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.

Oct 23 & 24 - Pickwick lake

 On the 23rd, we got up, had breakfast, and got underway at a snails pace. We crusied past Grand Harbor, Aqua Yacht, and Lee Spry's and then made the trip down the lake to Pickwick State Park. This was Amy's last day before leaving for home the next morning.

The 24th was a short cruise back to Grand Harbor, with a night's stay to meet up with Sam and Rev from the Here's to Us. I met them in Alton, IL on the way south in 2019. They have a little YouTube Channel about their adventures on the Great Loop. You can find out more about them at https://www.whatyachttodo.com/  Their site has a wealth of knowledge for new folks interested it doing the loop!

Lee Spry's boatyard, the only 100 ton lift between Chicago and Mobile

And there's Rev doing her cast-off recording for their channel!! :)

Oct 22 - Waterfall Ancorage, TN MM 217.0

     We joined in with a dozen other loopers for an early morning departure from Joe Wheeler. Wheeler lock was easy, but Wilson had everyone worried about wait times. I always believe when boating, "better lucky than good" wins the day, and we certainly were today. We left the dock at 06:45, and were in the chamber at Wheeler at 08:00. A nice 8.5 mph cruise to Wilson, and they were ready for us, and we packed in that one too before 11:00! 

 

We parted ways with most of the flotilla at Florence Harbor, as they had slip reservations. We continued downstream with 3 other boats to find anchorages for the night. We ended up at MM 217, in the scenic "Waterfall Anchorage" on Pickwick Lake. There is a video at the bottom.

Varlabania

Lollipop

Leading the way past Florence (at this point) Dawg Haus 3 passed us before reaching the anchorage

Anchored at the "Waterfall Anchorage" at mm 217. Dawg Haus 3 got their first, and we set anchor, and rafted to avoid swing. This is a very small anchorage.

 

 A little video of the waterfall we got to sleep to the sound of :)