Sorry it's been so long

There may be eight million stories in the naked city but there are at least as many with the Sailor / Looper crowd. In my opinion people have been probably the most memorable and interesting part of the trip. We’ve met couples who have retired at 50 like Karen and I and people who have rushed the trip due to illnesses. It was good to hear “Young at Heart” tell us that it was the best move he and his wife made. They don’t regret it at all. Countless couples have told us how glad they are to see us retire early and do what we want, they’ve wished they did the same. We’ve also heard stories of people who waited too long and could no longer do the trip due to poor health. Even worse we people who passed away before being able to start enjoying retired life. The crowd is made up of doctors, accountants, dentists, mechanics, engineers, Canadian Mounties, nurses, firemen and school teachers. Lots of school teachers and nurses. The main thing that I’ve come to appreciate is people. Many very different people enjoying the trip and spending time with each other. Telling stories of growing up many years ago, kids, grandkids and life. I’ve learned that being a child of the 70’s apparently prepares one for rolling sushi like a pro. I’ve also learned that being 77 years old and having a heart bypass and throat cancer can’t hold back determined people from doing what they want. One last thing I knew but got re-affirmed is that Canadians love their health care and really love alcohol prices here in the states.

Karen making smores

Karens locking list

10-20    We left Florence Alabama for Grand Harbor Marina in Mississippi to pickup a part for the motor. Last Mango had developed a leak in a water pump seal and we had a mechanic order the part before the Looper Rendezvous. The part arrived and we stayed at Grand Harbor for 2 days. Apparently the Americans are tired of us because there were only 3 Canadian boats, Grand Vida, As the Crow Flies and Fracas. We had a great night drinking margaritas with Grand Vida and the Crows. Fracas went to Graceland to make sure Elvis was still dead. Earlier Fracas renamed the Tailgator the blend-a-wacker, a cross between a weed wacker and a blender. The 4 boats took off wednesday morning heading south down the Tenn-Tom waterway. We arrived in Cotton Bay at 2:30 in the afternoon, dropped the dinghies and went to the welcome center. Later Grand Vida zoomed around Last Mango to make her rock a bit at anchor. 2 larger boats stayed at the next harbor north, a New Zealander and another Canadian.

Last Mango waiting to leave.

Rebelling retirees

10-23    We woke up at 6:15 to 51 degrees inside the boat and 39 outside. Time to get moving south. We started prepping Last Mango to go through the next lock. The New Zealand couple contacted the lock and the Lock Master said to be ready at 7 to 7:15 as he was finishing up pushing a barge upstream. We all piled in the lock and through we went without any problems.  Gran Vida radioed back to us to inform us the lock master was trying to get a hold of us.  The lock master called out in his southern drawl “Last Mango”. Karen says “Oh Crap, what did we do” Karen’s assembling all of our credentials and registration. All these foreigners in the lock and we get called out for a search. I respond to the lock master and he says, “The back of your boat says you’re from Chicago, is that true” “Yes it is” I respond. Lock master “My wife and I are going to Chicago the last week of November. Can you give me any suggestions of things not to miss.” Karen hears this and starts putting away the documents she’s been assembling. A short conversation we gave him our suggestions and we were on the move. Funny we were assuming the worst. Not to be today.

These Canadians are a gas. We tease each other about the accents. They say the same about us. Here is a sample conversation over the radio from earlier today. Grand Vida “Crow Flies the wife and I are a little tired eh. We’re going to pull off to the port side and take a nap”. Crow Flies responds “Looks like a good anchorage eh. Cell phone says I have 3 bars” Grand Vida “Did you say there are bars there eh? All I heard was bars”. 

Canadian idea of a good anchorage for a nap

So we anchored at mile marker 376.2 and Grand Vida invited everyone over for a potluck so Karens making cookies and her Aunts patented sausage, pineapple and pepper dish. It’s going to be a good time.

Gets cool down here also

Foggy Start to the morning leaving our first lock

15 minute wait for a lock. Canadians drive a few golf balls.

Great Boathook. Thanks Captain Jack.

 Water Hyacinth everywhere today.

10-24 to 10-26 We spent the evenings at anchorage with Grand Vida and As the Crow Flies.  We enjoyed good traveling days and wonderful meals shared on each others boats.

10-27 We had a short trip this morning to the marina at Demopolis Alabama. Just over an hour and we were fueled up and tied to a slip under a roof, a first for Last Mango. I cleaned and bedded the chain plates and then changed the oil. It was a busy day but productive. Karen was busy socializing, doing laundry and getting the lowdown on the town and its offerings. Now real showers. How sweet a shower is when you have unlimited water and heat. Afterwards we had dock-tails on the deck at 6pm. Mosquitos came out at 6:30. I had cut up and soaked pineapple in spiced rum overnight and then grill lightly. It must have been good because it didn't last long. We had roughly 15 people attend. Afterwards we went back to the boat and actually got to watch TV.  Karen and slept like worn out kids that night.

As the Crow Flies leaving anchorage early in the morning

Last Mango anchored above lock.

Great Egret watching over us.

 10-28 Washed the boat, cleaned the composting head and Karen and a boat neighbor went grocery shopping.  Afterwards Karen and I rode bikes into town. The town is large for the area, about 7500 people. We had lunch at McDonalds, the fries we great but the burger wasn't as good as I remembered. A little sight seeing and back to the boat for a nap before more cocktails at 6pm. What a life eh!

Look at my dinghy at rest.

My new favorite place to shop in Florence MS.

We anchored within walking distance of the historic Waverly Mansion. Wonderful place and the tour is given by the owner who has lived there since the early 60's. Once 1000 people worked the plantation.

The girls of Waverly Mansion with the owner.

Karen enjoying the White Cliffs of Epes or trying
to get as far away from me as she can.

Front of Historic Waverly Mansion.

White Cliffs of Epes.

The white cliffs are located on the Tombigbee River at Epes AL.  They are part of the Selma Chalk formations which were deposited at about the same time as England’s famous white cliffs of Dover.  

Wonderful change in scenery