Our New Home for a Few Months ~
Time to leave our home at Aqua Yacht Harbor and head over to Florence Harbor Marina. John and I had driven over to check out the marina and really liked the location and ease of shopping, parks (for the pups) and river. Mary Fay and Chad (daughter and son-n-law) came up from Austin, TX for the 4th of July holiday. We planned on heading over by the 1st and pulled out of the marina Tuesday morning about 10:00 am.
Lines untied and we are heading out.
Pulling out of slip and Aqua Yacht Harbor
First scare of the trip – we could not find Bailey. The door to the salon was closed so she had to be somewhere. We looked out on front of boat and there she was sleeping at the pulpit of the boat. At that time we decided to put netting up around the front of the boat in case they slip or loose balance in a wave while underway. Usually we will always be out there with them but they can escape and we not know it.
John and Chad going over the instruments
Mary Fay and I enjoying the ride
Trip to Florence took about 6 hours along the Tennessee River which is also known as Pickwick Lake. Whenever you go through a lock the lake name changes to the lock name. Wilson Lock and Dam is the next lock after Florence Marina and the lake name changes from Pickwick Lake to Wilson Lake. We passed a few pleasure boats and one tug along the trip. We pulled into the marina about 4:00 in the afternoon.
Entrance to Florence Harbor Marina
New Home – “A” Dock
John and I were at this Harbor about 6-7 years ago with Ginger and Jim Toomey on their vessel “High Cotton”. We had taken a week and headed up to Chattanooga for the 4th of July. We stayed the night at the marina since a storm was blowing in.
When we pulled into our new slip Chad was helping tend to the lines on the dock. Unfortunately he hit a cleat and about ripped his toe off. So off to the emergency clinic and after about an hour and half he had a pain killer, 6 or so stitches and instructions to not get in the water. We did take a day trip to Little Bear creek for the afternoon and stayed the night. Nice cove off the River and out of the way of boat traffic. There is a small dock that John could dinghy to and take the pups for their potty breaks at night and in the morning.
Bailey’s favorite spot
John and Chad checking out the area to take the pups
Little Bear Creek cove at sunset
On the 4th of July they had fireworks at dark and a festival all day in the MacFarland City Park next to the marina. Needless to say it was a busy week here on our arrival. All week we heard how long the wait was to get through the locks – 3 to 4 hours. We did not want to make that trip and get stranded on Wilson Lake since there is not a good spot to anchor out for the night if we got stranded.
Mary Fay and Chad headed out early Saturday morning. They decided to drive the whole 10-11 hours on Saturday so they would have a day of rest on Sunday before heading back to work. We enjoyed their stay and look forward to seeing them along the way at some point.
No Comments