Yooper Looper as she’s moored under a roof at Columbus, MS Marina
This trawling on rivers A much different life, Is really more fun When you have a wife.
To enjoy the scenery And cooking for me, While steering from fly-bridge A lot more to see.
Wife, Margaret, up on the Fly-bridge doing her graphics work remotely on the river.
Preparing to “lock down”
Ducks on the water
Herons on the shore,
Geese that are flying
White pelicans galore.
Wispy white mare-tails Or cotton-like pillows, The clouds ever-changing Like smoke they will billow.
Along the Kentucky River, clouds ever changing
Sunrises and sunsets And moon in the sky, (At home when you’re busy) These things pass you by.
But here on the water
With time on our side,
We get to enjoy them
As we go for a ride.
Days upon days And nights upon nights Out here on the water It’s all about sights!
Two fellow Looper boats waiting to enter the next lock. After sunset, with the moon above, gates closed, ready to go down to the next river level.Another boat joins us in the lockNotice the huge mechanical arm that opes and closes the gates.The Whitten lock – a 84 foot drop and 46 million gallons!The Johm Stennis Lock. Notice the fisherman at bottom right- just his head showing.Tugboat on left is a looper called Jack RobertsMighty doors of the Whitten lockWating for the gates to open after sinking downAndy and Bruce holding the boat off the wall as we descend.Pretty skies.
See the vine covered support on left end of bridge.A little “dog house” fly bridge so they can see over the cargo.We bowled for fun in Columbus, MS (mom, Bruce , Andy and I)Tank in Amory, MSSee the Yooper Looper far off in the background. Went for a walk in the State Park.Bike ride in Columbus, MSSaltie, loopers from CO
From Green Turtle Bay
A Courtesy car,
Over our limit
We drove very far.
Left my Suburban
Near Sugar Tree town,
To transport my daughter
When she is home-bound.
Through Barkley Canal
From East to the West,
Traveling in daylight
Is what we like best.
A very big park-
Land Between the Lakes,
By the Tennessee River
We put on the brakes.
With wildlife galore
And many large bays,
It’s worth a few stops
And overnight stays.
Dropping the anchor
In Duncan Bay,
Exploring the shoreline
A cold night we did stay.
Frost on the railings
Was not going to stop,
My son from swimming
So down he did hop!
Deep in the water At 50 degrees, Then back in again I thought he would freeze.
Air was less than 40, with frost overnight, and water just under 50!
30 Miles up river
Paris Landing State Park,
At McWherter fixed bridge
Docking near dark.
Rangers were friendly Showing us reptiles, The boys even held them Brought on some smiles.
The kids held snakes at the state park.
The next day was Thursday
With time we went slow,
Pulled into a harbor
To see where it’d go.
Then running aground
At Harmon Creek,
Changed our plans
We moved on to seek…
A safer harbor Using Skipper Bob’s guide, Pebble Isle Marina Was just a short ride.
To stock up on food With a courtesy car, Waverly City Was not very far.
Then Cuba Landing
Was our next stop,
Just 20 miles
It felt like a hop.
Met Ellie and Tom
With roots from back home,
Had interests in common
On boats also roamed.
Left Yooper Looper Moored for 2 nights, Drove over to Nashville To see some more sights.
Daughter Andrea at Opryland Hotel.
Dropped off our Andrea
And her 12 year old son,
Their ride was done now
But it was such fun!
Christmas light hanging Was all done by Bruce, With wire and duct tape They couldn’t come loose.
Bruce, making our boat look like Christmas Season.
On Saturday morning
Left Cuba Landing,
Interesting houses
On both shorelines standing.
Ready for flooding On stilt after stilt All in a line ‘Cause that’s how they’re built.
LOTS of flood-ready houses along the river. Some houses more stout than others.
At Eagle’s Nest Island
O’er night on the hook,
Anchor light shining
Marg reading a book.
‘Twas somewhat scary
To think we might drift
And end up on rocks
Causing a rift.
Woke up near dawn
Something went “thump,”
A log hit our keel
And made a loud bump.
With mom still in bed
The day started early,
The boys pulled the anchor
And the river was squirrelly
Making slow progress Upstream we went, To Pickwick State Harbor The day was all spent.
Pickwick Lock at night after 12 hours on the water. Some precarious houses along the Tennessee River.Lots of these cool houses.Notice the high doors at the State Capitol building in Nashville.Nashville congressional room. They have part time Representatives, not in session.Capitol building.Son Bruce at the war museum.Margie, Andrea and Rodney. We were too lazy to put the motor on.Grandson Rodney at Johnsonville Historical Park. Son Andy… we did a scavenger hunt style history lesson. From left – Brian, Margaret, Andrea, Andy, Bruce and Rodney. (not sure what the soldiers name is.)
Son Andy passing time.Yours Truly (Brian) – notice the AGLCA flag (American Great Loop Cruisers Assoc.)
