Log 53; Day 151; Oct. 19th; Joe Wheeler State Park; Rogersville, AL.

Deb enjoying an afternoon cocktail...you can see the great view we have off the back of the boat here at Joe Wheeler.

This is a shot I took this morning at the end of our dock facing Joe Wheeler Lodge. HQ is about 1/2 way up the dock on the right...you can see the dome on the top of our boat.
Another shot of the lodge from our dock.
Typical dock parties...this one just in front of our boat.
Log 53
Day 151
Sunday, October 19, 2008

8:15 AM CDT
Location: Joe Wheeler State Park Marina, Rogersville, AL.
Weather: 50* and clear; forecast is for 71* and mostly sunny

It got down to 48 here last night and although it’s bright and sunny it is still very cool this morning. It’s actually too bright for me to do the log on the back deck because I can’t see the screen, and it seems a shame to put up the sun screens yet...so I’m in the salon writing this as I watch them hunt deer on ESPN2. Deb and I had pancakes and bacon this morning...one of our favorite Sunday morning breakfasts.

We’re here at Joe Wheeler with 65 other boats registered for the America’s Great Loop Cruisers Assoc. (AGLCA). This is an association dedicated to folks who live and travel on their boats, and each year they have at least 1 rendezvous. This is the first one we have been able to attend. Not all the boats are here yet, as the rendezvous does not actually start until Monday evening...but several a day are coming in...and it’s a big deal when a boat comes in as many people rush to help them tie up, and greet them. It’s very interesting to watch this happen because inevitably another boater (or boaters) comes over and there are loud hello’s or big smiles and hugs because they are seeing this boater for the first time since another port where their paths crossed. This could have been last week; last month; or a year ago. Yesterday Deb asked someone “how do you know these folks” and the answer was “oh...we traveled across Canada with them a few months ago and have not seen them sense”. Certainly not everyone knows everyone...but there are lots of very friendly boaters, and you can sense it’s a kind of community, everyone knowing that this group is traveling the same waterways you are.

The rendezvous itself should be very interesting. The setting is at a very nice state park lodge that has a marina attached. As you can see by the pictures the boats are all lined up and ready to go. Each day consists of several seminars on different parts of the great loop...this one focusing on the areas south of here and the Bahamas...I’m looking forward to learning about the great stops along the way. There also seminars on safety; clothing; vessel checks; dinghy races; Looper crawls (we’re not sure what this is yet) and a ships store as well. Included with the seminars are also lunch; cocktails; and dinner each day. It all ends on Thursday evening. We also have friends of ours (John and Sue Mobley) from Ottawa who will be on board Monday through Thursday this week. John and Sue did the loop in 2004 and I’m sure they will know several of the boaters who are here. Should be a great time.

I’ll keep you posted.

BK.