From Goose Pond Marina back to the start of the Tenn Tom Waterway

The trip back to the Tenn Tom included four legs; Decatur, Wheeler, Florence, ending with the Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina ( a five star resort with amenities such as a pool, a fitness center, 3 courtesy cars, etc. )We will stay here 2 nights before moving down the Tom Bigsby Tennessee River waterway (Tenn Tom).  This waterway connects the Tennessee River with the Gulf of Mexico.
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General Joe Wheeler is a beautiful state park and resort and the site of the "loopers" rendezvous from October 23rd through the 27th - we attended last October but won't be there this year.  Having just about completed the loop we won't need the seminars!  We stayed here two nights ago to celebrate with another couple, Mark and Michelle  the place where our loop dreams took shape; treating ourselves to a terrific catfish dinner in the Lodge restaurant.
The trip to Florence included 4 hours of treading water while waiting at a lock!
The trip from Florence to Aqua Yacht Marina was windy, causing waves to be at least 3 feet - I have never experienced such high waves on a river.  Not scary, just unusual.




Wind surfing on the Tennessee



The spaghetti dinner






The pool at Joe Wheeler state park




view from the Florence marina




The entrance to Florence Harbor




Stay in the marked channel! because there are underwater islands too!




Lots of houses on lots of cliffs





some fall colors trying to appear


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Looking at the Tenn Tom from our dock at Aqua Marina



Chattanooga and back to Goose Pond Marina

There are many reasons for a return visit to Chattanooga.   We have passed by this beautiful city on the river repeatedly from Chicago to Chattanooga and vice versa and never stopped!  Next time we go north this will be a must stop!

Goose Pond is like an old friend filled with friendly people.  This visit is very special because we are here to attend the "crossing your wake" party for two of our looper friends who have just completed their loop.  Congratulations to Ron and Jan on the Jolly Tolly!  Last night we attended the spaggetti/wine  party from 5 to 7 on their behalf and then a 7 to 9:00 casino night sponsored by one of the docks.  Jayne and I then particpated in an auction with our "winnings"allowing us to buy a pizza for $3000.00!

Found a good breakfast place to reach with the courtesy care.

Their will not be a  post for a few nights until we return to the Tenn Tom waterway around October 1st.

Goose Pond to Nickajack and Chattanooga

We left Goose Pond on Monday the 19th of September to the Nickajack Dam and then to the Nickajack Marina.  The scenery was varied becoming more mountainous as we approached the dam.  The real treats in scenery came in the segment from Nickajack to Chattanooga.  This portion of the river is referred to as the Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River.
The area became more beautiful as we progressed.
Chattanooga is a progressive city with much to offer.  Today we visited the state of the art Tennessee Aquarium and a terrific IMAX theater movie.



The fancy barge is the coca cola barge that is towed to the yearly fest at Chattanooga.




Lookout mountain in Chattanooga


Mist and the mountains

Scenes of the river

The Baylor high school (private )- 600 acres and many buildings!



The butterfly habitat at the aquarium



Tomorrow we will visit a few of the many Chattanooga tourist attractions with plans to return by car at a later time.

To Guntersville and Goose Pond, Alabama

Guntersville is on the shore of the Guntersville lake formed by the damming of the Tennessee River.  John Gunter a scottsman came to live with an indian tribe in 1785. It was an important river port during the civil war.  Today, grain is a big export for this town of 8,000, but tourism is becoming increasingly important.

Our next stop, Goose Pond Marina is part of a large resort complex featuring 2 golf courses, condos, rental cabins, pool, etc. Jayne and I enjoyed exploring the area in the courtesy car.  Tomorrow, we will have some work done on the boat while we change oil and filters in both engines.  A great place to stay.

The number of fishing boats(bass boats) has increased tremendously

Lots of tugs and barges but smaller loads then earlier 



The scenery is becoming quite mountainous





A great meal in a fine restaurant in Guntersville



People are really enjoying the lakes of the Tennessee River 



Hydrilla and water milfoil have made waters useless to boaters



Tuesday the 20th we will travel through the Nickajack dam and lock, to the Nickajack Resort and Marina.

To Decatur Alabama

Today the 16th of September we continued our trip toward Chattanooga, Tennessee to the town of Decatur Alabama near the city of  Huntsville.   Decatur dates back to 1820 when the land was taken from the Cherokee Indians and sold at auction.  It was an important Civil War town that was destroyed by Union troops.   Today the population is 53,000 and it contains many interesting historical sites.

Jayne and I traveled here with two couples and their boats; afterword we shared a drink and great food at the riverfront restaurant on the premises.
An excellent rock and roll band provided the entertainment.


Along the Tennessee River



Next to a lock-We think the churning water is the result of the emptying of the lock(?)




At one time this was the largest Nuclear Plant in the world




Boeing boat that carries rockets to Cape Canaveral and other places.




Tiny island in the middle of the river




The southern waitresses and other help, do their best to make you feel welcome!




Tomorrow we move on to an interesting town called Guntersville, a 70 mile trip including one lock.

Day 2 in Florence Alabama



 Today we visited Helen Keller's home and museum; this was one of the most inspirational historical sites we have ever visited.  This woman who couldn't see or hear had everything stacked against her and yet she managed to be an excellent scholar, lecturer and leader. Having an excellent family background and innovative people around her helped as well.


Helen Keller's home


 

Helen and Amy



A pump organ in Helen Keller's house

Next the W. C. Handy home and museum.  Handy is called the father of the blues.  He wrote popular blues songs which furthered the development of this art form. Among his compositions were St. Louis Blues, and Memphis blues.  His family did all they could to keep him from having a career in music, "it will lead you to the gutter"....  He fought through extreme poverty for over twenty years but eventually became an international music hero.


W.C. Handy's trumpet




old fashioned chimes

We finished the day with a Cajun seafood meal and a get together on the docks with six other boaters.
We plan to stop in Florence to take in more sites on our return to the Tenn Tom from Chattanooga.

Tomorrow we travel to Joe Wheeler State Marina and resort; a trip of 21 miles with 2 locks.

Grand Harbor, Mississippi to Florence, Alabama

After a great 3 days stay at Grand Harbor and all of the many hstorical attractions, we have moved up the Tennessee river to Florence Alabama. We cannot go on our planned itinerary down the Ten Tom waterway at this time because two locks have been closed for mantenance until September 24th.   As a result we have decided to extend our trip to see more of the beautful Tennessee River all the way to Chattanooga (making lemonade from lemons?).
Florence was named by an italian(surprise?) surveyor after his city in Italy.  There are 4 towns in this area including Sheffield, Muscal Shoals, and Tuscombia with a total population of 75,000.


The Cherry Mansion one of General Grant's headquarters




Pontoon boats the preferred method of travel

  Scenes along the river



Natchez Trace bridge



Cliff hanger!

Tomorrow  Howard and Marilyn, fellow boaters, Jayne and I  will visit the homes of two world famous personalities;  W C Handy and Helen Keller.  Among other sites we will also visit a Frank Lloyd Wright home and one of General Shermans headquarters during the civil war.