I haven't been as diligent as last year writing about our on-the-water adventures. Three months ago, it was time to begin the trip to start football season and last weekend was the trip back to Chattanooga marking the end of that part of the year. Yes, there is one more game to go and hopefully a bowl game after that, but the Vol Navy has disbursed until next August. We had some huge weekends with probably two hundred boats on the docks and the last couple with less than forty there. Either way, it is an unbelievable way to go to a ball game - just too much fun.
Our trip to Knoxville back in August was pretty much uneventful. Exactly how you want to make any boat trip - no events! We had no delays getting through the locks and stayed basically ahead of schedule. The first weekend is always huge. It's the Boomsday fireworks show and Vols home opener. The game got moved to Sunday night for the beginning of the SEC Network game broadcasts, but the docks were already crowded by the time we arrived on Friday. Not to worry, we got a spot in row one at Calhoun's for a perfect view with no ash on the boat this time!
 |
| First row on right - third boat in - Boomsday |
We had a different temporary marina this year. Mike, the Harbormaster at Lousiville, found us a slip for three months. We really enjoyed our experience there. They had several live-aboards on the dock where we were assigned who welcomed us like family. Every time we came back into the dock there was at least one person, if not four, who were there to meet us and grab lines. Hopefully, there will be a place for us there next year. Thanks Mike for giving us a second home.
Brittany came for the UT Chattanooga game. That was Homecoming weekend with the Walking Horse on the field. Only downside was that it rained almost all the time EXCEPT during the game. My frat brother's wife brought Mom into town for dinner that Friday night and the meal at Ruth's Chris was excellent. Thanks for doing that Debby - we all really appreciated it.
Regina's brother and his girlfriend came with us to the Alabama game. It was their first time to be on the boat and we all had a good time. Somehow the Armybama fan managed to stay on board without tumbling overboard. After a slow start, our young team did better this year against Satin, some other lame yahoo he hired, and his team of professional athletes. Give Butch a little more time and I'm thinking the tide will turn - pun intended!!
Last Sunday, we started the trip back to Chattanooga. We had a plan laid out, but it didn't pan out as intended. All had been so smooth on the trip up that I neglected to phone Ft Loudon lock on the way down-stream. When we arrived there, our plan was to fuel up at the marina and then zip on down river. Unfortunately, the Bearcat tow with his six barges as already there so we waited for three hours to lock down. Sunday night was at Blue Springs Marina where we arrived with the rain and wind. Not much sleep in 30 knot gusts and waves on the stern. Monday morning found us racing the Bearcat again to Watts Bar lock, but he had a head start and we spent four hours waiting to slide through while he retrieved his last two barges. From there, it was three hours of running wide open to get back to Erwin and into our slip just before dark.
Season is over. Winter is here. Heaters are on. Now it's time to change the oil and get ready for spring.
 |
| Ft Loudon Marina |
 |
| On the T before Homecoming |
 |
| The Horse |
 |
| Checker Neyland |
 |
| Chillin' pregame |
 |
| Here we go........... |
 |
| Vol Navy at dusk |
 |
| Cheers!! |
 |
| Last trip down - early start |
