Expectations!

A while ago I decided that my expectation of things and people, weren't exactly like anyone else,
  and the only ones I could control were my own.....so that being said, I have "changed" my expectations of marinas  since we have left the beautiful, wonderful, outstanding, etc etc,.....Great Lakes!  When someone says "oh, you will love this marina, or that marina, it's a great place".....that only raises my expectations.....only to later say "you've got to be kidding me!"   Plus, the people that are telling me what I will like, don't really know me (like "you all" do)....I guess I became accustomed to a boating way of life (or life in general) and had "expectations".   NOW, THAT BEING SAID, it has come a long way from the river "marinas" that we experienced, but since Green Turtle Bay (MECCA) I have been longing for the "spa life" again.  HAHA.  (why can't every marina have a spa and a pool and a yacht club, and several other places to eat, within walking distance??)

Since we left GTB, we have been in Paris Landing, Cuba Landing (neither as glamorous as they sound) but adequate (as in power and water, lately that is all it takes to make it a great place!!), Clifton Marina (where the restaurant is the owner grilling off the back porch......but excellent burgers!  and Bob loved his DEEP FRIED TWINKIE!) and then on to Grand Harbor Marina, where we stayed 4 nights due to rainy weather, and also stayed for the chance to see "Shiloh" civil war battle site...in Pittsburg Landing on the Cumberland  and Tennessee rivers.  So glad to have taken this side trip....said I learned more there than I ever did in high school history....was I not paying attention??   Bob said I was probably too busy checking out the boys in class, and he is probably correct.  I told him that now that I have my "forever boyfriend", I can concentrate on other things.....like  civil war history.!!  To think that the war went on for 4 more years after this bloody battle is so daunting.

Another expectation......we also HAD to go to a shack on the river for the WORLDS GREATEST CATFISH.....or so they said!  Another tourist trap!......I am trying to eat my way through the south on catfish, (and doing a fairly good job of it)....and this was not the best in the world, let alone on the trip so far.

Pickwick Lake is absolutely beautiful with lots of beautiful homes and cottages....also known for houseboat rentals.  I would love to come back to this area sometime and just hang out in a small cove for a few days.  Some we know, call us "dock huggers" as we don't" hang on the hook" as much as they do.  I guess we should really try it more than we have and this would have been a perfect spot, except we had to get near an airport......so,

we are now in Florence, ALA.  Here for 5 nights while Bob is back in Michigan, working!  Gotta keep gas in the tanks. (sometimes I think he just goes to "get away!"  haha)  I have to say you better have a strong marriage before you attempt this journey.....it (or us) has its moments.....luckily we've been married long enough to ignore each other!!....come to think of it, Bob has been ignoring me long before this trip started! HA..but some days its 24/7 and you are the only people you see all day!

There are lots of loopers here,  some we haven't seen in a while that have gotten to be good friends....they "take me in" .  Had dinner with one couple last eve on their boat....yummy.  There is also a bar here (that has become a BONUS, along with  power and water) and the loopers generally meet up there for happy hour.  Once Bob returns (Sat) we will go thru the huge Wilson Lock up to Joe Wheeler State Park, Alabama, where the annual rendezvous of loopers is held.  We attended last year (by car) as a " planner"....this year we will be "in progress"...it will be fun to share......and speaking of sharing......this is how I get my dog fix....I share other peoples dogs.....this is Abby, the one eye dog!