KENTUCKY TO FLORIDA

Buzzard Rock: Can Happen To Anybody! The owner of Reflections owns Buzzard Rock Marina were we stayed for two weeks. Super marina, super folks and Wayne and his family are gracious host. They were heading out for a week's family vacation and the Capt. was looking at his cell phone and this is what happened. They were not even a mile from the marina (which was good for them). Things can happen to the best of the best.



Side view of Reflections. They had to bring in two barges and a crane to get her off the sandbar. Everyone felt so bad for Wayne and his family. Volunteers from the marina went out to the boat at night to keep watch on her.



THE $100,000 FLAG. This is our Gold Loop Flag for completing the loop. We joke about calling it the $100,000 flag but we proudly display her on our bow. Loopers see it and know right off that we did the loop.



History on the Tennessee River. This is the Cherry Mansion. Built in 1830 by landowner and planter, David Robinson. He presented the house as a wedding gift to his daughter Sarah and her new husband, W. H. Cherry. General Ulysses S. Grant was eating breakfast here on April 6, 1862, when he heard the distant dull thud of artillery fire as Confederate forces suddenly attacked his army at nearby Shiloh. The house served as Grant's headquarters during the fierce two-day battle. By the time the battle ended over 23,000 men died.



The Whitten Lock. We shared an 85ft drop with a huge barge. No biggie for My Cin - the pro's.



We are anchored off the river in this beautiful, peaceful cove enjoying the colors of fall.



Boaters can experience the FOGGY mornings on the Tenn-Tom. We left our anchorage and hit thick walls of fog right before entering a lock. There is no turning back and we had to inch our way into the lock. It was one of the scariest moments on the trip.



Incredible sunset in Perdido, Florida. We stayed at the Holiday Harbor Marina right next to the Sunset Grill. Now you know where they got the name. My sister Cathy lives in Pensacola, which is about 6 miles away. We had a wonderful visit with her and Sandi. Great marina, Sunset Grill owners, staff and food THE BEST!



Anchored right off of Panama City with another gorgeous sunset.



Sunset on the Gulf of Mexico. We left Carrabelle on 11/5 at 12:30pm for our crossing to Tarpon Springs. Weather/water conditions were perfect until 8:00pm. Winds picked up and it was not a pleasant run until about 5:00am the next day. We arrived in Tarpon around 11:30am on 11/6, anchored and crashed. My Cin made it.



Cruising south on the Intracoastal Waterway and just one of the many beautiful neighborhoods along the way. We are currently in Venice, Florida and will head to Ft. Meyers tomorrow. We will arrive in Marathon Keys by Sunday or Monday. Jess and I will fly home in December for Mandy's graduation (Teaching Degree) and Christmas. We will head to the Bahamas in mid-January and explore the Exuma Islands. In the spring, we will head back to the States and start making our way back home to Texas. It's been an incredible run but we are ready to head home for awhile and be with our kids. By the time we get back will be exactly two years on the water. But in the meantime, we will continue our blog with more pictures and stories.