Closing the Loop

 

The scenery along the Tennessee River is never boring, as it seems to always be changing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some folks living along the river like a "low" view . . . . . . 

  

 

. . . . . . and some like a "high" view.

 

 

 

 

 

Seems like everybody just wants to be at the beach!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"On my count guys; ONE ......TWO ......

 

......THREE!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A short story:

We found another wonderful anchorage on the Tennessee River behind Swallow Bluff Island.

Just before sunset, I took this picture.  Out of the corner of my eye . . . . . .

 

 

. . . . . on the island beside us, I saw goats!!

 

 

I radioed a fellow Looper, Journey, who was also anchored nearby and told them about the goats.

 

 

A passing tow Captain heard our conversation over the radio and explained to us that years ago, a family lived on the island.

For some reason, the family abandoned their home and apparently left their goats behind.

 

 

The next morning, we awoke to witness a beautiful, peaceful sunrise . . . . .

 

 

 . . . . . and the sight of one of the goats laying on an old fallen tree where he spent the entire night.

I swear the goat kept watching me, continually staring, as if to say, "Please, get me off this island"!

My First Mate glared at me and said, "Don't EVEN think about it!"

 

 

 

 

 

It doesn't look like much, but this is Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennessee River.

Union General U.S. Grant landed his army here in 1862 to fight the Confederate Army at a battlefield that came to be known as Shiloh.

Over 26,000 men gave the ultimate sacrifice during the three days of bloody fighting.

 

 

 

 

An unusual sight at our last anchorage, Pickwick State Park, on the Tennessee River:

 two blue heron "fishing" together!

 

 

 

 

 

The Captain takes a dip to cool off before rowing the First Mate to dinner at Pickwick State Park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, a brief "lesson" regarding The Great Loop. 

A boat is considered to have completed The Loop when it returns to a point along the route on which said boat has previously traveled and continuation along the route would be redundant. 

For many of us, completing The Loop doesn't necessarily mean that we have arrived home.

 

 

Last year on August 1st, Spiritus started The Great Loop by going from Pensacola,

 UP the Tenn-Tom Waterway and then UP the Tennessee River to Chattanooga.

On September 3, 2012 we departed Chattanooga and retraced our route back to the Gulf Coast.

  

 

The point along The Great Loop route where continued travel would be redundant for Spiritus

is where the Tenn-Tom Waterway meets the Tennessee River: 

Mile 215 of the Tennessee River.

In Looper's venacular, this is called "crossing your wake".

 

 

 

 At exactly 12 noon on Thursday, October 3, 2013, Spiritus crossed her wake at Mile 215!

 

We have now completed America's Great Loop and are considered Gold Loopers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

After over 6,600 miles (at 8 mph), 21 states & Canada, almost 200 locks, boatloads of new friends and 15 months of being amazed, Spiritus and her crew will rest a few days at Grand Harbor Marina on Pickwick Lake, Tennessee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Champagne flowed as fellow Loopers (& landlubber friends who surprised us!) help us celebrate the completion of the Great Loop.

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Eddy & First Mate Linda are proud to earn the gold burgee signifying we have completed the Great Loop!

We will always cherish the memories and never forget the wonderful people we met along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

Let's see now . . . . 

. . . . . from Pickwick Lake to Mobile is about 458 miles; add another 50 to Pensacola . . . . . 

maybe we'll be home by November 1st.

Unless we just keep on cruisin' and go around again!!!

 

 

 

 

A big "THANK YOU"
to all of you who have supported our adventure and helped make this the most memorable year of our lives!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kentucky Lake

 

The Captain discovers a SECOND town named after him ... and also spelled correctly!

 

 

 

 

 

Looper trawlers take over the transient dock at Green Turtle Bay Marina, Kentucky.

And where there are Looper trawlers, there are docktails.  We all voted this the "Most Social Year of Our Lives"!

 

 

 

We say goodbye to Green Turtle Bay Marina and excitedly anticipate the next few days of anchorages ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

Our first anchorage on Kentucky Lake is at Duncan Bay, one of many peaceful, serene settings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the anchor is set, Spiritus' crew goes for a refreshing swim.

Can you find The First Mate, doing her synchronized swimming imitation, in the picture below?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ginger Cove is our second anchorage.  After our swim, it's time for a toast to the good life!

 

 

 

 

Watching a spectacular sunset from Spiritus' flybridge, the Captain comments on how his dream came true.

For many years, Eddy flew over the "Land Between the Lakes" & dreamed of cruising our Spiritus on beautiful Kentucky Lake.

 

 

 

Our third anchorage, Harmon Creek, is another perfect stop for the Spiritus crew.

 

 

We never get tired of watching sunsets from Spiritus.  Doesn't God do great work?

 

 

 

 

It's time for Spiritus to fill up her water tanks & get fuel so we stopped at Pebble Isle Marina.

 

 

 

 

It was fun to reunite with some of our Looper friends and share stories of our individual anchorages.

 

 

 

 

 

Adjacent to our marina is the Johnsonville State Historic Park. 

We enjoyed an afternoon hike in the park and treated ourselves to some history!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We followed hiking trails to the upper and lower redoubts. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

We checked out a soldier's hut used during the Civil War.  Nine by nine is not a lot of space for 2 soldiers!

 

 

The Civil War soldiers certainly did not have any of the creature comforts of home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These deer were as surprised to see us as we were to see them!

 

 

 

 

It's amazing how beautiful our anchorages have all been.  Makes us want to stay on the water forever!