Chattanooga -- We're Still On Our Way

October 20, 21, 2011

October 20

Today we have been in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. It was almost noon when we left Aqua Harbor. A quick trip to another substandard grocery, visiting with boaters on the dock and changing the oil and filter on the generator took longer than we anticipated – doesn’t everything?  Our modest goal for today was about 45 miles which brings us to the Wilson Lock.  The dam built between 1918 & 1925 is a National Historic Landmark.

Angela Hacker the winner of Nashville Star
with her was James Leblanc

We made it to the marina that is adjacent to the lock.  We had not planned to stay here, but daylight was running short.  Well, turns out this is quite the little find.  Florence, Alabama is the birthplace of Helen Keller, it has multiple museums and a walking tour of historical homes in the downtown area.  We are going to stay an additional day.  You just never know what you are going to find, when you take the time to slow down and explore.  More tomorrow on Florence……

October 21

Looks a little like locus swarming in the fog

We woke this morning at 6:00 to voices and the sound of outboard motors.  Brian came up to see what was going on and found us surrounded by 80 Bass fishing boats.  34 degrees did not discourage the contestants of this fishing tournament.  At 7:00 the chairman began calling out names to let the boats leave the marina in an orderly manner.  Everyone has to be back at the marina by 4:00 to weigh in.  They do the same thing tomorrow.

Another grocery trip--this time to Walmart and Target.  After grocery shopping in some of these small out of the way towns, you can't imagine how fresh and clean Walmart looks!  

We took a quick tour of the Historical Home District in Florence.  It is very extensive with a variety significant architecture.  While wondering around, we came across the home of George Washington Goethals.  He was my Great Uncle Will's business partner.  Goethals was the engineering genius behind the Panama Canal.  My Uncle was Henry Ford's efficiency expert.  Ford was considering opening a plant in this area and buying the lock and dam.  Neither project went forward, but Goethals was working on the Muscle Shoals project at this time.  It is thought that George and Will met here.  Goethals went on to do his work on the Panama Canal and later entered into partnership with Uncle Will.  Wow....  Uncle Will was later removed from Ford Motor Co.  He put together a plan to a take over the company and remove Henry!  Opps... a career changer.

Another night of great entertainment at
the marina bar
Russell Melford & Rick Mann

No, he's not a country western singer --
These are our new friends Lance and Debi Bretherick
.

Friday night the marina bar was on overload with locals and loopers.  Debi and Lance, who we met last night were there again.  Mercy, they were fun!  We hated to say good-bye.  We've met so many nice people already and it's only been a month.  No one is a stranger when you already have that common thread -- boating.   Russell and Rick were another example of the amazing local talent.  They sang a lot of their own music and threw in some of the oldies.  We could have stayed for hours, but had to get up for an early departure.

Gotta smile -- We're lovin the ride!