Rolling Down the River!

Downstream from Chattanooga is some of the best scenery you can experience by boat.  While we were a couple weeks behind peak colors in the gorge, the views were still outstanding.  Over the next few days, we travelled through both Nickajack and Guntersvilles lakes and locks.  The locks are getting much larger, and we are feeling smaller and smaller.  Here are a few photos from our time on the water...

One last look back at Lookout Mountain

Entering the river gorge.

This tiny house along Nickajack Lake made Tatiana look big!

Pointing out the obvious again...

A troll's view of I-24 over Nickajack Lake

Keeping warm through South Pittsburg.

Bridgeport's bridge opens if you need them to, we are only about 12 feet tall with our mast down, so no worries.

A reflective day at Widow's Creek

Exiting Guntersville Lock and Dam, with over a knot of flow pushing us down the river.

The required picture of Painted Rock.

After these 3 days of travel and enjoying the scenery, we now find ourselves in Huntsville, AL.  

So Long, Chattanooga!

After a wonderfully uneventful trip through Chickamauga lock, we were tied up at Ross's Landing in Chattanooga.  We had a few days to spend some time with friends downtown and stop at some favorites and try some last few things in our hailing city before heading down the river.

Having never tied up in nearly two knots of current for the night left me wanting a few extra fenders and lines, just in case...

It was crazy to see our boat tied up on the waterfront.  It is starting to feel like we are actually going to start this cruise!

The view from our cockpit between the bridges was quite amazing.  

The traffic noise from Market St bridge was less so.

We are both so happy to have had a chance to see old and new friends that joined us downtown.  We both already miss all the great people we got to know in Chattanooga, and the urge to return will likely remain strong.  Thank you, Chattanooga, for all the great memories.

Yay, we are finally on our way!

So long, Sale Creek.  Hello again Chattanooga.

It feels like we were just here.  Oh yeah, we were.  This time took two days instead of thirty minutes to get here.  Speedy travellers, we are not.

So, from the beginning, leaving Sale Creek was bitter sweet.  We spent about 8 years there learning to sail and working on boats.  A big thanks to the folks at Sale Creek Marina for all their help in getting us ready to go.  Here's a picture leaving the marina;

And an appropriate "start" to the journey:  

Our first night, we spent at anchor in Harrison Bay.  It was a beautiful evening to try some fishing, and in the morning, HOT SHOWERS at the state park.  Can you tell where our priorities lie?

The next day was a quick trip down to Chickamauga lock, and then on to Chattanooga.  The lock was our first time through Chickamauga lock, and I was happy not to have to worry about our mast height through the marginal clearances we would have had if our mast was not unstepped.  

Here's a couple of lock happy photographers....

Nickajack here we come:

 And finally arrival in Chattanooga:

It seems so weird to be here by boat.  Something we have looke forward to doing for so long, only now made available by this trip (including dropping the mast).  We will be here a few more days, enjoying our favorite things.  

Random thought of the day (kd):

Does it ever flash through your mind...what the hell are we doing?  

Ready. Set. Go.

Waiting out a rainy day at the marina before we depart in the morning.  It's a bit weird to think we are finally leaving tomorrow, but as they say you either gotta go or get off the pot!

I wouldn't say this is the most majestic we've ever made Tatiana appear, but we are sporting a shiny new grey tarp over the cockpit, which I think adds some serious style points.  

All in

Here we go!

Yep, we have sold both of our cars now, so we either need to leave soon or we will slowly starve here at Sale Creek Marina.

Along the same lines, we heard the first sandhill cranes today fly overhead today.  Definitely getting cold now.  Yes, we will be trying to outrun the cranes on their way to FL.

Time to go!

Nothing to report

OK, so after 3 years, there may be more to report than nothing.  We've sold our house, most of our stuff, and have moved aboard.  Now that the weather is turning cold, it's time to head south.  Final preparations are underway.  Hoping we can release the dock lines soon...