So last Tuesday we got up early to make the roughly 35 miles to Chattanooga in good time. Some of our Looper friends were already there and we had plans to meet up with them. Specifically we wanted to get to the arcade museum between 1-1:30, when unlimited play was half price! We made it to the dock at 12, got set up and went with Eric’s Inheritance and Phil-n-Wild to play pin ball, pac-man, Mario, Galaga and many other old school arcade games. It was a really cool spot and a lot of fun!

On the way back we stopped at Downtown Dough which sells edible cookie dough in slabs like fudge 😋. We met back up on the dock for docktails with additional Loopers, Moonshadow II and The Grand Wazoo, and then we all went to dinner at Puckett’s BBQ. They had excellent mac n’ cheese!

Wednesday we had made plans to go to see Ruby Falls with John and Robin from Moonshadow II. They had rented a car to go to the Jack Daniel’s factory so they drove. It was very impressive, you take an elevator over 250 feet below ground and walk through a narrow cave with ever changing rock formations. Because you are traveling under a mountain by the time you reach the 145 foot waterfall, you are 1,120 feet underground!

From there we went to Rock City which was actually in Georgia. There is a nice walking trail that leads you through cool rock passages and another spectacular waterfall.

John and Robin had made dinner plans with another Looper boat Masquerade, and they invited us to join them. We went to Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen. Delicious biscuits with blueberry jam and I finally had to try chicken and mac n’ cheese waffles. The chicken was good but I still don’t really “get” the chicken and waffles together thing.

Thursday we went to the Medal of Honor museum. It was very interesting, and we learned that it originated in Chattanooga. The first ones were given to men from Chattanooga for a mission they undertook there during the Civil War. Afterwards we went to the aquarium, which was split into two separate buildings. We went to the ocean side first. There were very nice exhibits off each of the 4 floors with one large tank in the center going up all 4 stories.

We took a lunch break and went to Clumpies Ice Cream. They had a special seasonal flavor, oatmeal apple butter crunch. Very delicious! Afterwards we went to the River Journey side of the aquarium. It was set up the same way, 4 floors with exhibits surrounding 1 large tank in the center.

Dinner that night brought us to the recommended Agave & Rye Epic Tacos. They did not disappoint. Unique very large tacos that were hard to choose and very delicious!

🎂 Friday we started the morning at Ruby Sunshine for breakfast. Mimosa flight, french toast bites and beer braised beef eggs Benedict, down right scrumptious! Those who know that I have an affinity for breakfast food both in my stomach and in decor will appreciate the design of this restaurant, which was particularly pleasing 😊.

We left Chattanooga and went back to Shellmound Park for the night. Let the fluff swim and took a walk through the park. On the other dock was Sunset, who after chatting a bit we realized we had been in The Big Chute with them on the Trent Severn. I was able to find a picture I had taken of them and send it to them.

Saturday we called the lock and they said they were ready for us whenever we wanted to come through. So we scooted over there with Sunset and got right through. Going down is much smoother and easier. Thankfully from here to the Gulf should be all down locks. We came to Goose Pond Marina and got set up. After the last laundry fiasco we were assured this place was good for that. They had three washers and four dryers that all actually worked in a timely manner. With no one waiting after me we were able to do four loads of everything! There’s nothing like putting on fresh pj’s right outta the dryer. We also took the marina’s courtesy car to Geno’s Pizza for dinner which was good and to Walmart. It was at this marina, which was actually in Alabama, that we saw our first palm tree of the trip.

Sunday was a rainy day, so we just hung out, played games and watched the Bill’s win! 🎃 Monday a bunch of boats set off and Sea Clef who had left before us let us know they spoke with the next lock who said they’d be ready for us at 10. So we made sure we got there on time. Further up the river we heard them over the radio talking with the train bridge about getting it raised for them to fit under. A train was on its way so they would have to wait a bit. Score one for being a smaller boat, Don put the mast down and we cruised right under 😄. We went back the the Decatur free dock and parked in front of Masquerade. Made plans with them to leave together in the morning to coordinate the next two locks. Sea Clef and another boat had spent the night at a marina further ahead and went through the first lock ahead of us, but when they got to the next one they were told it would be about a two hour wait to get through. Which was about the time it would take us to get there. So it worked out that by the time we got there we just had to wait for them to refill the chamber from the tow they just let down and we were able to go through. We found another park dock just passed the lock to set up at for the night.

This morning we set off for Aqua Yacht Harbor in Pickwick Lake where we will pick up the Loop route back South. Sea Clef passed us on the way and we followed them into the Marina. Many other Loopers were here as well. We took the courtesy car to the local grocery store quick and even though the Marina is in Mississippi we traveled into Tennessee to go to the store 😆.

When we got back Moonshadow II had organized docktails. So a very large group of us got together. Met a lot of new Loopers and had fun evening.