Heart of Gold
Spring 2005
April & May Cruise Log
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April 24, 2005, Sunday – We left Marion about 1:00 pm, headed for Athens, Alabama, to start our journey back to Lake Michigan. Greg road the Harley and our good friend Randy Powers and I drove the truck loaded with all our supplies for the trip. We were held up twice due to auto accidents and once due to a gas shortage on Greg’s part. Fortunately, Randy and I were close behind and were able to get a gas can and bring Greg some fuel. Of course we had one heck of a laugh at Greg’s expense. We pulled into Athens around 10:00 pm, unloaded the truck and got settled onto the boat. We relaxed, watched a movie and called it a night. |
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April 25, 2005, Monday – The three of us went to the restaurant up the dock and enjoyed a great breakfast. Afterward Greg and Randy unloaded our old furniture and put it in the truck. They pulled out the carpet so that Greg could wash it and then took down the canvas so he could wash that too. I worked on the teak until Greg needed some supplies. Randy and I ran into Rogersville to the hardware to pick up what he needed. About noon we loaded the old deck furniture into the truck and Randy was headed back to Marion. We are really grateful for all of Randy’s help. Late in the afternoon Mike and Carol Smith came down to the boat and Mike helped us finish washing the canvas and getting the carpet back onto the boat. I finished sanding the teak Carol was recovering from kidney surgery. We were glad that she was doing well. The four of us were heading for supper when a sail boat came in and we helped tie them up. Little did we know then that these people would become our new best friends for the next couple of days. We said our good-byes to Mike and Carol and hope that we will be seeing them again soon. We very much appreciate their friendship. |
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April 26, 2005, Tuesday – Greg and I got up early and went to breakfast. Greg invited the people on the sail boat from last night to join us. There were going up there for breakfast anyway. We found out that their names were John and Nancy Watlington. After we ate we joined them on their boat for bloody Mary’s and decided to head for Florence. The weather was crappy but Greg called Florence and they said it was sunny there. The trip from Athens to Florence was a wet, cold and windy mess. J said he clocked a wind gust of 52 mph. We went through two locks and each time it stopped raining when we went through. When we got to Wilson lock the sun came out and the rest of the day in Florence was beautiful. We fueled up and pumped out and got into our slip. It was great to be back in Florence again. We met the new owner of the marina and saw our old friends Terry and Ron again. J, Nancy, Greg, and I went to the newly opened restaurant and had a wonderful supper. After that J and Nancy came over to our boat and J introduced Greg to Kentucky Gentleman. Nancy and I had a Brendans on ice. Greg and J’s plan was for us to leave tomorrow but I had a feeling that wasn’t going to happen. At least I hope not. I am not quite ready to leave here. What a great day. |
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April 27, 2005, Wednesday – Ron made special arrangements to fix breakfast for the four of us. It was great and so generous of him to do that. Afterwards Nancy and I borrowed the van and went to run errands. We went to the grocery, Sams Club, auto parts store, hardware store, and forgot to go to the liquor store. By the time we got back to the marina it was 1:00 pm and J and Greg were worn out doing their chores so we decided to stay another night. I thought maybe that might happen. I of course was not disappointed. Nancy and I decided to borrow the van again and went to the yarn shop, grocery store for Ron, and several liquor stores looking for more Kentucky Gentleman, which we never did find. It was a great day. We had supper again at the marina and then went to J and Nancy’s boat for a nightcap. We have really enjoyed knowing them. We had a great time and lots of laughs with them. They are headed south somewhere. I hope we run into them again. |
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April 28, 2005, Thursday – We left Florence around 7:00 am, headed for Clifton Marina. I wanted to make it there by 8:00 pm so I could watch “Survivor.” Unfortunately when we got to Pickwick Lock and Dam we had a 4 ½ hour wait to lock through. Needless to say I missed “Survivor.” Or so I thought. I got a message on my cell phone from Nancy that said how the democrats would never have pre-empted Thursday night tv for a political speech. I still don’t know if Stephanie got voted off or not. Nancy and I are both hoping she wins. When we pulled into Clifton, Tammy grabbed the lines and started tying us off and then she and I ran into the building to see if we couldn’t catch the end of “Survivor” only to see the beginning of “CSI.” Oh, Well, maybe next week. Greg and Gene had a beer and then we called it a night. The ride to Clifton was cold and wet. After we got past Pickwick we made good time. |
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April 29, 2005, Friday – We left Clifton around 9:00 am and were hoping to make it to Green Turtle Bay. The trip was cold and rainy. We decided to skip Green Turtle Bay but the good part was that we ended up in Paris Landing State Park. As soon as we tied up it started pouring down rain and never stopped until the morning. The park rangers took us to the lodge where we had a wonderful seafood buffet and got to see some injured wild birds. They also had cable tv and I got to watch “Law and Order” all night long. It is a wonderful place. We also found out that they have 3 golf courses in the area. We decided that on our trip back in the fall we would stop here again and play some golf. |
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April 30, 2005, Saturday – In the morning we got up around 8:00 am and the park ranger took us to the lodge again where we had a great breakfast. It wasn’t raining so we decided to walk back to the boat. We fueled up and pumped out and got away around 10:00 am. We got to Kentucky Lock and Dam and were held up there for nearly 2 hours. We continued to press on and had about 10 min. of sunshine, but at least it didn’t rain as much. The lake was choppy and it was very windy. We got into Paducah right before dark and tied up to the city wharf. Greg and I hunkered down and watched a movie and called it an early night. It isn’t as much fun traveling the rivers when you have a time schedule. Most of our days have been uneventful. |
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May 1, 2005, Sunday – We got an early start this morning and by 11:30 we were on the Mississippi. We lost 5 mph when we turned up the Mississippi so it became slow going. We dodged lots of railroad ties, trees, even a whole pallet, and it has been fairly turbulent. We made it to the Diversion Channel around 6:00 pm and got anchored. There were already 2 other boats here. Greg got out the grill and we cooked some supper. Some guys in a johnboat came by and visited with us for a while. They seemed nice enough. It was their first boat ride of the season. They said they weren’t fishing but just out having a couple of beers. The good part about this trip is that I am getting tons of knitting done and we are both getting daily naps. Its great! We will probably watch another movie tonight and call it an early evening. Our plan is to leave about 5:00 am so that we don’t get into Hoppies too late tomorrow. |
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May 2, 2005, Monday – It was still dark when we left this morning. 5:00 am!!! We got to watch the sunrise over the Mississippi. It was beautiful. The whole day was sunny but cool. You would think this time of the year it would be a little warmer. Our goal was to get to Hoppies today and from Diversion Channel it is 110 miles. It was a long day. We got into Hoppies around 8:00 pm. One of the boats that was with us in the channel also ended up here with us. Come to find out they were bringing the boat back up from Mobile where a dock mate from St. Joe had taken it to sell. The guy who bought it is from Chicago and he had to bring it back to Lake Michigan. Small world. Also found out that Joey’s girlfriend died suddenly of a heart attack. She was 52 and in great health. Very sad. It is good to be back at Hoppies. Tomorrow we are leaving and going to leave the boat here for 2 weeks. When we come back Mary and P.D. will be with us. Greg and I are excited that they are coming with us. It has been a while since we all went on a trip together. We are really looking forward to it. I have to add pictures to this log later. Greg forgot to bring the adapter and I am using different software and have to figure out how to do it. So maybe later there will be some pictures. Will be back on the 16th of May and can’t wait to get back on the journey. |
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May 15, 2005, Sunday – This morning started with the four of us meeting Randy at Bob Evans in Marion for breakfast. He was kind enough to help us out again and drive us to Hoppies in Kimmswick, MO. The drive was uneventful and we got there around 1:00 or 2:00 pm. The kids haven’t seen Hoppie and Fern in 6 years and they all had a good time reacquainting. It was great being back to the boat. Randy took the kids and me to the grocery and he went to Wal-Mart to get some cable for Greg. We got back to the boat and decided to have an early supper before Randy left. We all went to the Blue Owl and had a great meal. We said our good-byes to Randy at the Blue Owl and we walked back to the boat. Greg, Mary, and I visited again with Hoppie and Fern, and P.D. was trying his hand at fishing. By sunset we were alone on the dock. Greg and the kids were fishing and I was on the boat knitting. As I looked out on the dock watching them fish I don’t think I could have been happier. It just felt so good to be all together again. We laughed and had such fun. Today was one of those perfect days. |
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May 16, 2005, Monday – We left Hoppies at 7:00 am. The kids were still in bed and there was a mist over the river. Several hours later the kids got up. The trip up the river was uneventful and we got to the Illinois river in the afternoon. We stopped at mile 20 and had supper at Mel’s Riverdock Restaurant. The food is fantastic. They really do have a 2” pork chop. After supper we went back to the boat and did a few chores. Greg installed a new tv antennae and I did a little sanding on the rub rail. We will probably watch a little tv and call it an early night. The weather has been beautiful these past few days. I don’t think it is going to continue. The kids are bummed because there is no phone signal here. I don’t like it much either. But tomorrow it can all be different. |
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