Log of the ELISSA II: The Looper Rendezvous & Beyond

10/19: Practically there; left anchorage at 1040, arrived at the Wheeler Lock at 1105 and left at 1155. Northern Spirit joined us again and we found another great, isolated and beautiful wilderness anchorage. On the hook and relaxing by 1220. Bonnie says…this is a truly lovely spot with several Herons standing sentinel and many turtles sunning themselves on logs. Why do they fascinate me? A little beach area was a nice destination for dinghy-ing the girls ashore and then a path led up a hill to a farm field with house in the distance. Guess we are not so far removed from Civilization as it feels! Later in the afternoon, a fisherman coasted by (if they are not flying by going from one spot to another, they are sitting high above the water on a “stool” guiding the boat with a foot lever, seemingly floating on the water. Enjoyed listening to him share local lore and his story with us. Joined Lynn and Ron on Northern Spirit for “boattails”. Nice couple from the Georgian Bay. Dinner: Mexican Chicken, Rice and Beans and tossed salad.

RENDEZVOUS INTERVAL – 10/21-1024

10/20-24: Left 2^nd Creek for the Joe Wheeler State Park Marina at 1130 for the long (3.m miles) trip to our destination and the site of the Fall 2012 Great Loop Cruisers Assoc. Rendezvous. There we joined a fleet of fellow Loopers that would grow to some 55 boats (and over 150 people) by the time the formal proceedings opened on Sunday night, 21 October. By 1300 we were in slip and seeing old/meeting new friends on the docks. Will provide synopsis of the 4-day event when we depart for “winter quarters” in Demopolis, AL on the 25th. Bonnie says…Was a lazy departure from our quiet beautiful cove. The waterfowl this morning were plentiful. Joe Wheeler State Park is in a lovely setting with an impressive Lodge. Chose to have dinner at the restaurant—found those yummy corn nuggets again! Joe Wheeler was an 1859 West Point graduate who chose the Confederacy in 1861. Following the War he became a true citizen soldier serving again in the US Army and in the US Congress. Bill: I met his great, great grandson who was walking the docks & had a lengthy and most interesting conversation about the Wheeler family. I knew more about Joe’s Civil War activities than he did. He was a wealth of info about “the rest of the story”.

The American Great Loop Circle Association, AGLCA, hosts 2 Rendezvous a year, in Oct here at Joe Wheeler and in May in Norfolk. Aside from too much good food (3 meals served/day and 2 wine tasting receptions), there are also seminars re: different legs of the Loop and various safety and maintenance concerns. They are presented by Loopers (sharing their local knowledge and favorite places/marinas/anchorages/side trips) or by sponsors (various marinas on the Loop’s route). While only a few of us are returning home for a few months, most Loopers are continuing on to FL and the Bahamas for the winter and will visit these marinas. Aside from learning more about the delightful experiences ahead of us, I also learned:

Many come here just to learn @ the Loop
Many come to find a “Loop Boat”
Those who have completed the Loop want to sell the boat, often for something smaller

On two afternoons there was a Loopers’ Crawl (before docktails). Several of us opened our boats to a “on the water house tour”. For many of us it satisfied personal curiosity re: what other boats are like and for others, a chance to learn and compare options. On Tuesday we went into Rogersville for a concert under the trees and stars---Kerry Gilbert’s Band. They are a really good CW band that can play a bit of everything. Was a fun evening.

Many of the sponsors provide door prizes-anything from croakies for your eyeglasses to free dockage or to 1 50 min massage and 1 night free dockage at Hawk Key Resort in the Florida Keys – their dockage fees alone are +$100 over what we usually pay. I WON THIS!!!! So next spring, here we come! Following our last night dinner, many of us enjoyed a songfest that was more than our voices; 12 string guitar, banjo, dulcimer incl a hammered dulcimer and a harmonica. Talented group we are. The diversity of this group continues to amaze me, including the diversity of our boats-our bond is the love of water, a bit of adventure on this water and minds that want to continue to learn and explore.

Was a fun 4+ days but am ready to get on the water again!

Elissa II flanked by Looper cruisers!

Bales of cotton

Happy Halloween Beatriz

Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge/Marina

Memsahib is a sloop from Connecticut--son has delayed attending Miami of Ohio for a year to do the Loop with family

Sunrise on Wheeler Lake

One Modest Lakeside home

10/25: Despite my concerns that the departure of some 50+ boats at same time would be a zoo,

ten Loop Boats departed Joe Wheeler Marina between 0645 and 0700; traveled as group to the first of 2 locks between us and our end of day destination. A very smooth operation and the group continued on to the second lock (only @8 miles away) where we were expected. The Lockmasters communicate w/each other, so we were expected and it gave both locks a chance to move ten pesky pleasure boats out of the way all at a single blow. Was an absolutely beautiful (but quite chilly) day under bright sunshine. We arrived for a return visit to Grand Harbor Marina at the beginning of the Tom Bigbee Waterway at 1440; pumped out yucky stuff and pumped in costly stuff (diesel) and were in slip by 1530. I was dispatched via courtesy car to grocery for last stock-up of this leg while Bonnie did the last laundry. Docktails, dinner and bed rounded out the day. Bonnie says…Having heard us on the radio when arriving, Hinnerk hailed us and he joined Bill on the grocery run. In-between laundry loads, took the girls for a long walk, which included free runaround time on the tennis court, chasing balls. Enjoyed “docktailing” it with old and new Loopers. Dinner: Ginger beef and broccoli and ginger coconut rice.

10/26: Away at 0825 on cloudy cool morning. Winds NNW at 15 w/gusts. Light rain last1.5 hours of run, otherwise uneventful. Four hours and 38 miles later, arrived in nice secluded little anchorage just upstream from the Jamie Whitten lock, the first of ten we will negotiate between here & Demopolis. On the hook at 1250 and Bonnie set out a sumptuous lunch as usual. Bonnie says…Northern Spirit again shared this anchorage with us—invited them over for boattails and more shared camaraderie. Am going to miss Ron and Lynne when we take our 4-month hiatus and they continue on, wintering in the Bahamas. Hopefully we will reconnect next spring on the ICW (Intracoastal waterway on the East Coast). This was a wonderful anchorage—secluded but an easy dinghy ride to a boat ramp with dock and walking trails!! Following the girls ride, we set off for the Big Springs Museum around to the next cove. Museum was small but interesting with some of the TomBigBee Waterway story. The ride back to the Elissa II was WET—not from rain but waves and wind!! Am glad it wasn’t too freezing yet.

Dinner: Bruschetta burgers with sautéed Rosemary garlic potatoes and tossed salad.

Last Sunset on Pickwick Lake