Captain's log: Happy Halloween!

     Happy Halloween everyone!  We will have about a 2 hour flight today. Traveling at approx. 18 inches off the ground. ETA about 1 PM.


     There. That didn't take long. Too afraid to look at the boat so, we made arrangements to stay in the coach in the storage yard next door. Boat looks OK from the outside. Took a quik look inside (not good) lots of work...a little mold here and there....nothing that a little vinegar and water can't clean!!    I guess all our precautions didn't pay off. I think maybe launch date may be a week later than we expected.    Pictures tomorrow.

      If you remember I was wondering about the trick or treaters finding us. Well even if they do they ain't getting in!

  Yes , that's some serious barbed wire outside the coach. Never can be too secure against those chocolate-crazed 6 year olds.

Captain's log: 10/30/11

    Wow! almost Halloween. Wonder if the trick or treaters will find us this year. I doubt it, I can hardley remember which town we are in. Somewhere outside of Tampa,Thonotosassa. Before that Homoasassa. Where do they get these names anyway?
       It's funny, when we first left Wis. we were traveling 5-6 hours per day but once we start seeing these....

we slow down to about 3 hrs per day. What's the rush when you are wearing flip-flops anyway?
       Wait there is still something wrong with this picture.......

Ahhh... that's better!
   

So, the coach just got a whole lot lighter. We dropped off Paige and Lu's wedding gifts in Tampa. Holy crap do they drive fast down here. What's the rush on a Sunday night anyway? I-75 people driving 80 in a 45 mph zone. This is ridiculous. Can't wait to get on my 5 mph boat again.  Seriously we did not see driving like this in any other city on the way down.
     Speaking of the boat. We should be about 2 hours from seeing her again. A little apprehensive about what we are going to find. Lots of rain and heat. Mold? What else?
      Will let you know what we find tomorrow.

 Oh, and we are back to the coast so you will be seeing more of these also....

Captain's log: 10/27/11

    Sunset over Wal-mart , Ozark, Alabama.

I think we are far enough south for now. The weather reporters were complaining of a "cold" front coming through tonight and it will just make the low 70's tomorrow! Wow!

Just threw this one in cause it's the only one I have of me driving the coach. Going over the Tennesee River. The one I really wanted was a picture going over the Joe Wheeler dam bridge. It is a 1920's Model "A" width bridge.  It says 10 1/2 foot wide clearance but, that's assuming your wheels are up against the wall and the vehicle you meet is only 8 feet wide. Of course there are no pics of the really cool things cause your knuckles are too white to take pictures.
       Did I say that there were about 250 boaters at the seminar.?  Lots of cool stories, and not all about boating. People have alot of amazing stories that got them to this seminar.

     This is me amazing them with some made up story....blah blah blah. You can see I've already lost one and I'll have the rest sleeping in just a second.
        Did I mention that the classes were way cool?  This is one of the visual aides/props that we could get in and try out if we wanted to.  If you don't know what this is...good! 

What is that on the bottom of the pool? Did everyone show up after the last class?

A total of 57 boats attended. They will eventually get to Florida ,most this fall, and we hope to connect with some of them as they go by us in Englewood.

Joe Wheeler State Park is an amazingly beautiful place....if any of you get close, you should stop and check it out.


Are you sleeping yet? I am...good nite.

Captain's log: 10-25-11

Sorry about the gaps between posts. We've been at the AGLCA meeting. (America's Great Loop Cruisers assoc.) I have found My new Family. My old fam was the MN. Chiropractic Assoc. They still are but this new group goes to classes that are not even required... Real strange group. ( strange in a good way) ..I'll have some pictures next time. My camera chip failed today. So instead I gotta show you a couple of pictures of contrast. And I LOVE  that boaters seem to "flow" easily between the two.

     This is a picture of John.. ,our new aquaintance, who I'm sure if we had more time I would reclassify as a friend (super nice couple) in his engine room. INCREDIBLE!!  Twin 1500 hp diesels that move his 65 ft. Marquis  boat at near 50 mph!!. Pictures cannot even describe these chrome and stainless steel beauties. The fuel tanks are as tall as john. Approx. a  2.2 million dollar boat.!!!

This is me coming out of the engine room. Think the name might be prophecy.

     So here is the contrast..... Wine and cheese on this boat and a few minutes later we are at Viv's Bar/Karaoke having just as much fun.

(Dorene/Bruce singing paradise by the dashboard lights).....Viv's is everything you can imagine, smoking and everything.
    

 Because after all.... don't forget what it's all about.....

Says it all doesn't it?    

Captain's log:10-22-11

     Happy Birthday Dad!  I know you don't use the computer but I think Linda shows it to you now and then, so Happy Birthday!
     So here we are in Iuka, Ms.  For those who followed our boat trip we were here almost 1 year ago to the date. Even though the river is over 1500 miles long (give or take) the community of boaters is really quite small. As we were walking down the dock one of our first boat friends we met on the Miss. Near Saint Louis last year was pulling up to the dock. (Bob and Pam)..Wow! small world.  Then we find out that Ken and Judy who stopped in at our harbor in Wis. are also in the next marina.  And (I know you are not supposed to start sentences with AND)  but... And guess who else is here.... Bruce.!.. Last time he was in his coach and we were in our boat now it's visaversa.

                                                                        Bruce

    Moka says...

   If you look closely I am in the driver seat and if Jeff doesn't get this thing moving I'm heading south on my own. It has been 30 degrees here and I bought a ticket to Florida not Mississippi. To top it off he forgot to get propane.
      Hold on now! In my defense (this is Jeff) I stopped for LP at noon and they told me the fill guy wouldn't be in until 5:00 PM. So realizing that I am in the south I asked again, are you sure? The reply was yes , he's my son. OK. So I walk out and then think, wait, I am in the south. I go back in. He's your son? Are you sure he's coming in? YES. OK.
     It's a 10 mile round trip. So 5: o'clock I' m back right on time . (I'm from up Nort). Mike, the LP kid is there. Yippee! Mike takes one look and says,"I don't know how to fill coaches."
       Did I mention it's now 5 o'clock on a Friday?

This is me NOT filling with LP  for the second time. Real exciting huh? Well don't blame me you asked for this.  

      Oh , here is something exciting...

Actully this is a German meal Made especially for us By Marilyn in Grand Rivers, Ky..for my B-Day.  I just realized that German meals look really gross but, taste really great.

    Marilyn at "Sugar and Spice"... you gotta stop there.

                                                       Good Nite!














   

Captain's log:10-18-11 (captain's B-Day)

   It's the captain's B-Day as you probably heard... He subtley mentioned it last blog. So this is Moka , the dog, filling in so he can have the night off.
     You want to talk about politically correct? I just overheard them talking about the rules of this campground we are staying in tonight. It is at the top of the "Land Between the Lakes" (Kentucky) and is a pretty cool area. We came through here by boat last year. Anyway... I am used to that embarrassing rule about picking up your poop (sometimes he doesn't even let it hit the ground) but, if that isn't humiliating enough they have a new rule here! . Pets must be under 25 pounds........ 25 pounds!!!!  Now I have always tried to keep my girly figure at about 18 pounds. But campground treats have been plentiful this year. I have been a nervous wreck all day worrying about check-in. Are they going to weigh me, take pictures, or what?
      I thought I would beat them to the punch and get a picture that accentuates my trim hips.........

As you can plainly see... 20 pounds at most!!!   I'm insulted! We must stop the madness.... What next? Will all Boston terriers be banned?   

All that worry and they didn't even see me slip in.

Captain's log: 10-17-11 (day before the captain's birthday)

    Did I mention there is censorship on this sight this year?  the first mate said I couldn't use the word low rider because it wasn't politically correct. I probably shouldn't post after drinking wine either but, it's my site and if you are thinking of anything racial or ethnic then that is your right. When I say low rider I think of a car, or in our case motor coach, with a suspension problem.
     So, with that said our coach looked like a low rider today.  We hit some bad roads in Iowa and I was sure we blew our air bags. The back was about 6 inches lower than the front. I'm sorry I don't have a picture but it looked like a...........low rider. You get the picture.
    And this is a picture of Ken, our favorite Freightliner mechanic,

This is Ken showing us a 17 dollar part instead of the 3000 dollar bill I was already imagining. So for 127 bucs and an hour delay we were back on the road. (No more low rider)!!!!
     And for you fellow gear heads out there this is a pic of the part. A ride height control arm connector. A piece of rubber, probably manufactured for $1.50.  (the thing on the left)

Ken had it diagnosed in about 60 seconds. I would recomend the Freightliner shop in Palmyra , Mo. if you ever need truck work in that region.  Thanks again Ken for your fast, professional service with a smile.

Church in Italy?

Nope. Keokuk, Iowa. If you are looking for a summer home there are some really cool homes overlooking the river in Keokuk.

Another one.

Litchfield, Il. tonight- Paducah, Ky tomorrow.   3 days and 5 states later.

Captain's log:10-15-11 (Day 1)

       Yes, today is day 1 of our journey back to our boat (30 Below). And as if on cue Hunter, the campground dog, shows up just like last year to give us the send off. How does he know that? It couldn't be that there is practically nobody else left in the campground with dog biscuits.

  Made it as far as waverly ,Ia . Staying with Karma and Charlie. This was our last stop on the way north last Spring so only appropriate to start here. I think there were snow flakes in the air last time we were here.
   Did I mention it's hard to leave good friends ? They grow on ya. Or do they actually grow on to you?
Check the pic and you tell me.....

And a pic of me saying good-bye to some of my good friends....

     The wind was NASTY today. Lots of work keeping the coach between the correct lines. Don't think I scared anybody too bad but it tires you out..so... Good-night.

Captain's log 10/12/11

You asked for it Jan. So here I am. back on the blog-a-sphere. I had a great pic of you I was going to include but, Dorene nixed it. So it appears there will be censorship this time around. Actually I had dozens of requests to get back on the blog ( well actually they were requests for Moka to start blogging again)  Seriously ! I hope you know we can't let her blog. She can't spell worth a cr#$p !  I would be all day edittting her missteaks. 

    Hold it a minute ! This is Moka , the dog, I can see I'm going to have to help Dorene watch this guy. This is me saying" good bye" to Hunter , the campground studmuffin. OK I may have slipped and given him just a small kiss between sniffs.
      
Sorry for the long time since our last post. Lots of things happened this summer. I'll sum it up this way.........

Need I say more. (daughter Paige's wedding)... The way I remember it... It was perfect!

      We are now in the process of getting the coach ready for the trip back to the boat. Looks like the colors should be about peak.

Sure going to miss our new... and old harbor friends. Maybe see some of you in Florida this winter. You can stay in our state room. But after a few days ya gotta start swabbin the deck matey.

Matt and Mandy. Sometimes I'll change the names to protect the innocent. Nope, that's really Matt and Mandy.
     Love to ya all and welcome back to 30 Below Log