Heading out of Nashville we did not need or want to drag our heels getting back on track to the Loop route. So while we took five days getting down there, we made it back up in three. That first day we went back to Clarksville marina. One of Don’s old friends lives in the area and we were able to meet up for dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant close to the marina.

The next day we went back to one of the anchor spots we were in on the way down, so we knew it would be nice. Then Last Sunday we made it back to Green Turtle Bay. We saw a few people we knew but they were planning on staying there longer than we were.

Monday morning we borrowed the marinas courtesy car again to go to Walmart. On the way back we stopped to put gas in and then it didn’t want to start back up 😯. It would turn over at first but then putter out when you tried to put it in gear. Don was finally able to make it start by lightly pressing the gas pedal and just throwing it into drive. When we got back to the marina and let them know they said they’ve been told that before about the car 🤨…..So um, maybe have it looked at so people don’t get stranded! Just my thought.

In any case, we put our groceries away and set back off to cross the canal to the other lake. When we got out there the wind had picked up a little and the water was a bit choppy. So we didn’t go as far as we would have liked, but we found a good cove to tuck into that was nice and calm to drop anchor.

Tuesday we continued along and made it to Birdsong cove. There was a marina set far back in, but there was a narrow winding channel we didn’t feel like going all the way through. Luckily there was a wide spot off the channel with plenty of water depth for us and out of the way enough to drop anchor. Unluckily the stupid rope at the end of the anchor chain got caught and stuck in the windlass. Which lowers and raises the anchor and chain. Having let the anchor down already, with the rope jamming it, that would mean pulling in 80ft of chain by hand. No thank you. Thankfully Don was able to just take the guide off the windlass and get the rope unstuck and back working.

Wednesday when we set off and bunch of other Loopers came out of various marinas and anchorages and ended up traveling behind us. We came to Beech Creek to anchor for the night. Off Leash, Blue Sloth and another boat we hadn’t met before joined us there. The others that had been behind us chose other spots further down the river. That night we took the dinghy over to Off Leash for docktails and talked travel plans for the next few days.

This spot was considered a towhead. Which I’ve learned in reference to water is: a low alluvial island or shoal in a river : SANDBAR.

Thursday morning there was heavy fog and frost. We waited a bit for the sun to warm things up before setting off. When we got to Pickwick lock there were 13 boats waiting to go through. We had to wait a bit for a barge to get through and then we were all able to get locked through. Just past the lock was Pickwick Lake State Park so we were able to go to a close spot to stay for the night.

From here we decided to take the side trip to Chattanooga, TN. It is also off the regular Loop route as the waterway that gets you there does not connect down to the Gulf of Mexico. This one is even further too. So we will go about 250 miles East, and then have to come back 250 miles to pick the route back up and continue South. We have heard that Chattanooga is worth seeing and we do still have some time to kill before we’d like to make it to Florida. So off we go!

Friday morning we were woken up very early by a bull horn and about 50 bass boats as they started a fishing tournament. Given we’ve got further to go for this trip we decided since we were up we might as well get going. We will definitely not be taking our time getting there on this one. We came to Florence Marina in Alabama. Don washed the boat while I took Skia for a walk to this nice park along the river. We had planned on going to this local pizza place for dinner but the washing machine had other ideas. Like taking an hour and a half, getting stuck, and having to wait another 45 min just for the rinse and spin cycle so hopefully it would “complete” and unlock the door 😡. Don walked to the store to get milk and was able to bring back burgers from a Southern chain, Cook Out. They were pretty good. Though at that point I was hangry so any food was good. Seriously though, why does a top load washer need a lock feature!?

The boat next to us had already contacted the next lock, which was only a few miles away, and was told that any pleasure boats needed to be at the lock at 6:30am to make it through as they were expecting several barges coming down. So Saturday morning us and another boat were up at 5:30am to make sure we made it through the lock 😴. Traveling in the dark was not something we have done before and were not excited about. Our spotlight hasn’t been working, and that morning we discovered one of our navigation lights was burned out🤦. We just followed the boat in front of us and by the time we got to the lock the sun was starting to rise.

They were ready for us and we went right in. When the water started getting pumped in however, we were either in a bad spot or they opened the valves full throttle because we got tossed around and had to release the line keeping us connected to the wall. They paused the lift so we could reposition and get secured in a different spot. The next lock we came to was also ready for us when we got there, but this one was much gentler. Made it to Decanter, AL where there was a free city dock we could tie to for the night. With an auto parts store close by so we could get a new bulb for the nav light.

Sunday before we left Don dropped the mast so we could fit under a train bridge just ahead and continue on. One more lock brought us to Guntersville and another free city dock. Here there was a Brewery across the parking lot which had some of the best fish tacos I’ve ever had! 😋

Monday we wanted to make a little more distance so our trip Tuesday would put us in Chattanooga at a decent time. Hoping to catch up with some of our Looper friends already there.

We got right through the last lock before Chattanooga. Making it our 83rd lock on the Loop so far. Just past the lock there is a beautiful park with boat docks. So that’s where we landed for the night.