LOOP Report 10/16/2004

October 16, 2004

Have arrived at the Aqua Marina in Iuka, Mississippi, Now this is a REALLY BIG facility with all the specialties a boater needs. So we got a roving mechanic to put in our new replacement nozzels for the Volvo injectors, as we have been blowing black smoke up our rear end since leaving Dodge City “Honey Harbour”. We hope this is the cure for now, (he did also find a loose clamp on the cold air side of the turbo). Now the trip getting here has been uneventful, except for seeing endless simple shoreline, The old Miss has some interesting cliffs but The Tennessee River has more variations, houses and cottages on high. Also the water is taking on a cleaner look as you can now see down about 6”, the beige now being a shade closer to puce.We finally found a wonder cleaner for the brown beard on the bow, Starbright Hull Cleaner.We did see a fox walking the Paducah shoreline and he sure could have used the cleaner also as he was wearing black boots from the Mississippi Mud or was it the Ohio River, naw, it was the Tennessee. As you might notice, we are slowly losing track of days, rivers, towns, marinas and all the new boats we meet on the way…The hillside are showing only a little colour and the last two evenings have been cool. They say 8o degree weather is on it’s way. There was some excitement on the way when we stopped in at Pebble Isle Marina and rented a car from a Chevy dealer in Camden, about 10 miles out of our way. Then we went on to see Nashville’s Big Pro Bass Store, and this is also REALLY BIG if you’re into hunting, you could buy 20 different seating arrangements for while you are up a tree. It’s kind of like being up a creek without a paddle, you could be up a tree without a seat. Can’t even begin to tell you about the guns for sale here, just the ammo isle would fill a Costco/Sams Box.They had it all there. Checked out the big new hotel that has a river boat running through it and flowering gardens with waterfalls …dare I say it again,…REALLY BIG. Went on to take in some country music at Nashville’s Nightlife Club. Great music and a stand up comedian with his friend puppet “smokey joe”. All of us were crying tears of laughter, he was good, mother would have said a little off colour. A lot of the crowd didn’t quite get it as this was a very blue rinse - no hair - belts to the chest - off the tour buses - group…Dag-nab-it,… you have to stay young at heart if you’re going to travel south. Onwards tomorrow to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.