Leaving Knoxville for south Florida on a 4788

After a lot of work on our boat. We are finally on our way. My new wife as really never boated before. Let the training begin. It's to cold to stay in Knoxville. We plan to go to Ft. Myers Florida and after Christmas go to the keys and hopefully to the Bahamas.

Looks like a good adventure. Keep us posted.

Great trip ahead of you. We hope to make it to Knoxville next summer and eventually, in a year or two, complete our loop back to FL. We love the TN River.

Got my coffee and were off for a great start for day two of first mate training. She has started off bad I'm sorry to say. I had to make my own coffee



She's trying to make up for it. I'm waiting to see if she remembers to start the turkey.

Thanks for the report. Keep them coming so we can travel with you. We are thinking of bringing OPTIMYSTIQUE up to Watts Bar Lake next summer and enjoying fresh water again.
Stop by Dockside Marina in Marathon when you get down to the Keyes.


Wm Mayberry
OPTIMYSTIQUE
Mariner 40


Mooring ball # 9
Ft Myers Beach, FL


Heading down to the Keyes tomorrow..

Enjoy the ride! Our home is Signal Mtn, outside Chattanooga and we've boated/raced on the TN River for decades. It's gorgeous. We plan to bring the DeFever to Lake Chickamauga next winter before we start the Loop.

Have a great trip! You will enjoy Fort Myers. Just a thought, you might want to substitute "acclamation" for "training", unless you're planning on being trained also.

Ted

Have a great trip, and be patient with the new First Mate.

We're making plans to leave Seabrook around March 1 to spend several months exploring the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Your reports are whetting our appetite.

Coming to watts bar lock an dam.




In her chamber. My first mate is at her station. All is good.

These locks are huge. Nothing like we had in Pittsburgh.

Wish I had some gum I'd fix this leak.

Now on to Chattanooga.

Thanks for the responses. What a beautiful shot of the blow boat. We are at mile marker 524. I'm trying to keep a keen eye for the guys in the low fishing boats. I throw a very large wake and can really cause them problems. But when it's a camouflage boat up in the trees well my radar isn't that good. I may have some bullet holes after this trip.

hey David
Congrats on the new wife.
Helen and I are at Joe Wheeler and are planning to leave here around Dec 1, plus or minus, and heading south, depending on weather and whether I solve my oil pressure problem. Anyway, if you get a chance, stop by and say hello. We would love to see you again and your new bride.
Regards

Tony B

If you can imagine cruising threw the middle of no where. Logs all along the beach.


And when you get up on that little white spot on the first picture you realize there's two men in a boat. Even at 8 it's I'm throwing a wave that could knock them over. For the most part there's nobody out here but us. The water is smooth great day to cruise.

Ok tony. Let's see what time we pass. We may have time for a hello.

Hmmmm, HeyHey David, am I missing something here. A new wife and a new boat! It looks like I will be out of town when you pass through Chattanooga. We are in the mountains for Thanksgiving with the family. Probably be home Sunday. You know how to get me if you will still be in Chat.

I knew about the new wife. Must have missed the new boat.

I see this view an think I can get up some speed an as soon as I push the throttle there's a red boat in with the red trees



I don't know what's worser crab pots of fishermen.

You really have to look close to see the boat but it's there

Sorry my pictures aren't coming up on the site very clear

My Captain had me thinking this job was easy!! Holding the boat away from the lock wall was a cinch. Making the bed--not so much. Completed my exercise routine for the day with all the stretching and contortions needed.

Day 1 lesson: A captain always needs a first mate. They are handy to blame when you can't find something.

Ted

First Mate Bonnie said:

My Captain had me thinking this job was easy!! Holding the boat away from the lock wall was a cinch. Making the bed--not so much. Completed my exercise routine for the day with all the stretching and contortions needed.

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Wifey B: Maybe you can train him better with time.

We made it as far as Chickamauga in October, but didn't have time to get to Watts Bar. Oh, and think the Watts Bar lock is huge, Wilson Lock is 95' vs. Watts Bar about 70'.

Our dream retirement before we fell into FLL was Chickamauga. I still just find it amazing. Someone asked how far you could go from there. Answer: Around the world. I mean I find that staggering to have such access from so far inland. Makes the lake we lived on seem so small and pitiful. It was only 33 miles long. An hour and time to turn around. Sill I loved it as it was my first and you never forget your first.

Never thought got I'd have to worry about hitting a deer with the boat. Wouldn't that be a good claim for the insurance.

First Mate Bonnie said:

Day 1 lesson: A captain always needs a first mate. They are handy to blame when you can't find something.

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Wifey B: Does he know about mutinies and coups? :lol:

Looking in Crystal Ball to Future. Hello, Captain Bonnie.

David Carter said:

View attachment 59037
Never thought got I'd have to worry about hitting a deer with the boat. Wouldn't that be a good claim for the insurance.

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Wifey B: We stopped on Nickajack to wait for one crossing. They don't swim all that well and with us approaching she started to swim down river instead of toward the side. When we stopped she quickly got to the side and the moment her feet hit bottom, she took off running. Put that on the list of things I never imagined seeing either. I wanted to ask her why she was crossing but figured I'd get a smart aleck answer from her like to get to the other side.

O C Diver said:

Have a great trip! You will enjoy Fort Myers. Just a thought, you might want to substitute "acclamation" for "training", unless you're planning on being trained also.

Ted

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Don't you worry, he'll end up being trained. We all do.

Sorry you won't be in town moonstruck. We'll catch on the way back in the spring. Help me figure out how to respond to say number 18 when I'm on 45 as far as the little numbers on the thread