Chapter 11 - Day 11/12: Two Messages

7:00 PM
Tuesday, September 14, 1999
Day 11

Yes, two e-mails logs about the same day.

I'm going to try an experiment. I'll jot a few thoughts down tonight, and read them in the morning, and see if they makes sense.

Before I say too much let me describe..... NOW.

We are in a small back river marina, called Aberdeen Marina. A little stop off along the way that is "something special" (you figure it out).

Deb has three projects going. 1-Laundry in the marina (after she got the dock hand to show her hoe to turn it on). 2-laundry on the boat (she is using the boat washer because as she says "why not?" 3-she's sautéing green peppers, and onions for the polish sausage. (and doing a hell of a job at all three) except that she has space in the washer. I don't understand this concept. She has room, so she is walking around trying to get stuff to wash.

"Bob-go take a shower and give me those trunks you have on"........but there not dirty......"no matter they will be, and I need wash, cause I have room". Someone explain this to me.
Chris is sitting out front on the bow reading her book. Which bothers Deb, because she says "if she finishes it she will be ready for another book, and I said I'd give her mine, but I'm not done" (makes that engine problem seem small by comparison). As Chris sits on the bow enjoying her book she is oblivious to all that is happening around her....neat huh?

Steve has been working for a while to send each of you some pictures he took. Did you get them? He also is in charge of cooking and is looking for a time we all expect to eat so he can get the grill out and get started.

What about Bob? Me, I'm taking this all in, and enjoying all of it.

Just now, I looked out to my left and a guy and his wife went by in a bass boat. She was just sitting there, and he was fishing. (in his "cammo"
pants..what a picture) It all just seemed so serene...(I don't know if I have ever used that word before) Chris just came in and said "what are you guys doing in here it is beautiful outside".
Deb just blew by...stirred the onions, and the beans...set the table (at which I am sitting)....and went to check the laundry. Man I am just tired watching all of this!

5:25 am
Wednesday, September, 15, 1999
Day 12

Well, I looked at what I wrote last night and had to laugh, again. As usual, the writing is not so good, but the scene is correct. I wish I could do a better job of sharing the descriptions with you.
By almost all accounts, yesterday was a near perfect day. That fog lifted as soon as the sun came up, and we were able to get on our way about 7:15. We went directly to the mouth of the Tenn-Tom and headed south. It was breathtaking. Still a little cool, the water showed a little mist, but the sun was a big orange ball, and if you stood in it you were warm.

The river itself is a combination of man made waterways, and natural rivers, and creeks. There were several marinas, but hardly any other pleasure boats out on the water. You could travel fast most of the time if you wanted to.

The locks are great. If you're a boater I know that seems weird, but it is true. They actually seem happy to see you. They get to you as quickly as they can so they can keep you moving (they actually let us in ahead of a coal barge so we wouldn't "be traveling until night"). And, they call ahead to the next lock to let them know you're coming. It went so good that we got through 6 locks, 95 miles, and were at dock by 4:30. Not bad!

I said earlier, we are in Aberdeen Marina, in Aberdeen, MS. Getting in here was a real treat. You get off the Tenn-Tom and wind in a kind of a "s" curve around cypress trees to snake your way back about a 1/2 mile to an opening, and here is the marina.

When Chris went inside one of the ladies ask her "wheeere ya from". Chris said "why don't you think we're from here?" she said "cause ya'll taulk funnie." No doubt we are in the south.
The boat is running great (do I use that word a lot?) I still have that bolt on the side of the manifold that is seeping a little, but it causes more of a mess than anything else. Generator battery is fine now. Not sure what caused that problem-but it is fixed.

Today-

We will continue down the Tenn-Tom, and see how far we can get. I am used to having a plan for a spot, or a marina, but as the books I have read tell you, when you're on the Tenn-Tom you see how far you can get, and then come up with a plan. The good news is, it is faster going than I expected, so I believe we will make up that time we lost with the engine. I still plan to be in Mobile by Saturday.

It seems funny, that just a few miles east of here on the coast they are dealing with Hurricane Floyd, but our weather continues to be perfect. 60 degree nights with crystal clear skies, and sunny, bright, and 85 during the day.

One last note before we head out. For a boater this is an unbelievable trip, but for anyone this would be great. The people we meet, the places we see (from the richest to the poorest) are really exciting. Each day is something completely new.

I wish I could share it each of you......well I am...... sort of.

BK