HAPPY HALLOWEEN...Lots of Goblins!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.....

October 31, 2017

Seems like the "goblins" are paying extra attention to us this past week....After last post, we spent a few days back in Florence, AL as Bob was waiting for new light to replace the one "removed" when the dock master tried to put us under a covered dock....(they volunteered to pay for the damage)....we bartered a few days of free dockage.

We also had a new Sirius radio installed here....Now we can listen to "FOX" news and get back into the "real world" again!   HA, actually, I kinda like being "off the grid".  Bob also discovered a switch of sorts in tv cabinet when working on the new radio and now we can even get a few tv stations on our old model tvs....We haven't watched in so long, that we don't even bother to turn it on when we do have service at the docks.  So those were the good things......then it all broke lose and we, yes WE, decided to retrofit our back refrigerator and remove the
icemaker.  Now we will be replacing the WHOLE unit as we probably should not have attempted something electrical and we are pretty sure we fried the thing(live and learn thru experiences, this comes into account later in week).....then came the anchor problem....we put the anchor down in a nice serene spot while we WAITED for the yet another lock to open....and it refused to come up..Bob hauled it up by hand....not an easy feat....100 feet of chain.....(this since has been fixed...twice(!)....2nd time last eve, we hope for the best) ... We then spent "extra nights" in Columbus, Mississippi at a nice marina, where they treated us very nice.......EVEN towed us in off the river.....(A 4 hour tow trip down with one lock, interesting experience that I will leave up to the Captain if he wants to elaborate on)  Most of our "tow saga" has already spread thru our looper friends network.....and some have confessed on the "down low" that this has happened to them also....live and learn!  I think the captain was seeing if I would really "jump ship" as promised, but in reality I just sat on the bow, drinking bloody marys, waiting for the tow, watching the world go by!!...It won't happen again, but then again, never say never!...because I think I promised myself earlier in the trip the same thing.....oh ya, I forgot to mention the new Sirius radio is no longer working ......another project for poor captain bob to figure out.  I told him on "marina days" I work hard...cleaning, laundry, shopping, etc....but he works hard on marina days AND on moving days!  Every so often I MAKE him get off boat and join me for docktails with friends.

After a few cold nights (in the 30's) we were good to start back on the loop.....and ventured out at 7am with a group thru the next couple locks......

This is what boating in 30 degrees looks like....first one is me, locking down with coffee and baseball cap, gloves, 2 jackets, and SOXS (I hate soxs) in my sandals, as my toes are still sore from the step accident...shoes don't fit )Then Bob took the outside on the next set of locks and is wearing long underwear under flannel pants and his hat from ALASKA!   Boy, is this fun or what.  I knew I packed a winter hat somewhere, but my hands were too numb to look for it too long.....!  (I have since found it, and everyone is glad, because that means it will warm up and I will never have to use it!!)  I also got the comforter out and we are snuggling under that the past few nights.  The weather has given me an excuse to use the "convection oven" (not sure I am doing it right) but did make some mighty fine biscuits and gravy (canned) ....the captain enjoyed it a lot on the cold fly bridge.   Once the sun comes out it does get warmer and by the afternoon, we even open the windows .  Yesterday we saw a deer swimming across the river and several bald eagles.....so once again, our woes behind us (WE HOPE)  we are back to enjoying this journey!   I read a post yesterday about the locks....they said they are kind of like childbirth.....lots of labor to get thru it, but once it is done, you forget about the pain!!  This from someone who will be starting their 2nd loop!...Lord, just get us thru the first one safe and sound, please!

We are now in Demopolis, Alabama....a group left today.  We decided to stay another day and enjoy the BIG Halloween party here tonight.  Today I have shorts on (see, the hat will never be needed!) the sun is shinning and capt is working on projects.   Also our next stop after a night on the hook, will be Bobby's Fish Camp....the WORLDS best cat fish, and they are only open Thurs thru Sunday, so with holding up a day, we should get there for Thurs dinner....can't wait!..I have heard the promise of the WORLDS BEST before, I will see!  Bob is hoping they have burgers also!