Travel Map August and September 2019

Travel Map August and September 2019
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Great Smokey Mountains Road Trip

How great is your handiwork God! We enjoyed a one night and two days in 

Smokey Mountains.  You can see the observation hike we took and we could see Tennessee and North Carolina .  While driving we saw a Mamma Bear and her cubs, Tom captured some pictures in the woods and then as they were walking towards us on the road.  We walked on part of the Appalachian trail just to say we were in Tennessee and North Carolina.  We have enjoyed our time in Chattanooga, had my first taste of Grits...and to be honest I am good now that I tried them.  We are docked near where the duck boats go out and a tourist riverboat.  This weekend they are hosting the  iron man triathlon 2019 , and no we did not qualify to join in their fun.  We did enjoy the lower temps in the Smokey Mts, as we are expecting the next week to be at least 90-95 every day.

We are flying out on Sunday to Maine for Chris and Rachel's wedding and it has been hard to think that we will be in cooler weather. (but I cannot wait and either can Tom so he doesn't have to hear how hot I am everyday)   We are blessed to be able to be on this adventure and have met some super nice people along the way and where you least expect.  Life is good ....I miss our family and friends but most of all I can't wait to see SAMUEL and yes his parent's too!

Chattanooga

The famous Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel

Having a drink in a Choo Choo railcar

A view from Lookout Mountain. A major Civil War Battle was fought here.
We traveled on the River oxbow coming into “Nooga”

We traveled up and down the incline railway to go up to  Lookout  Mountain.
Steepest railroad. Measured 31 degree slope. 

Goose Pond to Cedar Creek Anchorage

Cooled off enough to anchor for the evening.
 Cedar Creek on Nickajack Lake on the Tennessee River. 

Beautiful bluffs nearing Chattanooga. 

We love the Tennessee River. 

Huntsville to Goose Pond Marina, Scottsboro AL

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When we got to Goose Pond Marina in Scottsboro AL we took the marinas courtesy car to the airlines Unclaimed Baggage store.  Are you missing anything?

Two more travel days to Chattanooga TN

Beautiful morning leaving Huntsville. 

One of hundreds of beautiful homes on the Tennessee River. Most have boat houses. 

Decatur and Huntsville AL

Decatur AL
Waiting for the train to cross before they lift the bridge. We can’t get under 9ft when it’s lowered.
After we went under the bridge Angie said something smells good and the next we see is the home factory of Meow Mix.
NASAs  heavy lift rockets are built here.

Angie driving on the moon.

Atlas V final stage to push the spacecraft out of earth orbit. 

Atlas V first stage

Florence Alabama

Went to Muscle Shoals Jackson Highway recording studio, where all the artist and band recorded with the four local studio musicians later nicknamed the "Swampers". Jimmy Johnson (swamper) die last week. The white ribbon is for Jimmy.
The building was on the cover of Cher's first solo album. 

Some of the artists that used the Swampers to record with: Cher, Paul Simon, Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Seger, Duane Allman, Rod Stewart, Leon Russel, Leonard Skynard, Staple Singers, Bob Dylan, Etta James

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The studio was in a dry county, but Angie found the bar behind the secret door.

The 'Rolling Stones" only paid $1009 to record 'Wild Horses"

There were Dragon Boat races on the Tennessee River in Florence on Saturday.

The main reason we stopped at Florence was to visit our friends Russ and Kerri, whom we met in
Sturgeon Bay, WI, a year ago. Angie shopped with Kerri and we had two great meals with them.

Grand Harbor Pickwick Lake Oct 11&12

My favorite, Pickle Juice freeze pop. Already drooled on my shirt. 

In the Shilo Battlefield Cemetery. 

Tennessee River to Grand Harbor Pickwick Lake

Grand Harbor Marina had a nice courtesy van the we drove to Shilo Battlefield National Park. 110,000 civil war troops fought to two days, 23,800 casualties, more than in all of America’s previous wars combined. Main monument was from Iowa. 

We locked up into Pickwick Lake where we will
stay at Grand Harbor for a few days. We will be staying on the Tennessee
River for a side trip to Chattanooga rather than heading south on the Ten-Tom waterway. Good thing because they closed the waterway for 3 weeks as there was a crude oil spill in the first lock they are cleaning up. 

Tennessee River Day 3

Sunset at Cuba Landing

Angie living the dream, washing dishes at 7am heading southbound up the
Tennessee River on her birthday. 

At Clifton Marina, ready yo go out (50ft down the dock) for her birthday supper.
Looper boats “DougOut” & “Dixie Belle” joined us. 

Paris to Cuba? on the Tennessee

Tennessee River like glass today. We traveled early from Paris (Landing) to Cuba (Landing)  Tennessee.
International travelers, ha. 

Some river homes built right on an old railroad right of way. Smart. 

My special lunch today.
PS it’s Angie’s Birthday tomorrow, ends in a zero.
I’ll have to make her a special lunch as we travel to Clifton TN. 

Tennessee River Day 1

We left Lake Barkley and went into Kentucky Lake, which is the Tennessee River.
We traveled to Paris Landing State Marine. Maggie Jo will take us an additional 400 miles to Chattanooga TN where we will leave the boat for a week to fly to Maine for Chris and Rachel’s wedding and to see family and friends. We will probably be on the Tennessee River until October 19 when we will head south on the Ten-Tom Waterway to Mobile Alabama. 

Entering Kentucky Lake

Nashville and Green Turtle Bay

We took a night off the boat rented a car and went to Nashville! Our brush with fame was at the the Country Western Hall of Fame -/as we stood in line the usher had us pause to wait for a man in a wheelchair to pass and it was Randy Travis.  Although it was extremely hot and humid we walked all over and enjoyed the music and the energy of the city.

Our mode of transportation is our dinghy- we refer to it as our ding a Lyng! The only disadvantage is at night you tend to eat some bugs when holding the light! We had a very nice shuttle service at Green Turtle Marina. Grocery shopping - boutique shopping.

Green Turtle Bay Marina

We arrived here Friday. It’s been nice to take a break and not travel every day. The looper wives took the courtesy car into 

Paducah to shop on Saturday. Sunday we walk to church her at the resort and later got a golf cart ride into Grand Rivers to an art fair and a grocery store to stock up. Monday was a Labor Day on the boat for me and Angie went back to Grand Rivers to check out some shops. Four looper boats (IA, WI, SC, & BC Canada) got together at 5 for docktales. There we over 50 turtles beside our picnic area. We have seen a few bands and ate at the Thirsty Turtle a few times. Today friends stopped by to visit who me met in Sturgeon Bay who complete the loop in Georgia this spring. They now live in Jacksonville FL and are heading by car to Wisconsin. Tomorrow Ang and I are going to Nashville by car  to hang out for a couple days.