Departed Chattanooga Thursday morning @ 9:30am.  The rain stopped and the sun came out.  We had about 23 knots of wind and some decent chop on the water.  Mike wasn’t stressed about water over the bow as it wasn’t salt water.  Again, some beautiful homes and lovely scenery along the river.

Went through the Nickajack Lock where we tossed another jar of Zombie Sauce to the lock master.  After about a 50 mile day, dropped the hook at Battery Park anchorage.  Good wind and current all night.  Great holding (our Rocna has been incredible), albeit with some wind slap on the hull overnight.  There was a beautiful crescent moon out.  It was our first cool evening, so we put on our Winter blanket, opened up our windows and had great sleep.

The next morning it was cool!  I had to put socks on.  Departed Battery Park (totally clean anchor) @ 9:20am.  Traveled ~ 62 miles to Alred Marina in Guntersville, AL.  Arrived at 4:05pm.  I wanted to see the little town as it’s stunning along the water.  We took the courtesy truck, a huge, old 4X4 truck with half a million miles on it, into Guntersville and walked about.  Walked past a cool looking building that I was admiring.  Mike asked if I wanted to look at the menu.  An employee, Jade, invited us in to look around.  The building had been a B&B in the early 1930s.  Had sat vacant for the past 11 years and was opened up as a fine dining establishment a few months ago.  We were dressed in shorts & t-shirts, and weren’t sure if that was o.k.  When we walked past the bar during our tour, I said, “We’re definitely having a drink here.”  The bar was bitchin.  We each had an Old Fashioned.  Mike’s was with a maple flair.  The owner, Beatrice Glover, came out and chatted with us.  She had an adorable Southern accent, but also another accent.  Found out she was from Switzerland.  So, she and Mike had a nice conversation in German.  She bought us a Spanish liquor, the name of which I can’t recall, but it was delicious.  We walked back to our monster truck, put on long sleeves, walked a bit, then went back for dinner.  It was fantastic!  The drink pic is of a Halloween themed cocktail, complete with dry ice.

Departed Alred Marina @ 8:30am Saturday.  Shallow water with a lot of weeds.  Cleared Guntersville Lock @ 10:30.  Took a little longer than needed as a boat came after the doors were closed, so the lock master re-opened them allowing the boat to lock down with us.  Of course, Mike had to toss another jar of ZS to the lock master.   I think Mike’s secret plan is to get everyone hooked on his ZS, from the south all the way up the eastern seaboard & into Canada, and then start marketing the stuff.  It’s like crack…right Murray?

Another beautiful day on the water.  We went through a gorge that was stunning that we missed on our way upriver due to fog.

Arrived Ingalls Harbor in Decatur, AL @ 3:30pm where there was a free wall for us to moor for the night.

Tied up and took a walk through the town.  There are some beautiful churches in Decatur.  And, a bank that was built in 1832.

Walked to a grocery store to buy some eggs.  Walked back through a route given to us by Google Maps that took us through a neighborhood of historic homes, each with little placards indicating the year built.  Some dated back to the mid-1800s.  Made dinner on the boat and got to bed early as we planned to leave by 7:00 the next morning.  Fell asleep to rain.

Departed 6:55am this morning for the short ride to Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, AL.  (The TVA is doing some work between mile markers 300 and 302 and have essentially closed the river to traffic between 8:00 and 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00 for 10 days.  We wanted to get through before 8:00. )

The AGLCA Fall Rendezvous is here Monday through Thursday of this week.  We did not sign up for the rendezvous, but wanted to fuel up here ($435.17 for 150.06 gallons of diesel…the best price on the Tennessee) and pick up some packages Mike ordered (he is out of control).  Got in around 10:00 and dropped the hook maybe an hour later.  Kent, Heather and Penny are here, so we got some Penny love.  Will chill out here on the hook for a couple/few days and leave before the end of the rendezvous to try to stay ahead of the crowd.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Max Garrick who got hitched yesterday!  We were so sorry to miss it, but the wedding sounded perfect, and the pictures were beautiful!  Emily made a stunning bride.

Happy Sunday Funday!  M&M