Nov 21 - Fall Slowdown!

 It's been a rather quiet week this week. I spent most of it at the office, as loopers passing through are getting fewer and fewer. As I write this I'm packing up to leave for Thanksgiving, so there will be no post next week. My personal world is several magnitudes more boring than the boat stories! :) 

I did snap a couple pics of loopers, and also below is a 50' Galeon that has been at Cuba most of the summer. The Owners have a place in Ft Meyers, FL and want to take the boat south for the winter. They are not comfortable making the trip. I am in discussion with them, and may be heading out near Dec 1st with them. I expect a 14-20 day trip, depending on the weather gods.

Not a bad lil ship eh??? :)

As I mentioned I grabbed a pic of a couple loopers that spend Sunday night with us. They are off to Clifton today. Friends Glen and Jean were down, they took 17 weeks this summer and fall to cruise the Cumberland River. Glen is a local boat mechanic, and is busy as hell now doing winterizations. Yes even here in TN, the folks that don't spend regular time on their boats in the winter still need to winterize. They do remain in the water atleast!! :) 

Everyone enjoy Turkey Day, be it at home or aboard!!! :)

Nov 14 - Weekly Update

 11/9

Larry and his friend John on Nepadie left this morning. I grabbed a couple photos for them after they raised the mast. I grabbed some pics!

11/12

After months of consideration I have begun testing Coastal Explorer software for the lower helm. I must say the user interface took a little time to master, however, the route planning and building tools are many times more robust that OpenCpn. I am going to test it running the boat systems on Sunday!

11/14

We took a short trip south around Denison Island, and back. Coastal Explorer out performs in use as well, making it worth the cost to purchase the full license. Attached are a couple pics!

Nov 8 - Weekly Update

Starting today, I am making a change. I always just post when things are happening. travel days are daily posts. Then there may be 2 months without anything. I have decided to make this a bit more follower friendly and put everything in a weekly post. If we travel several days, that will make it a long post. However, it has been explained to me, people are creatures of habit, having a weekly post makes it regular and manageable for the folks reading it. We are gonna give it a try, if you have a differing opinion don't be afraid to share it!

Since returning from the trip, I have have been too busy catching up at work to get a whole lot done. Loopers, loopers, and more loopers! We had 9 in the marina one evening last week! Greeting and talking with them gets a bit overwhelming sometimes. It's too late in the year to start now, but after Jan 1, we are going to keep track of everyone a little better. It helps our failing memories.

On the trip to the Rendezvous, Toscana lost an alternator. Not the old one either, the new one replaced this spring. At the same time, I realized the battery selector switch was not functioning properly, and had to install a cross over cable in the engine room for the trip. I have replaced the switch, and removed the cross cable. I have not yet had a chance to further investigate the alternator to be sure it has failed and not a bad wire someplace before I remove it.

11/4 - Our friends that took off 17 weeks ago to spend the summer cruising the Cumberland River finally returned! 

11/7 - I drove in to Nashville this morning to pickup Larry from Nepetie this morning so he can continue his loop journey.

October 26 - Back home to Cuba Landing

 What could have been an easy 35 mile day, turned into a 75 mile day. How could that happen? Well Cuba does not offer diesel, and I burned through alot more this summer than usual, so I wanted to fill up. I got a good volume price from Pebble Isle, so i went 20 miles past, filled up, then 20 miles back to Cuba. 

One of the boats I met sent me this pic:

 

So many boats (mostly loopers) the past 2 days I just lot count. On Tuesday I tried to jot down names. So I had Captivator, Kittiwake, and the next one showed Jessie's Encore on AIS, but Grand Cru on Nebo... *shrug* Then Unicorn, The Journey, Oceanus, Mitzvah, 2 sailnoats not on either, Tow Sideview, Sarah Belle, Tow Deborah Miles, Islena, another unknown, BAR-B-Q, Out of the Blue, Blue Dreamer, and lastly Tow John Reid Golding. 

It was nice to get home and settled in, but I really also wish I was still going... SOUTH, not north! :)

Breakfast at the helm :)

Oct 25 - Double Islands Anchorage

 I had a nice and easy 66 mile cruise downstream, heading back to Cuba Landing. I hate leaving everyone behind to continue on to the gulf, but Toscana needs more paint, varnish, and polishing before she's ready for that trip. I got a late start delayed by early morning rain. I got straight in at Pickwick Lock, and down river with a big head of steam. I passed several loopers on their way upstream. I got their pictures, but lost track of all the boat names. Double Islands are at the 149 mile marker. That makes a short 34 mile day home, unless I get a deal on fuel and run to Pebble Isle first.