9/14/15 & 9/15/15

After having breakfast at Whitestone, we headed upstream to Ft. Loudon lock and dam, then to spend the night at the marina. Ft. Loudon Marina had the cheapest fuel (diesel) we've purchased so far, $2.29/gal! We had budgeted between $4 and $5, soooooooo; that means we can buy more bottles of wine! Yay!!
lol............
The marina was very nice, good laundry room, restrooms, and a Calhoun's Restaurant on site.
They also had a courtesy van that Nancy & I used (9/15), to go into Lenoir City to re-stock the fridge. She & I are weird...........we like to grocery shop. Maybe that's because it's the only kind of shopping we have time for!
Oh yeah; Mike n Nancy caught up with us again here at the marina! woo-hoo...............
We left there late afternoon (9/15), for a short ride up Lake Tellico to our anchorage in Sinking Creek. This is a gorgeous lake with many, many huge beautiful homes. Looking forward to tomorrow and beyond, on up this lake to the foothills of the smokies!

9/13/15

We stayed in Martin Branch till the afternoon, then left for a new destination. I say it that way because it's a surprise! Sonny loves planning things and sometimes he'll throw in a little surprise for me. I actually think he likes hearing me guess and guess and guess..........he knows that I'll NEVER figure it out. I never have. Besides; I don't try too hard, it would spoil it!
So when we slow down for a tiny inlet; I'm wondering what this is...........
We pulled up along the wall, I jumped off, fell, picked myself up, then tied up the boat. I was told to be "gussied up" for dinner. All that really meant was to wash my hair, fix my face and wear nice clothes for a change. lol.............At 6:00 a golf cart came down the hill and picked us up. We were at the Whitestone Inn and Resort. It still took me a bit to figure out; but when I saw the chapel I remembered. We had attended a wedding there several years ago for the daughter of our good friends, Cindy and Bart Brown. This property is absolutely gorgeous!!! Dinner was great, great, great; a five course meal with Bourbon Ribeye as the entree. Yummy............ We decided to come back up to the farmhouse the next morning for the breakfast buffet and it was just wonderful! Plus; Paul Cowell (the innkeeper) interviewed us.......It seems most loopers don't come this far. So we were kinda celebs! They sure are missing out on a wonderful treat though........
He drove us back to the boat after dinner and we slept well.
My technological skills are very minimal; but I am gonna try to post, attach to, tag or whatever you call it to Facebook.

9/12/15 On to Martin Branch

Today is Saturday and Martin Branch is just 20 miles away. It was a great place to anchor but a little windy. We grilled out again; Halibut this time. We have one pkg of fish left from Sonny's last fishing trip to British Columbia. Salmon is my FAVE fish, but Halibut is running a close second. As much as we eat of these two fish............I think he needs to go back!!!!!!!
Anyhow; we love anchoring out, the quiet, moonlight, stars and oh so peaceful...............
I have some herbs, but they aren't doing so well.

9/9, 9/10, 9/11 & 9/12

These two days were our lazy days...........nothing major going on; but as you boaters (and everyone else) knows, those days FLY by. On Thursday night we went to Knox's ballgame. He is only 4 1/2, but he knows how to hold that bat and make contact!!! Go Knox..........
At Island Cove Marina, they do not have a courtesy car. BUT, 3 different guys offered their vehicle to us! That was so nice............
Sonny waxed the fly bridge and cleaned the mold from the cushions. He cannot be still...........
On Friday morning 9/11 we left around 9:00, heading for Watts Bar. We waited 1 1/2 hrs to go through the lock, which was not bad at all. We have been very fortunate in that respect. A mile past we anchored in a great cove, Lowe Branch. We had a thunderstorm while eating dinner (Ling Cod from British Columbia)on the bridge, so had to wait it out. I love, love to be on the boat during rains...........but during lightning; not so much.
Have I mentioned that my husband is THE dog whisperer? Most every morning he puts Marena in his lap, talks softly, and gives her a massage that any woman would die to have!!! I have pics to prove it. I should do a video..........hmmmmmm.
Anyhow; today we are being lazy again.  (Did I tell you that I'm really getting into this sitting thing?)
We are going about 20 miles today to another anchorage.

9/6/15 thru 9/9/15

We pulled into Island Cove Marina at 4:00. It is a good looking marina so far with a mexican restaurant on site (Amigos). John, Emily and Knox came over and we ate there.
On Labor Day they drove back here and we took the boat out; it was a nice day for a ride! After that, we went to their house for dinner.
On Tuesday we took care of some projects, mainly........Sonny replaced the switch on the washer/dryer that had been broken for a long time. Yay!!!!!! It is so much nicer to stay somewhat caught up!!
9/9/15................
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARENA!!!!!!!!!!!! Our little girl is 1 yr old today.............
She sure did change our life!
We took some pics coming through downtown Chattanooga, the Aquarium Boat.............AND John took a pic of us with the Aquarium in the background! We tried to get a good pic of he and Knox standing on the bank, but not sure if you can tell.......Knox was so cute waving at us!
     

9/5/15 On to Little Cedar Mtn Cove

Sonny's dads birthday.................Happy Birthday Mr. Briley!!! He would have been 98 today...........We are almost to Chattanooga (on Nickajack Lake) and the scenery is spectacular!!! Everyone says this is a beautiful area to travel; and they are right! We are anchored out (my fave, except for these dang bugs). We had to eat inside; but............that's not so bad. We used our new gas grill for the second time; pesto salmon with veggies in foil packets.........Yummy! It's on my pinterest page. Marena has laid around all day, I think the heat bothers her. We will be glad when it cools down for sure!! Watching the trains at the base of the mountains is a beautiful sight! Tomorrow we head to Chicamaugua Marina to spend a couple days with John, Emily and Knox.....(Sonny's son and family)! Can't wait.....

9/4/15 On to Goose Pond Marina

Goose Pond is close to Scottsboro, Al.  It was a very nice marina; dry storage, shop, restaurant, great laundry room, showers and bathrooms. While doing laundry we walked around the area and looked at boats too..... that is always fun. I enjoy checking out the names, some people are so creative! It was a beautiful area and we will stop there again as we make our way back toward the Tombigbee.