Back to Tourist, Back to Home

Having completed our visits at home Pam & I scurried back to Tourist for about 10 days. The first few days were typical summer weather for the Kentucky area. Low 90's and humid. Then the Polar Vortex came through and boy did it get cold. At least in the opinion of the local weather forecasters.

The humidity left and the daytime highs were only 78 to 80 with abundant sunshine. Nighttime temps plummeted into the mid 50's. Brrrrr! Only one thing to do in a situation like this.... Unhook the umbilical cord and head out to an anchorage.

This time we chose Carmack Bay on the Lake Barkley side of The Land Between the Lakes. A journey of 10 miles from the marina and we were there. Only issue left was to pick our way into the bay. The reviews and charts described what could be a "cheek tightening" experience getting into the main part of the bay. They were partially right. The least amount of water we traversed was 7'. We did however make a few course changes along the way to avoid the shallower spots. Once in we were rewarded with 10' of  80 degree water and a secluded anchorage. Time to get NAKED! Just kidding! Well I thought it was a good idea.....

A deserted Carmack Bay.
Actually I had plans to spend some of the time waxing the boat and I was able to convince Pam to help me. Over the next 3 days we were able to knock off quite a chunk of the project although like so many boat projects it never ends.
The water temps enabled me to get in and clean some of the scum off the bottom of Tourist which grows fast in the warm Kentucky water. While I was doing this task I was accompanied by a school of minnows that nibbled at the growth that I had just dislodged. They followed me around the entire boat not once taking a bite out of me.

Like most of the other spots we've anchored around the area we saw an abundance of wildlife including deer and raccoons along the shoreline. One of the perks of the protected land.
Eventually we were joined by a houseboat for a few hours and a cruiser who overnighted on one of the small rocky beaches. However for most of the time it was just us and mother nature. It doesn't get much better.

Carmack Bay sunset.

Night view of Carmack Bay.

It seems the key to enjoying the many anchorages in the area is to do it during the week. We came back in on a Friday and the water was starting to hum with the sounds of jet skis, ski boats, pontoons, houseboats, fishing boats, cruisers and an occasional sailboat. The secluded coves of mid-week turn into one big CF of knuckleheads going in every direction as fast as they can. Fun to watch for awhile until it causes your drink to spill!

A few other projects we accomplished while at the boat were to change the engine oil (16 gals.) and filters. (Green Turtle Bay has a used oil disposal barrel.) Change out our 2 freshwater pumps that decided to give up the ghost. Clean the A/C filters, and replace the rollers on our sliding screen door. That in addition to loads of laundry. Endless cleaning. And continual killing of bugs that sneak into the cabin. Little do they know that Pam is waiting to fry them with her battery powered bug zapper!

Saturday we prepped the boat for our absence for the next couple of weeks. We'll be heading home again and then we'll be hitting the road for a few days.

Summer Update

Pam's been nagging me to do a post for the last two weeks. My response was that I had just done one  a week ago. Shows how good I am at telling time!

A few days after our company left we loaded up the car and pointed the hood north. It's summer and with that comes the usual activities and commitments.

Our first event was Mike and Nancy's daughters wedding ceremony which was held in a converted barn in a rural Wisconsin setting. The weather cooperated and the couple had a beautiful day. And no. The barn didn't have any left over odors from it's past.

Best wishes Megan and Justin!

Of course for me no visit back home would be complete without a check on the Mississippi River at Dubuque which was running above flood stage due to recent rains.

Looking over the lock chamber at the raised roller gates. Normally a 10' difference from above the dam to below.

The new week arrived and with it started the round of doctor appointments for Pam and me. Pam was first for the poking and prodding session and checked out OK.
Next it was my turn. I always get nervous when the doctor snaps the rubber gloves while putting them on. His exploration revealed a slightly enlarged prostate which didn't alarm him.  A prescription for some pills and I officially entered my Senior Citizen era.

I wish the doctors fingers would have been that small!

The first week of July was busy. We were able to join friends Frank & Peg in Madison for Music on the Square. A great event that takes place on Wednesday evenings on the capitol lawn. Blankets, snacks, and great live music.

No wine was spilled while taking this picture!

The next evening we joined Kim & Lu on Vagabond for the air show and fireworks on the swollen Mississippi at Dubuque. The river is well over it's normal level of 9'. Flood stage is 17' and the stage that evening was 20'. Even with the high water it was a great evening with friends, fireworks, and KFC for dinner!

High water reduced the number of boats on the river.

One of the highlights was a wing walker.

Formation flying.

Camera or marital aid? You be the judge.

It was a great evening with friends and fireworks. Thanks Kim & Lu!

July 4th we loaded up my parents and headed to Swisher, Iowa to celebrate my youngest son Addams birthday. In addition to his birthday the day was highlighted by a visit to some land that he had recently purchased to build a house on.

The cake.

The land.

The boy and his dog.

Happy Birthday Dutch!

July 5th we joined Pam's parents for dinner with their friends from Chattanooga. Pam & I had visited Gil & Linda when we visited Chattanooga on Tourist a couple years ago.

During our visit home I was able to pressure wash the deck and apply two coats of stain to it. A job that would be better performed by soaking it in gas and lighting a match! (Just kidding)

While I took care of the deck Pam assisted by taking Ellie and Franklin on two consecutive days to get their hair cut. How that helped me I'm not sure since they weren't at the house anyway?

Ellie talking through her hair cut. Just like her GramPam!

Franklin thinking that he was tricked. He was going for a pony tail.

Also while home we had dinner at Chestnut Mt. Resort with John & Jean and their daughter Sarah. Good company in a setting overlooking the Mississippi that I've frequented since I was a small boy.

Sunset from Chestnut Mt.

I can't end this post without posting a picture of the boat I would love to have for cruising the inland rivers. Built by a friend a few years ago and powered by a single Cummins engine the Pickett Hastings will surprise you with her speed and shallow draft. My imagination runs wild every time I see this vessel. I just have to convince Pam that she would love it as much as I would!

Pickett Hastings underway.

Munchkin Invasion

We've been busy with company the past week. First came Matt & Mandy and the Munchkins. (Franklin & Ellie). The first order of business was to get the two little ones acclimated to their life jackets. Surprisingly they wore them without any objection.

Ready for the pool.

The temps have been in the low 90's here and humid making the swimming pool a real oasis when two small children are on the boat. Since it was early in the week we pretty much had the pool to ourselves.

Pool Time.

At ages two and three these two are in the Go position all the time. It didn't take long for them to discover the water slide.

Don't let that innocent face fool you. A little flirt resides just behind it!

Franklin was a bit cautious going down the slide but enjoyed it none the less. Ellie on the other hand after one slow trip down decided to just lay back on the life jacket and rocket down the slide and fly off into the water. Both would come up spitting and sputtering and ready for more.

Franklin trying to talk GramPam into going down the slide.

One afternoon we rented a golf cart and drove into town for ice cream.

Craig's Dairy. The ice cream was good but the server was less than happy to be there. Seems we interrupted her texting. What were we thinking?

Of course no visit to Grand Rivers is complete without a visit to Patti's. There's no way to describe Patti's other than to say it's a tourist trap that serves a whopping sized pork chop and a variety of other tasty dishes.

Riding the horse. Still only a quarter at Patti's!

Patti's 2" thick pork chop.

The kids love turtles and they weren't disappointed during their visit. They swim right up to the back of the boat every day. We became even more popular when the kids started feeding them crackers.

Turtle feeding time.

They found even more turtles under the Commonwealth Yacht Club along with the resident geese.

Before any day could get underway it became a ritual for the munchkins to watch the DVD, Despicable Me 2.

Pacifier.

I even got trapped into watching it. Thank God for Animal Crackers! 

We spent another afternoon at the pool and one day we took Tourist out and anchored in a nearby cove where the kids wore us out.

Taking a trip around the boat. Ellie in true priss fashion spent the time looking at herself in my sunglasses.

 By mid afternoon it was time to head back in to get ready for dinner at The Catfish Kitchen in nearby Benton, Ky.

Country dining at it's best!

Friday morning the troops were up early and on the road back home. Pam immediately went into clean up mode determined to get every smudge and fingerprint erased as well as the bedding cleaned and back on in time for our next guests to arrive. Friday afternoon.


Our second set of visitors, Pam's sister Barb and her husband Bill arrived Friday afternoon. So what did we do with them? We put them in our car and drove back to Paducah to get groceries and have dinner.

Saturday we lazed around in the morning and decided to take the boat out for an overnight. Still hot outside, it didn't take long to find the water once we were anchored.

Diaper dipping.

Barb peeking over the transom.

Snack time!

Followed by nap time.

Before dinner Bill gave Pam a lesson in playing Cribbage after letting her win the first game (his story). Pam was excited to be playing anything since I'd rather listen to my arteries harden than play board games or cards.

We had steaks on the grill for dinner and watched highlights from the Johnny Carson era of the Tonight Show before collapsing into bed.

Sunday Pam made a great breakfast before we pulled the anchor and took a little ride through the Barkley Canal into Kentucky Lake. Once we returned to the dock we got cleaned up and went to dinner at the Commonwealth Yacht Club.

We made a stop at the bar before going to our table and were greeted by one of the rudest individuals I've encountered in quite awhile. We no sooner took our seats at the bar next to this guy when he starts screaming at the soccer match on TV. I might expect that in a sports bar but not here and certainly not right in your ear! This moron carried on for the remainder of the match and at one time slammed his stool so hard I thought he'd broken it. He was the only one there watching the game while everyone else just looked at him and what an ass he was making of himself. Everyone was glad to see him leave.

We were happy to find our table!

Monday all of us jumped in the car and headed to Nashville.

We're in Tennessee!

Our landing place in town was just off Broadway. Our interest for the day was to explore the  haunts along Broadway. We started with lunch at Rippy's and then off we went.

Lunch at Rippy's.

Looking down Broadway.

Been there for years!

Tootsie's Orchid Lounge with the Ryman Auditorium behind.

Inside Tootsie's.

Inside Legends Corner.

Broadway is lined with bars featuring live music at all hours of the day.

A few of the clubs along 3rd street.

We stumbled into Coyote Ugly where we had to drag Barb & Pam off the bar.

Dancers!

Our walk took us into Printers Alley which years ago was the late night spot to be but is now a spattering of strip clubs.

Still historic but not what it once was.

Not all of Nashville is dedicated to music.

We even found the replica of the Parthenon in Centennial Park.

It was a fun day walking the streets of Music City and listening to the variety of musicians hoping to be discovered.

We made the drive back to Tourist and had baked ziti for dinner.

Tuesday morning we had breakfast at Docker's before saying goodbye to Barb & Bill.

Dockers Bayside Grill.

On the road to home.

It was fun having company for a few days and provided a nice distraction from the variety of chores we have on our list for the summer.