Joe Wheeler State Park on First Creek, Wheeler Lake, Alabama –
Friends visiting along our journey makes the journey much more special. This was the fourth time friends have caught up with us and several were repeats! We chose Joe Wheeler State Park beacuse the marina is right in front of the lodge, there is room for our friend’s boat right next to ours, it is a beautiful state park and has accomodations on site, and we would be staying on longer for our Great Loop Rendezvous coming up mid month!
Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge 
Our first day had us cruising up river, (Southeast) about 35-miles to a marina and restaurant located in the middle of the river near Decatur, AL.
Admiral’s Anchor Crew 
Our home port crew
This is the area that has the railroad bridge that has to lift up for barges and many boats to continue on the waterway. We were able to maneuver under the lift railroad bridge without them having to lift it. It is a very busy railroad bridge and there was a train crossing over as we cruised below. We had frequented this bridge twice before on our way up river. It had to be lifted for Now or Never to traverse beneath it.
Train rolling 
Just made it
We arrived at lunch time to find the restaurant did not open until 4! We motored back down river to another marina / restaurant in between Decatur and Joe Wheeler, and they too did not open until 4! No one updates their social media presence anymore – it is frusutrating! We ended up back at the lodge for a late afternoon lunch. And a late breakfast for poor Remy as with our routine totally uprooted, her horrible parents had forgotten to feed her.
We passed the Meow Mix plant twice and whew!, what a stench! Can’t imagine working there daily.
Our three days together were much the same, lots of fun and new great memories! 80+ degrees, sunny days, boat rides in search of closed restaurants! We did find one watering hole on the water to quench our thirst, and a few other eateries by car.
Rogersville, Alabama, where Joe Wheeler State Park is located is a small town – around 2,000 population and there is not much lot of anything. You take what you can find open.
Our run of gas station, bait shop, and shanty good eats continued and we found ourselves at a gas station / motel? (not sure what it was formerly) for breakfast after our first stop was closed on Sunday. Bonnie’s Kountry Café. A little rundown place in the middle of nowhere with friendly service and good food. Think room with tables and a bit of blue and mauve country decor. Tasha ordered the country ham biscuits and was presented with chicken biscuits. When she questioned the waitress, she knew by her response it was just better to eat the chicken biscuits and be happy with it! Chicken is the new country ham.
Bonnie’s Kountry Cafe 
Gas station or motel? 
Southern country ham
We had a great time, and it was a sad morning as it came to an end and the home port crew headed north. However, after 3 ½ action filled days, the Now or Never crew (including pup) was exhausted and took a closed eye break, then started back on our chores. Chores on a boat are never endings. Something always needs to be washed, cleaned, fixed, maintained, or put away.
We will continue our stay at Joe Wheeler State Park through the 21st of October. The fall America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association (AGLCA) Rendezvous will be gathering here the 18th – 21st for camaraderie, education, and fun! This location gave us a great place to meet up with friends and then get some things done while we await the rendezvous.
We have attended several rendezvous in the past at this location, this being the first by boat. It is a surreal experience after staying in the lodge other times and wandering when and if we might be in the marina someday. Well, here we are on our boat and we couldn’t be more giddy that our dream has come true.
When we arrived last week, we were the second boat here for rendezvous. The Marine Trader came up from the gulf to avoid hurricane season. And before the others arrive, we have plenty to do!
The week included grooming Remy, something she detests. Water is good in form of a lake, creek, river, mudpuddle, but out of a hose sprayed on her, no way! Remy protested the entire time. Luckily, the temperature was in the mid 80’s – a beautiful day to get a bath on the dock and we weren’t concerned about cold water as this is a pup who swims in the creek at home when there is snow on the ground. She was trimmed, ears cleaned, and nails dremeled one at a time until she can’t sit still! It was a very stressful day for this pup. Remy also checked out the pool, a little too closely we may add as she received the first reprimand from the park ranger as he yelled at her mom – “No dogs in the pool!” from the balcony. We didn’t think two paws in the splash area constituted a dog in the pool, but apparently he did. Another visit to the pool had her pouting and wondering why she couldn’t get in it as there was no body else using it. The water was pretty chilly but would have been refreshing to this girl!
Splish, splash, I don’t like taking a bath 
“No dogs in the pool!” 
Nobody here and this beaitiful pool
The first mate tackled laundry. We are so blessed to have a washer and dryer on board, but being apartment size, laundry is an all day or two task. Clothes, towels, sheets, rugs, and rags, a few at a time, takes time. Tasha also cleaned the inside of the boat, dehaired the boat from the red head who sleeps aboard, provisioned, and organized lockers and storage. Doesn’t sound like much, but it keeps her busy.
The captain continues to work on his list of projects and regular day to day chores. David worked on installing a camera to assist with docking (a backup camera). The visibility of the starboard aft corner in nonexistent from the helm as well as the entire swim platform. David became a master at maneuvering Now or Never into our home dock, but traveling, every time we dock is a new configuration. No longer do we have our dock mates’ boat Incommunicado to bounce off (kidding!)! The camera will make it much easier. David installed the camera on the hardtop starboard side by our wing door. He also used the tools he had on board to assist – cases of beer as his step stool.
Garmin Camera 
running wires to Dave’s hand
David chases down the spider droppings every day, they are relentless and come out after dark and leave you a nice mess each day. This leads into a spray down and washing of the boat daily too. He continues to wax and buff the boat. It is kind of like painting the golden gate bridge, once you get done, you start over again
The first mate wanted to flip the mattress in the master stateroom- she was sorry they didn’t think of it while their friends were here. The captain thought this was a good time to clean the aft cabin shower pump as well and it was no easy task. The master berth linens and lamp shades need to be removed before the mattress can be moved (and there is not room to put it the mattress easily to the side so you have to shimmy it between the pedestal and the wall), then he removed the piano hinged boards that hold the mattress on the pedestal (these are heavy and don’t fold all the way and again no where to set them), then he crawled into the space that holds our extra set of sharp props (while barefooted), only to have stretch his arm as far as he can to get to the pump. After cleaning, and flipping the mattress, we must put all back in reverse. It’s a long labor intensive job. One that at home would take a few minutes but on a boat takes ocer 30 minutes. Boating designers must not have ever owned a boat or provided any of the maintenance on their boats.
Part of the cleaning routine this week included preparing our boat for a looper crawl at the rendezvous (think boat open house without selling it, unless the captain finds another boat he wants!). Those attending who are in the planning stage of their great adventure are presented the opportunity to tour all types of boats in one place at one time. It’s one of the highlights of the get-together and one we appreciated prior to us buying our boat. About half of the 50+ boats attending will open their vessel to others. We are cleaning and trying to find a home for the day-to-day “stuff” that gets left out. It’s amazing how much the first mate can fit into this small space! The boat is looking its best inside and out.
In between chores, the whole family went on a deer hunt. In a golf cart. With cameras. We see deer every day at the state park on our many walks with Remy. They certainly aren’t afraid of anything. The dock master brought a couple of golf carts to the docks and offered them up to anyone to use and included we could take Remy for a ride. So that’s what we did. We set out in search of deer and wanted to check out the rental cabins in the park. We saw a couple of dozen deer and several babies. They didn’t run, really didn’t move, just kept an eye on the red head in the golf cart. She in turn kept an intense eye back. And, for the second time, we were reprimanded by a park ranger. Seems golf carts are not to be on the streets of the state park (not sure where else you could really take them)! It was fun while it lasted.
Family deer hunt 
Joe Wheeler cabins 
Remy’s friends 
We have been wowed by the sunrises (yes, the first mate is getting up for them!) and sunsets. Each day is another spectacular show of God’s beauty in the skies.
The evenings have reconfirmed our choice to have an aft deck boat. With it being pitch dark by 7, we just aren’t ready to hibernate inside. That may change next week looking at the cool forecast. We take time each day to enjoy and count our blessings. We know we are very fortunate to make this journey.
Gone are the quiet nights with few boats in the marina and a handful of lodge rooms occupied. Over 300 have taken up occupancy at Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge and Marina. Fifty-plus looper boats fill the marina and every lodge room is filled. The sleepy lodge has turned into a small city with lots of activity. We are looking forward to this get-together with others experiencing the same journey as us. Should be a fun time!
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Cheers! D, T & R
Hi guys! Chuck and I have been enjoying reading your posts and keeping up with your trip. You’re doing a great job keeping us updated on your travels. Enjoy yourselves, and we wish you safe travels.
So glad you found us!