Today is bright and clear....and we awoke to the sounds of engines as boats were leaving. Six ...then three more...looks a little empty around here. But I imagine it'll fill up again. There is yet another wave of loopers headed this way. They went to Chattanooga while we went to the Biltmore...and then we headed out before they came back. So somewhere behind us....but soon to catch up!

We are playing with projects today. Floyd is bound and determined to raise the height of this folding bar stool he wants to use at the lower helm. It is currently 24" and it needs to be 30".... A trip to Lowe's for stuff...and he is happily sawing away. We also got a small piece of carpet that will snap into place where Dakota hops aboard. Hopefully that will help his fiberglass skid....he often has wet feet...not a good combination for leaping onto the boat. I'm playing with my new shark pet friendly dust buster. That vacuum is in a " you have to really want it out" kind of place. This is so much easier...and this non-shedding dog brings lots aboard that needs sweeping up!

We are also celebrating Dakota's one year adoption. Yes, this time last year we drove to Harrisonville, Missouri....spent all of 30 minutes falling in love...and brought him to his new forever home. He weighed all of 7 pounds....and was full of wiggles from the start! Now he weighs 27 boney furry pounds...and still just wiggles with delight. He tries so hard to keep track of everyone that it is really hard for him to nap much. We think he has adapted well to having a small home that is forever moving. He's now the activities director on the TUMBLEWEED! Cause everyone needs a title! Alarm clock, walk supervisor, chief playmate would all work...so Activities Director it is! One thing for sure, he knows that yellow life jacket means something is gonna happen...and he gets right to his "spot" on the fly bridge...and stays there watching us "work".... Treats and pats work until he is given the okay and the life jacket comes off. Then he is free to move about the boat!

Saturday we plan a short cruise to Pirate's Cove Marina... A character place just outside of Aliceville...then we'll have to anchor out on Sunday before getting into Demopolis on Monday.

This Tenn-Tom waterway is pretty in the fall....but it is driving in a ditch no matter how you look at it! Locks can provide entertainment...but these are all the same! Never see or really talk to people...just a few radio instructions and they are always the same. On Monday , one lock had a  barking dog as a greeter....surprised us...and Dakota! Dakota let him know we weren't interested in his stuff...we were ever so proud! Especially that Dakota did not leave his spot! Such a good dog!

Wonder of wonders yesterday...as we navigated the muck...ears wiggled!! A small fawn swam across the canal right by us!! We are adding that to our list of critters!

Happy Halloween! After stops at Bay Springs, Mid way, and Aberdeen, we are now at Columbus, Mississippi....rains are coming. Everyone is holding tight til they pass. There are over a dozen Looper boats here waiting. The marina ordered in BBQ for everyone last night...excellent! They have a great laundry facility, a curtesy car and a wal mart close by! Boaters paradise. Dakota has a great field to run....though I must say he is plum tuckered out! In his efforts to keep track of us all...he has missed a few naps! Truly, we couldn't ask him to behave better. He's got a "spot" to be on the fly bridge...and once we put his life jacket on he goes there....and stays. He stays on the boat...no leaping  off when folks walk by. Barking is not really an issue...he gives us warning when strange sounds arouse him, but settles right back. The trip from Demolopis to Mobile will be a test...there are no marinas in that long stretch...and very few dog friendly anchor possibilities. Last time through we did it in three days...this time with plans for dog stops, we think it'll be four days. Weather permitting. And then there are all these other loopers to contend with....it'll be interesting that's for sure!  For now, we must wait in Columbus until November 2... The end of hurricane season...our boat insurance won't let us go any further south. Which is a trip...since last time same company let us go to Demolopis ....we ae hopeful that most of these folks will head out Friday and we'll be glad to be a day behind!

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!