Yesterday was a day of recuperation and clean up. I recuperated from standing 7 + hours during the ride to Demopolis. Better sight lines are afforded if you stand rather than sit at the helm given the rise of the bow while underway. And since there has been debris in the water you need to be aware of what’s around you while keeping an eye out for oncoming tow traffic. The bends and turns on this section of the waterway are up to 90’ - 130’. You cannot see your oncoming traffic in these blind turns. Navigation electronics have an “AIS” module on most of the newest set ups; unfortunately, I do not have one - yet. AIS is Automatic Identification System. It produces an electronic signal that identifies your boat (transmitter) and overlays that information on the chart plotter or radar of the receiver boat (and vice versa). I discovered our electronics did not include that set up too late in our preparations. I’m planning on getting it installed once we get to Mobile.

We cleaned the boat from top to water line, inside and out. After 15 locks and out on the water for a week she was pretty dirty (by our standards). For me, washing a boat is therapeutic. I get instant gratification and a great feeling of accomplishment from the before and after look. When we were done she looked more like “our” boat! Mechanicals are all checking out fine, too.

Got the cable TV working, too. Barbara was able to catch a few episodes of HGTV and I was able to watch the Weather Channel.

We’ll borrower the courtesy car to run into town and buy groceries. We’ve been advised to avoid Walmart but instead shop at a local grocer called Vowels. More on that later. We met a couple from Lincoln, NE last night and with whom we’ll have dinner tonight. Met a couple from Nashville and we’re to have dinner with them tomorrow. Ahh, life on the water.

Miss our Chattanooga boating buddies but enjoying the adventure.