Log 40 Day 129 9/27/2008 Pebble Isle Marina

Log 40
Day 129
Saturday, September 27, 2008

6:50 AM CDT
Location: Pebble Isle Marina; New Johnsonville, TN
Weather: 60* with light winds; forecast is for sunny and 84* and a 10% chance of rain

At 5:30 yesterday I wrote...It’s Friday afternoon and I’m going to start this log. I don’t normally do a log in the afternoon because we don’t get in early enough for me to take the time to sit and write any notes. And...I’d rather relax and do other things than think about what to write. Today is not necessarily any different, except we got in early (1:30) and did not have anything to do. So I’ve done all the relaxing I can, and now I’m waiting on the back deck for us to go to dinner, and I thought I’d write down a few thoughts.
· Bailout...I make it a practice not to discuss religion or politics...but wow...is this messed up or what? With so much time on our hands during cruising, I end up listening to Sirius most of the day and tune in to Fox News Channel and Bloomberg, which means I hear many views on what is going on in our world. Too much information, but the right and left views are so polarized that Deb says “it’s like we’re in a civil war”
· The weather...continues to be near perfect. I feel so bad for all the folks who have to deal with the floods. At the harbor where we spent much of the summer (Heritage Harbor in Ottawa, IL) there are at least 26 Loopers waiting to continue their trek south. A minor inconvenience verses what some have to go through...but we have had such great weather so far, I feel bad for others behind us.
· On our own...Deb and I are very comfortable being alone...or said another way...not traveling with anyone or looking for fellow cruisers in every port. We always enjoy meeting other people and hearing their stories...but once we do...we love going back to our boat and enjoy our time together. We both feel fortunate that is the case.
· Living on a boat...we love it. Obviously, it’s not for everyone...close quarters...not all the comforts of home...weather is always an issue (some great, some bad). But we continue to understand we need fewer and fewer things, and lighten our load when we can. We have always known we are simple folks...and this trip supports that.

This afternoon was very low key and not much to report at all. We arrived...tied up the boat...and went in to relax mode. Deb got her book and took a chair and sat on the dock and read for a while. I worked on some cruising planning.

Tonight...we are heading to the restaurant at the marina for catfish. Yesterday I sent an email to the Great Loop email list asking for any opinions of where we should stop along this stretch of the Tennessee River. I got about 15 responses...all of them said to stop here, (Pebble Isle Marina) and most of them said to make sure we go up and eat at the restaurant...and have catfish. We don’t normally eat out...but tonight we’re going for catfish. I’ll report the verdict tomorrow.

Saturday morning...not up very early, slept in till about 6:30...must have been the catfish. Man was that good. We both ordered catfish (the smallest plate they offered) and we brought home enough for the next couple of days for us. Between the catfish; slaw; white beans; hush puppies; and fries...it was quite a meal. It was so good I decided to go back this morning and have breakfast. It was just as good as last night’s meal, and I’ll have enough extra fried potatoes for another breakfast or two.

Today our plan is to head south for another 70 miles to Clifton, TN. The river continues to be wide, and easy to navigate. It is such a pretty morning that it’s hard to describe. My plan is to quickly wash the boat and fire up the engines and get out there and enjoy this beautiful day.

I’ll keep you posted.

BK.

We say so many of these shots along the water today...fishing boats everywhere

This building was in the middle of the river...it was there before they created Kentucky Lake and the rumor was it was so hard to tear down...they didn't
Our boat sitting at the transient dock in Pebble Isle