We Have Only Just Begun

October 1-8, 2014

NM today: 43 miles – Florence Harbor Marina to Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina
                   36.5 miles – Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina to Bay Springs Lake

Total Miles: 79.5

LOCKS  today: 0

We pulled out of Florence Harbor Marina on Thursday at 11:30 am, Oct. 1st and headed to Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina for some scheduled maintenance.  We had a 150′ yacht come into the marina for the month.  The name of the yacht is Freedom and it belongs to a family in Florence.

Freedom w/ the Florence to Muscle Shoals Bridge in the background

Entrance to Florence Harbor w/ Freedom  

We have enjoyed Florence so much.  The people on our dock made us feel so welcome and our last night on the dock they had a fish fry to say Bon Voyage.  The parks were amazing where we were able to walk the dogs, ride our bikes and enjoy the awesome festivities that were at the park each month.  We went on a Swampette tour of the Muscle Shoals Recording studios on a beautiful Saturday.  What fun to see the recording studios and Hall of Fame and realize that many of the musical artists we have loved to listen to over the years recorded right here in Florence/Muscle Shoals area.

Our three stops on the Swampette Tour which we highly recommend.  

With a strong SW wind for most of the trip we finally got into the harbor and pulled into our old slip on dock D.  We wanted to visit with some of our friends that we had not seen in three months. Rainy weather kept most people away.

Friday we had maintenance going on all day. John and Jackie on Eufloria got to the marina late afternoon and off to dinner to celebrate Jackie’s birthday at Top of the River.  Saturday we met Inge and Dick on Bon Voeyage on the transient dock and realized they are one of the couples we will be traveling to Florida with.  Sunday we headed off to the Shiloh National Park and Battlefield. We watched the film for some history before taking off to see these sites around the 5000 acre park. It is a driving tour and very impressive and watching the film first gave you a new respect for all that you saw along the route.  It is unbelievable that in two days April 6th – 7th there could be such devastation and loss of life- 23,746 casualties of both the Union and Confederate Army.

Shiloh National Park and Battlefield

Monday , October 8th final maintenance was complete and we headed towards Bay Springs Lake.  Our first stop was to get fuel at Grand Harbor Marina since they were having a great fall rate for Loopers with diesel .25 discount at $3.74 with discount. Pickwick Lake is so low since they have been bringing down the water level to do earthquake tests on the Pickwick Damn.

Boat that is left on Sand Bar and can not be moved off.

Passed several Tugs along the way

Low water and storm clouds greeting us as we approached Bay Springs Marina