Goodbye Rocky Top, Hello Sweet Home Alabama

Guntersville, Alabama to Joe Wheeler State Park, Alabama

Returning to Guntersville Marina felt like old home week. Unfortunately, our covered slip was no longer available, and we were put out on the end of the slip as a lay along, and away from the dock mates that had become friends. However, it may have kept us on track to complete our list of chores. We enjoyed a few meals out with our friend and driver Ed. Remy fell right back into her favorite walking route and enjoyed knowing the lay of the land.

The captain went to work changing the engine oil, a task that needs to be performed every 200 hours. We had reached that mark just a few days prior to arriving in Guntersville and the marina had an oil depository. Finding a place to dispose of your used oil can be a challenge on a trip like this, as we will be at a different port each time and no way to drive off sight if needed. Now or Never is powered with twin Cummins 6BTA diesel engines and each engine needs 4 gallons to complete an oil change. David sends oil samples to Blackstone Laboratories to analyze our oil after each oil change.

David also started the daunting task of waxing the hull. This do it your selfer maintains just about every aspect of our boat himself. All but the big stuff. The lay along dock assisted and he started at the bow. We are trying to eliminate the buildup of the river mustache that is so prevalent in the inland rivers. It is a physically difficult job and he used all the tools at his disposal including our dinghy. They all held up except his back and hip!

Restitching the exterior vinyl window curtains

Tasha returned from home with her sewing machine and the task at Guntersville was to re-stitch the side and front exterior vinyl curtains. The thread had rotted from years in the sun, and she went back over every seam. A few other small repairs were made and they are good to go for a bit longer! There are a couple other projects that will need the use of the sewing machine and she will have to find a place on board to stow it a bit longer.

We had dinner plans with our friend Ed, and he sprung a great treat on us as we met up with another home port crew member who happened to be working in eye sight of our dock at Guntersville City Harbor! Jeremy has a company that builds boat docks. His crew was in Guntersville! He travels throughout the south to the major waterways to work. Two years ago, we met up with him in Stewart, Florida, earlier this year we were near each other in the Nashville area but logistics didn’t work to meet, and now we meet in Guntersville. We learned that he was within a couple miles of us when we were upriver at Lenoir City just a week ago! With both of us being on the water full time, we need to keep better track of each other as we are certain our paths will cross again!

Checking out City Harbor in Guntersville

Our host Ed, took us to Crawmama’s. In the picture it looks like a flea market, in person, it’s a shanty. A roof with tarp walls, uneven concrete floor and stuff everywhere. 39 different style of chairs. Can’t imagine this place in the heat of the summer. But, it was delicious! Keeps our gas station, bait shop, flea market / shanty good eats alive!

After a couple days in Guntersville, rain was forecasted for the foreseeable future, we chose to head out the day it started. Being on the lay along and at the edge of the covered slips, the rain from about 5 dock roofs would come pouring down on Now or Never. We had a short cruise (24.9 miles) and 1 lock to Ditto Landing in Huntsville. Ditto Landing is a city park, marina, and campground. It’s non-descript, but offers nice docks, good power, and a free night stay with 100 gallons of fuel. We thought we would easily need 100 gallons of fuel, possibly around 160 gallons. However, when we went to fill up the next day, the pump slowed to a very slow crawl prior to 100 gallons. Guess the current is helping us! The price on the pump was not the price we were told the previous day. It was $3.52 at the pumps and we were told $3.27/gallon. With some first mate finagling, we were offered the .25/gallon less price and we filled to 104 gallons and received the free dockage!

After locking down through Guntersville Lock and heading towards Huntsville, the riverbank terrain makes a huge change. Gone are the beautiful back drop of the mountains, the large granite gorges, and the ever-winding waterway. We didn’t realize how much we loved the serenity, the mountain peaks, the crisp blue water, and gorges until they were gone. Just nothing like it. We’re back to tree lined riverbanks and it’s pretty, but not gorgeous!

The following day we had a 57-mile run ahead of us with no locks to get us to Joe Wheeler State Park. Joe Wheeler is where loopers will gather the 3^rd week of October for the fall rendezvous. We arrived two weeks early as we are meeting home crew friends from our marina for a long weekend, and always have projects and chores to do. We also need to spend a day contacting Florida marina’s as we are still uncertain where we will end up for the winter. Everything is booked and we are on a few waiting lists and have been since March. It’s a bit nerve racking headed that way without a winter dock lined up.

The state park has great walking trails, a lodge, restaurant, and a variety of other amenities and sits back in protected cove with a beautiful view. We arrived late afternoon in the rain, and it continued to rain off and on for three more days. Off enough to get Remy walks in – she loves the state park! And on again that kept us on board a good part of the time. We will also get the monthly bargain rate of $400 for our 18-night stay. However, when David went to pay, he was told $797. The lodge and dockmaster are not in agreement and until they figure it out, we’ll just hang out.

The captain continued to work on waxing the hull and the first mate tried to catch up with laundry and cleaning the inside of the boat. There is always something to do!

We also are gathering a tub full of “stuff” to take off the boat (or rather the captain says we do not need) and send home with our friends that are visiting. It is so hard to fit all your life’s needs into a tiny home. We downsized our home a year ago by about 50%, and then for this trip, another 80%. The captain is finding it easy to live the minimalist lifestyle as long as he has his tools, the first mate, not so much. And tools seem to trump serving platters and clothes.

The rain finally stopped, the clouds cleared, just in time for the arrival of the crew from Kentuckiana! Five friends arrived with toys in tow for a long weekend of fun and adventure. We have been hanging out together on the Ohio River for years and it is so good to catch up and share our journey and new crusiing grounds in person! The weather looks terrific! Here comes the sun . . .