The Pickwick Interlude

10/14:  Very breezy start as we left the anchorage in rain and gusts to 25 mph.  A long trip (all of 6 miles) to Aqua Marina where we tucked in for a stay of 2-3 days.  We plan a day to thoroughly clean the boat, a day to visit battlefield at Shiloh and, possibly, a day for maintenance/repair of pertinent electrical issues. 10/14:  Very breezy start as we left the anchorage in rain and gusts to 25 mph.  A long trip (all of 6 miles) to Aqua Harbor Marina, Iula, MS where we tucked in for a stay of 2-3 days.  We plan a day to thoroughly clean the boat, a day to visit battlefield at Shiloh and, possibly, a day for maintenance/repair of pertinent electrical issues.  Bonnie says….One of my “boating responsibilities” has been  raising and lowering the anchor. Sounds easy enough and on the Elissa II with an electric windlass and hose pumping fresh water to clean the accumulated mud off the anchor and chain, it is. On our sloops, it was a hand over hand raising the anchor up from whatever muck it had anchored in with a bucket to slop off the mud or the boat, anchor and line and me or were covered with MUCK. The previous evening, Katie and Jess were admiring the ease with which I had lowered the anchor. Me, “yes it is one of my favorites that came with the Elissa”. Well, we began raising the anchor this AM before Katie and Jessie BUT something was amiss----the line was tangling as it coiled in the boat-NOT GOOD. By then the Louise came cruising by and I shrugged saying, “hand over hand is at least consistent compared to ‘automatic devices’. Bill left the helm and came up with tools to tighten whatever needed tightening. That done, couldn’t get the tangle cleared. THEN I tried something simple like pulling the line from below. Voila, it worked!

Ah, basic female intuition.  She immediately received a field promotion to Chief Engineer.  Now she is 1^st Mate, Chief Engineer and when she needs to be, the Admiral. We then waved as we cruised by the Louise, saying we’d reserve a slip for them at the Marina we were both headed for. Arrived just before a good rainstorm along with 8 other Loopers! Rain cleared and all of us spent the afternoon cleaning our boats—this should last for @ 4-5 days! Decided as a group to order Pizza. Spent the evening hours on the dock enjoying pizza and music performed by Jessie and Phil---one of the New Zealanders who knew every ballad from the 60-70’s! A truly mellow evening!

10/15: This is our Lay Day to rent a car and tour Shiloh Battlefield National Park. Jessie and Katie joined us for the day. Got a late start as I got lost returning to the marina with the courtesy car while Bill drove the rental. My phone died as I took the wrong turn so zip navigation and no paper maps. Had a nice tour of the area northwest of the Marina and did make a circle, incl by Shiloh-glad I have a good sense of direction but was irritated with Meself. Shiloh is as sobering a visit as any battlefield can be. It was a beautiful day, the woods quiet, shining with autumn colors. As I would read the Road Marks of the battle, it took my breath away when envisioning the violence of April 6 and 7, 1862…24,000 casualties by both sides, including General Officers on both sides. Of course, my mind wandered to today’s battles in Afghanistan and elsewhere and again marveled at the bravery and brotherhood found in our 2012 military. After Shiloh we headed to Savannah, TN for lunch – found the Hickory Pit, estab 1978. It had been in business that long for a good reason---great bar-b-que of your choice! We did avoid the highly recommended Piggy Fries-a heart bomb of seasoned fried potato wedges topped with 2 types of cheese, sour cram, green onions and pork bar-b-q! Instead we discovered fried corn nuggets, fried green beans and fried okra, served with Ranch Dressing-yummmyummmyummm! Upon our return to the Marina,  dinner plans were being made and we all fixed our own and then joined together for a communal meal.  Our dinner was a chicken taco salad-perfect after that Bar-b-q lunch!We are a diverse group joined together by water and the love of being out doors and discovering new adventures! (Have I said that before?).

10/16:  On 16^th we got an early start in returning the rental car we used to tour Shiloh and then visited with Aqua Service Manager to discuss, yet again, our persistent problem with getting adequate output from our battery bank.  Finally bit the bullet and concluded that the batteries were trying, but getting old.  Adequate current and peace of mind both came with the purchase & installation of new batteries (no deals for “buy 3 and get the 4^th free were offered).  Gave us a lot of time to finish major clean-up of boat and get some deferred maintenance done.  Around 1600 we moved all of 2 miles to Grand Harbor Marina to participate in a docktail party with fellow Loopers.  Met some new folks who had heretofor been only voices & call signs on radio as well as reunited with several we had met earlier.  The “ladies” of Louise were the 1^st Loopers we met on this leg Sept 3 in Northport.  The second was the Sereanna that we met in Leland Harbor, also on the on day 1 of our cruise.  Had a great time.  Tomorrow, it is back to moving on up the Tennessee River.  Bonnie says….lazy day waiting around for batteries! Our “docktail” party lasted long enough for our planned dinner to be missed!! Finally me the couple on a sailing Cat, Katmandu. We have heard their boat named in several broadcasts when cruising the North Channel waters the past several years. Was fun to finally meet.  Joel of Water Music had his guitar so another fun evening of  singing on the dock!