April 16, 2012

4-12-13

4:15 p.m. Louie and Tommy arrived at Paris Landing Marina. We went to eat at Hillbilly’s BBQ. We each had a pulled pork sandwich. They offered hot, mild and wimpy sauces. The wimpy sauce was like a Kansas City sauce (sweet). It was good. They also offered regular and hillbilly baked beans. The hillbilly beans had pulled pork in them. They were okay but NO WHERE near as good as Thomason’s beans.

Next, we drove to Paris, TN to see their version of the Eifel Tower. Louie and I had our pictures made in front of it. Tommy said “next time”. Walmart was our next stop to get a new depth finder since ours went kaput. Louie bought a detailed map of Tennessee with as he called them “all the hog trails”. This way, we can find our way by land to whichever marina the boat stops at. We turned in around 8:00. I can’t believe we beat the chickens to bed!

Friday, 4-13-12 Paris Landing Marina

Tommy and Louie worked on installing the new depth finder on the back of the boat. I took a picture of both of them with their behinds in the air. After Louie got the nuts on the 2 bolts, we discovered he was stuck in the hold of the foot well. I started laughing and couldn’t stop. Tommy 7 I tried to pull him out. No luck. Then I laughed some more and Tommy tells me not to laugh, this is a serious matter. So, we tried pulling his legs straight up in the air. Guess what? I laughed again. Then I ran to the marina office and asked two men that worked there to come help. They pulled his legs straight up in the air and got him out. I would have taken a picture, but I was afraid Tommy would holler at me. I bet Louie will be sore tomorrow!

Tommy and Louie made it to Pebble Isle Marina at New Johnsonville, TN around 4:30 p.m. They had a greatday on the water. The winds were good and they made good time. They hit one section on the river where it was extremely shallow just outside the markers. They said within 15-20 feet of thier boat was a craine standing in the water and unless he had 8' long legs, it was very shallow. They met a tow boat pushing 10 barges (2 wide by 5 long) and Tommy said that guy deserved a bonus if if got thru that portion of the river after dark without gtting stuck!
We had dinner at Pebble Isle's restaurant. It had a great salad bar and the food was good. The sign for Pebble Isle Marina is a metal sail boat that looks like something Jacques Cousto would have used.

Saturday, 4-15-12

Tommy and I left Pebble Isle Marina at 7:45 a.m. We motored with the sail up all day. For the first 2 ½ hours the wind was blowing very hard. It blew so hard, it kicked up water over the bow and came back on us is the back of the boat. After that it, was perfect sailing. Our marine radio was not getting out and we were approaching a railroad bridge that had to be raised for us to go under it. I got to blow the air horn to notify them. They blew one back at us and raised the bridge. It was so strange to see 2 men standing outside what looked like an office trailer on top of the bridge waving at us.

The Tennessee River area is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. There are rock walls and outcroppings with trees growing on them. The walls go straight up. We saw many nice houses on the river banks and up in the hills. Many people were out on their speed boats and pontoons. There were LOTS of fishermen out in their bass boats. We saw miles of sandy beach areas and several people using them. We saw a light house high up on a hill in the woods. I bet I waved at over 100 people on boats, on the river banks and even people sitting on their porches and decks. Most all of them waved back. We passed a Marina called Mermaid Marina. The sign was a GIANT mermaid (see picture). I told Tommy I was driving back by land to that marina to get one of their T Shirts the next day.

We finally made it to Clifton Marina @ Clifton, TN at 7:30. Almost 12 hours in one stretch is a LONG day on the water. After we got docked and checked it, we joined Louie and drove into Clifton for dinner. Clifton is a nice town with 1 street of businesses downtown with a French Quarter look. The restaurant was called The Pirate’s Lair. They featured seafood and New Orleans’ style food. We returned to the marina and turned in slightly later than the chickens!

Sunday, 4-15-12

Clifton Marina

Tommy was afraid the transmission was messing up. So, he pulled it off the motor while Louie and I loaded the pickup. After we all had showers, we headed north in the pickup. We stopped in Decaturville, TN at Cowboy’s Steakhouse for lunch. It was an OLD building with extremely slanted floors. I kept thinking I was sliding out of my chair sideways. We each ordered hamburgers. They were an inch thick and they hung out the sides of Texas Toast bread. Man, were they good. We then drove about 6 miles to the Mermaid Marina. Yes, I got my T Shirt before we headed north to Henderson. We dropped Louie off at his house and were at our house be 5:30. Nice to be home!

Tommy will take the transmission to get it checked out tomorrow. Oh, I forgot mention, during all of the strong winds, we got a tear in the sail. So, we have to order some fabric and get it patched as well.

I once was told “if you don’t believe God has a sense of humor, just tell Him your plans”. We’ll I guess He decided to laugh with us today.

Monday, 4-16-12

Transmission is okay. Tommy ordered the fabric for the sails and found someone to make the repairs for us. We should be back on the water early next week unless God gets another funny streak. I’ll keep you posted.