Harmon Creek, Tennessee River to Dry Creek Pickwick Lake

10/11:  Off the anchor at 0950 under clear skies, chilly, light winds.  Spent about 30 minutes gawking at a huge flock of white pelicans settled in to the anchorage.  Back on main river 1t 1025.  Arrived at Cuba Landing anchorage and on the hook by 1500.  Marina is just around=d corner from anchorage, < 5 minutes in dinghy…dogs appreciate that.  Had a great sleep night, sporadic downpours & lightning displays (far enough away that we heard very little thunder).  Awoke to continuing rain.  But, radar showed huge system of bad news that was headed our way was breaking up, so….see entry for 10/12.  Bonnie says......This morning, we were treated to the arrival of hundreds of white pelicans flying in and paddling around. Wading in the shallows were hundreds of white egrets. I was entranced. Thus our departure was delayed as I took pictures and videos! Our upriver cruise took us by heron rookeries and herons "greeting" along the way from pilings, tall day marks with their nests or staring from shore. There are MANY fishermen in their bass boats...one single fisherman had @ 8 poles he was "watching. Wonder what the workweek is around here! Once at Cuba Landing enjoyed visiting with the German sailor we first met on the Illinois River-is a journalist for a German Sail magazine and contributes to US Sail magazine during return trips to Germany (cannot "work" when in US on visitor's visa). He left Germany in 2009. The other cruiser, Took the Plunge, originated near Detroit MI. The owners got tired of cold weather, quit their jobs, sold their home, bought a 47 ft cruiser and are headed to relocate in the warmth of FL!  Watched the VP debate on live streaming on the laptop. Dinner: Indian Korma with pork and vegetables and tossed salad. The pork was left over from a 2" pork chop I had 10/9 at Patti's---great restaurant in Grand Rivers. You can imagine the size if the leftover fed 2 of us!!

10/12:  Left Cuba Landing at 1050 under grey skies, low clouds, dreary day.  Having discovered problem with electrical system (batteries were barely charging though alternator was producing requisite voltage; we would have run batteries empty had we not discovered it), we chose to burn some diesel (means go fast at great expense in fuel consumption) to get to Marina that had services available.  BTW, “go fast” is a relative term. For us “go slow” (and get max fuel efficiency) is @ 8.5 mph.  “Go fast” means about 15 mph (consumes slightly more than twice the most efficient speed also means getting there almost twice as fast).  Arrived at the Clifton TN Town Marina at 1425, 38 miles further on our journey.  And yes, think the battery issue is solved thanks to the advice (and loan of battery tester and charger) of Glenn-a retired towboat engineer/1^st mate; a great guy w/a load of tall tales.  Won’t know for sure until we get under way.  Will advise in the log for 10/13.  Bonnie says….The hospitality at this Marina was awesome. Though, come to think of it, most have been. Sonya, the Manager was making seafood gumbo, assisting docking incoming boats, registering the same and just seeming to be everywhere at once! While Bill got the Elissa II settled in, the girls and I had a nice @ 2 mile walk overlooking the River---different perspective. By 6 PM there were 13 Loopers warmly welcomed by everyone. Many of us knew each other, as we have been leap frogging with each other. During our 2-week absence, many detoured to Nashville or Memphis via water or asphalt. Having smelled the gumbo, most of us decided to enjoy an evening ashore with good food and camaraderie.

10/13: 10/13:  Left Clifton, reluctantly, at 1030, following breakfast ashore (with more good conversation with locals incl the Clifton police), a pump out & a sip of diesel I tried to get a Gumbo omelet-NO GO.  Winds SE at 15kts, was mostly cloudy early and day progressed into sunshine and @ 80 degrees by the time we reached Pickwick Lock at 1400.  Big lock…lifted us 80’ to water level in Pickwick Lake.  Took about an hour total, only about 10 minutes actually going up.  Rest of time was waiting to enter.  Two fellow Loopers aboard the sloop Louise had arrived on site a day earlier and scouted out a superbly protected anchorage in anticipation of strong SW winds (gusts to 25 kts) for late night and into Saturday AM.  We joined them at had anchor set by 1545.  Bonnie says….Continue to be pleasantly surprised with fall colors as we head south. Dry Creek off Pickwick Lake is lovely. Katie and Jessie were fishing off a rocky point with their dog Reggie romping nearby….nice welcoming party. Once settled, set off in the dinghy for shore for a doggie potty break. We were pleasantly surprised with NO MUD but a pebbled beach. Let Jada off the lead and she had a ball fetching a stick in the water. Returned to the Elissa II with happy puppies and no mud. We had invited the Louise crew for dinner—they introduced me to Lime margaritas in 8 oz cans---new fav boating before dinner drink! It was fun catching up with a personal recounting of their ventures—starting back when they found their 27 ft Catalina sloop---in much need of rehabbing before setting of on this venture. We had last seen each other on Sept 3 when we left Northport. Took advantage of being at anchor so could grill onboard and served grilled Pork loin roast-butterflied, pan roasted garlic redskins, carrots, onions, tossed green salad and ice cream-moose tracks and cookies and cream topped with “boozy cherries” provided by Katie and Jessie. FYI, ice cream on a boat is a true treat for us “small boaters”. Invested in a plug in cooler to increase menu options with fresh meat-side benefit (a surprise) is keeping ice cream aboard!!!