a couple of marinas in that region. We're looking at moving the boat there for next year. We also want to talk about new bottom paint and maybe new canvas...yes, we need to go to white canvas...that blue canvas is a heat generator!!!! We are thinking that next year we'd like to re-visit to the Cumberland River, Nashville and beyond...maybe even some time on the Ohio...though with that new grand baby on the horizon...????? at this point we have more questions than answers...but hey, it is not TV...we don't need to decide in the next 15 minutes...so we'll explore possibilities and options...and then decide. Stay tuned for further developments!!!! What we know for sure is that we'll be back here to travel by boat to the Looper Rendezvous in October...and probably move TUMBLEWEED to somewhere on Kentucky Lake after that.

Right on the Captain's schedule...3:30pm...we pulled into our covered slip at Ditto Landing...secured the TUMBLEWEED and then went to retrieve the car. We were pleased that the dock workers had taken such good care of the Jag...didn't  add any miles on the odometer, windows and tires still intact...you know, all those things a Jag owner would worry about leaving keys and car with dock workers ....However, we were most surprised and saddened to learn that George, Ditto Landing manager for the last 30 years, had a heart attack on Memorial weekend and died.  What a sad deal!!!! He was a charming fella, a fountain of information and good will. We liked him so very much. He will be missed around here, that's for sure.

One last lock...then into the home stretch...Floyd thought photos of that new line technique were in order. So here they are...two counterclockwise loops, line from front to back cleat, line comes off the front of the bollard so it doesn't rub the rusty slimy lock wall...yep, all works quite nicely!!!Doesn't it look like the First Mate is busy???? working hard????... on her tan, that is.

HOT HOT HOTTER...but the day was full of a couple of other delightful moments...as we were in that zone of hours of pleasant boredom...we heard engines...we expected to see a fast fishing boat or big jet ski...instead just at fly bridge level was a Cessna 180...yep, gone before we could grab the camera...but we did get this shot later...what a hoot!!!! Buzzed by an airplane...that's a first for us!!! Though Floyd did talk about how he used to do that kind of stuff to folks at Lake of the Orzarks...BL (before Linda)...

Later we saw a raccoon walking along the shore line...again by the time I got the camera on, he was behind the bushes...outta sight. Cute little fella...reminded us of the baby raccoon we meet in Canada last summer...which reminded us again of how hot and humid it is here...and how cool and delightful it was up north this time of year. Sure hope Carolyn and Susan are enjoying the weather!!!!

It is a very weedy lake...pay attention to the charts and don't venture off the channel.

Bound and down...it proved to be a very delightful day...a little breeze to keep us from melting, one of us could always find a bit of shade...and then ..."what is that ahead???" Well, it was one very big river boat...the SOUTHERN BELL heading back to her dock in Chattanooga. Floyd talked to the Captain on the radio.  We thought it was most interesting that she was not around for that Riverbend Festival craziness either. She sure was a pretty sight on a very calm Sunday on the river. (notice the weed growth just off channel).

6/18...3:30 addition....as I was cleaning up my stack of papers,  I discovered an old Ditto Landing newsletter...guess where the SOUTHERN BELLE has been??? That's right, Ditto Landing. Seems the Rotary Club had some sort of fund raiser...tickets at $95 per person for Friday...salsa night or Saturday..Hawaiian night...is that not a hoot????

Amazingly enough, the bugs were not a real issue the next morning...FATHER'S DAY...I fixed a big breakfast, we spotted the yellow boat (double kisses on a holiday) next to us...we are outta here. One more long day, one last locking down...and we are in our covered slip at Ditto Landing...almost one week ahead of schedule...but that's gonna be okay. The temp this week is going to the 90s...too hot for us cruising boaters!!!

Did we mention the BUGS???? OMG, they were bombing us on the outside patio at the restaurant before we got outta there. And we couldn't believe what we saw in the parking lot...cars parked under the lamps were covered...light poles covered, ground covered...everything had a solid fuzzy appearance...those little green mayflies!!!!! By the thousands... this photo doesn't do the situation justice...it was honestly just disgusting! Thank goodness we weren't parked under any lights at the marina...the ones we had to walk under to get to the boat were bad enough!

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The restaurant is called The Docks...a chef and his mother run the place...and it was busy busy busy...so glad we had called ahead...People standing...waiting...several looked to have been there quite a while...we walked to the front to let them know we had reservations...after talking to a waitress who went in search of the hostess, a couple of nice ladies asked us about reservations, did we have them, should they have made some, would they ever get a table...we all adjourned to the bar. After just a few minutes, Floyd invited them to join us for supper. What fun we had!!!!! Regina (US Postal employee) and Glenda (nurse), both divorced...out for a Saturday event...they were excited about the live music (which never arrived, maybe related to the last band we heard)...we weren't so much...so we chatted away...a few drinks later, these Southern Belles and these two crazy Kansas boaters were buddies...they followed us back to the boat for a tour and a couple of Kodak moments...Floyd even posed in a helm photo with Glenda...she wanted to send it to her ex...captioned with a "I found a good man with a BIG BOAT!!!!" Don't tell...but he is MY man with a BIG BOAT!!!! LOL...

Docks were busy as well. Gas was going for $4.09...low enough to make Floyd think about filling up...but the thought of leaving TUMBLEWEED without Stabil in the tank made him reconsider....instead we opted to walk the docks...looking at boats and searching for fellow Loopers. Lots of boats for sale, but none we wanted. Fellow Loopers were really just one...and he was busy working on a project...and didn't offer to get with us at some later point...so we made other plans. Reservations at the restaurant on the other side of the road...

Just as we thought it couldn't get much hotter, there it was...entrance to Goose Pond Marina. Just a little busy on a Saturday afternoon...and narrow...and full of gunk and weeds...I mean this Gunthersville Lake sure reminds us of other stops we made on the TennTom in Alabama...weave your way in around the gunk and weeds...don't venture off the channel...the weeds will get you!!!  We won't be swimming in here, that's for sure!

But before we could get to Goose Pond , we encountered yet another set of what we are calling Tennessee Crab Pots...yep, more fisherman with cut up noodles attached to fishing line...wonder if this ever works??? we sure haven't seen any evidence that it does.

We are ahead of schedule...this heat is getting to us....thinking that we may be back at Ditto Landing on Monday or Tuesday...and headed back to Wichita by the 21 or 22...stay tuned on that. We understand that there are fellow Loopers at Goose Pond...so who knows????

Another long day today...but the promise of Goose Pond Marina...electricity for air conditioning and a restaurant tonight will keep us going today. High is to be around 90....I'm not gonna take any readings!!!! but we have discovered the Tennessee version of Florida crab pots...fisherman take noodles, attach fishing line and lures...and drop these things in the channel where we have to navigate through them...we've had two bunches before noon...must be Saturday!!!

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Next morning...anchor up and the lock is just two miles ahead...he was ready when we got there!!! Love when they do that....and we like to think we've learned a thing or three about this locking through. We read recently in some silly book about what we should do since we don't really have a mid ship cleat to tie to the floating bollard. The author suggested tying the line to the front, taking two counterclockwise turns around the cleat, and then securing the line to the back of the boat.  That way the line doesn't move, so the boat won't move...and the loop is mid ship so the boat is balanced...also the line comes off the front of the bollard so it doesn't rub on that moldy, slimy lock wall....well, I be!!!! Works pretty darn good...where was that little book four years ago????? We got on slimy line ...for sale.... real cheap!!!!

Captain shot this as I was twirling the boat hook!!! Oh, and singing "another opening of another lock"!!!!

Poof, we lost a hour...then pulled into Little Cedar Mountain...an anchorage we'd used before...haircuts, beer, swim, late supper...we were done in by 9:30...cause it still felt like 10:30 to us!!! Trains, barking dogs, and all those croaking frogs didn't bother us one bit...

After the Captain woke and took over the helm, I took some temperature readings. He's been telling me for days, weeks, months, years that the blue canvas on TUMBLEWEED produces heat. So on a clear day, when the temp is 82 headed to 87 at about 3 in the afternoon...I took temp readings in a couple of places. Our play pen cover (blue canvas) registered 144 degrees....fried eggs anyone???? Who wants to sunbathe on that??? No one!!!! The Fly bridge cover (also blue canvas) registered 120 degrees....are you freaking kidding me??? We have to stand under that to drive the boat!!!! While the aft deck (white cover) registered only 90 degrees....so yes, when the cash rolls in we are opting for some new white canvas....and gonna have some insulation added....this is ridiculous!!!!

Couldn't help but notice the sharp contrast between the chart map and the actual scenery on this section of the Tennessee...seems pretty boring looking at that chart...but those mountains and cliffs are sure pretty...won't they be even better in the fall???? Oh, and I should mention that we were in over 75 feet of water at that point...

Long cruising days mean trading off at the helm...here's what the hard working Captain does while his trusty First Mate is at the helm....he should know better than to leave the camera unguarded!!!! hehehe...as you can see the sun is just about to catch him in the eyes...that'll be his wake up call!!!

With Look Out Mountain in our sights, we began to get serious about the heat and forecast for warmer days ahead....so decided to go all the way to Little Cedar Mountain...basically doing three days of cruising in one. We knew we'd change time zones...and as long as we keep moving the heat doesn't really get to us. It is when you stop...heats up in a real hurry.

Did manage to snap those photos of the Delta Queen that we missed taking on our stay in Chattanooga. We understand she is docked permanently as a hotel and restaurant.  Floyd was thinking with all that boat traffic, this would be a good time to stay across the river at the Delta Queen...miss out on all that mingling with the masses...we think she looks pretty good...we have fond memories of docking with her in Clarksville back in the summer of 2008. She was making her last tour then. A stay on her is still on our bucket list...but not this time.

Our worry today was HEAT...and getting through Chattanooga. Their BIG River Bend  Festival is this week and we knew activities would be happening on the river...we also knew there would be increased boat traffic in the area. True, True and true...but not to worry, even though our chart plotter went down, we breezed into the lock...and right on by those festival-goers...boats, jet skis and wake boarders....It was definitely much busier than when we visited earlier. Oh, and chart plotter situation was resolved without much anxiety...just turn it off and back on again...who knew??? Only took us about 30 minutes to figure that out!!!

We love anchoring out...but are always greeted the morning after by BUGS!!! Dead ones usually...but they are everywhere...and soooooo disgusting. Oh, and the spiders and their webs!!! Boat life can sometimes challenge us squeamish ones...thank goodness for the bug lantern...

Sometimes our anchorage spots have cute names and sometimes they don't. This one is known as 498.1...the mile marker at the entrance. We liked this one...swimming was good and refreshing...though the guidebook said there were no structures...wonder what they call that big dock???? Our days are getting warmer...don't know how much longer we will take it slow and easy...I don't do well with HOT! And the Captain is not much better. Rain clouds gave him cause for worry that night...but it barely sprinkled on us. Proof that if you worry about it ...it doesn't happen!

We've gone days without seeing, hearing or passing any boats on the river...and today we were swamped by three power boats (why don't they slow down as a courtesy?? We do!!!!) and this barge. Three empties and one full...not a very big load compared to some we've seen, that's for sure. But he did find us on a narrow bend in the river...so it was a pretty close pass. I have yet to figure out how all this action seems to happen when it is my turn at the helm....yep, adds to Floyd's grey hair population!!!!

Just when we thought we were far enough from Knoxville to escape the orangeness...look at this!!! What was he thinking??? not exactly blending in to the landscape!!!! I am amazed at the creativity though...

Just in case you thought all the water around here was deep...this is obviously a shallow spot. Who knows how long that flag has been there...we saw it on the way up and it doesn't seem to have been disturbed. Skinny water over there...

What a disappointment Blue Springs Marina...not only was it one of those kind of run down, character type marinas...the restaurant was only opened on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...so there we were 25 feet from the place on Wednesday...cooking!!!! not fair!!! They should really mention these things in the guidebooks!!!! Oh, did I mention that internet and cell phone coverage was the pits...and when we called about using their Wi-fi, they wanted $5 a day. I don't think so...see why we prefer to be on the hook???

About the only excitment we had today were a few hitchhikers...butterflies everywhere...big, little, black, yellow...seemed like we always had one riding somewhere...and this is the only one I managed to catch on camera....but isn't he (or she) something???? On the bow pulpit!!! poising perfectly!!!! captured in the moment!