tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39108272702369543052024-02-06T23:14:58.738-05:00Trekking with Tide HikerWelcome Aboard! We hope you will enjoy this virtual trek aboard Tide Hiker with Norm and Vicki as we cruise different seas to distant ports and anchorages.
Want to communicate with us? Email us at
"tidehiker@earthlink.net"Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-10499776558296673902012-03-16T16:15:00.000-04:002012-03-16T16:15:05.861-04:00We're landlubbers "on the dirt"...............Tide Hiker has sold! A thorough cleaning and minor fixing, an extensive marketing campaign (including a comprehensive on-line description) coupled with unending time commitments to telephone and email inquiries and personal tours paid off. We had many inquiries from serious potential buyers who saw the Tide Hiker ads on one or more internet sites we used. A very nice retired couple from Arizona has purchased Tide Hiker and plan to live aboard and cruise full time, just like we did. And, they kept the name. So, "Tide Hiker" lives on.<br />
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As a result, this will be our last Trekking with Tide Hiker blog. We want to thank all of you who have remained avid readers. We have enjoyed blogging our adventure and responding to your many calls, notes and emails. It's been a wonderful five-year adventure and we're happy to have brought this virtual trek to you.<br />
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Us? We will make way for St Petersburg, FL and begin the next chapter of our lives there. We'll get a rental unit temporarily until the right condo becomes available. Wish us luck!! <div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-26909099584899091702012-01-14T18:03:00.000-05:002012-01-14T18:03:32.980-05:00On to the East Coast Boat Shows.....................<div style="text-align: center;">Tide Hiker is now for sale by owner. For a full description and photo gallery, please go to <a href="http://tidehikerforsale.blogspot.com/">http://tidehikerforsale.blogspot.com</a></div><br />
Unfortunately, our delay at Dog River and weather-related delays in Florida's panhandle prevented us from joining friends for Thanksgiving (bummer) and being in St Petersburg in time for their annual boat show. But, we have more plans to expose Tide Hiker to the buying public. First stop, Stuart, FL. If you would like to see our route from St Pete to Stuart, Florida down the west coast, through the Okeechobee Waterway and Lake Okeechobee, check out the link below.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=209687670057056651320.0004b6846f3293bfabc9e&msa=0&ll=26.725987,-81.672363&spn=2.933737,6.322632">St Petersburg FL to Stuart FL</a></div><br />
Our cruise down the west coast was rewarded with a dinner and breakfast with our friends Roger and Lisa in Cape Coral (FT Myers area). Vicki and Norm were still suffering from colds, so we stayed on the boat that night rather than enjoy the Cicconi's wonderful invitation to "sleep over". When you are not well, your own bed is best. We were in town less than 24 hours, but we made the most of our time there. Sorry, we did not take any pictures.<br />
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Roger picked us up at the marina in his runabout. We boated over to his and Lisa's house which is situated on one of the many canals in Cape Coral. We had a few pops; and when Lisa came home from work, we were off to dinner, laughs, good wine, laughs and more laughs. Then, after a restful night's sleep, we were again escorted to a great Italian restaurant with a fantastic menu and array of breakfast specials. Ummmmmmm. It was a quick visit, but we had to push on to Stuart in time for the Boat Show. And, we had to beat some predicted nasty weather mid week. Our timing worked out great and we arrived in Stuart as planned. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmfLBQ7jXBl1z6JQe3IxJfCiN3bvFohTibBOtYfKKkL9vm4SwWY14Xnbf4WE_AZ91fdXHUyNwcE4JTxxiGQvynXot3bJobT_tK77AgsPYQ3xOIy7gJy_A3skH3ebC437MuPNGL8TA_pGk/s1600/2012-01-10_09-30-52_336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmfLBQ7jXBl1z6JQe3IxJfCiN3bvFohTibBOtYfKKkL9vm4SwWY14Xnbf4WE_AZ91fdXHUyNwcE4JTxxiGQvynXot3bJobT_tK77AgsPYQ3xOIy7gJy_A3skH3ebC437MuPNGL8TA_pGk/s320/2012-01-10_09-30-52_336.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful day crossing Lake Okeechobee</div><br />
Even though we were not allowed to enter Tide Hiker in the show (limited to broker boats only), we wanted to get some exposure from the "buying public" that will be attending the show. One of the tactics Vicki thought up was to stand outside of the show entrance with a sign directing folks to our marina and Tide Hiker. Well, she was soon kicked out of the entrance by show officials. So, she moved to outside our marina on one of the roads going to the show and where the parking shuttle passes. So far, she has given out a dozen or so "sell sheets" to interested show-goers; and, we had one prospect take a long tour. He's from Finland and wants to show the boat to his wife next month. Cross your fingers!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFWvQ_HDjFfdbp6ZADFpHD0tVLvX2gxTh0tBxvFJUEX9FDQQMIPojbzNI2svyP5xyIuhbL6BZ3BLM0TP21JFUqhhzNSD8MGfhzkFh_keIaJcgb5XLsfblu0UtPxFzfx5BvfSrTRATo-jM/s1600/2012-01-13_10-57-38_61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFWvQ_HDjFfdbp6ZADFpHD0tVLvX2gxTh0tBxvFJUEX9FDQQMIPojbzNI2svyP5xyIuhbL6BZ3BLM0TP21JFUqhhzNSD8MGfhzkFh_keIaJcgb5XLsfblu0UtPxFzfx5BvfSrTRATo-jM/s320/2012-01-13_10-57-38_61.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Vicki, "working the corner"</div><br />
Vicki's avoiding the authorities while "working the corner". Norm's sprucing up the engine room; and, remaining available for tours and calls. Lot's of folks are "walking the docks" and may want to inquire about Tide Hiker. Cross your fingers!!!<br />
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As good fortune would have it, there are other DeFever Cruisers here at Sunset Bay Marina. Our good friends Joe and Julia aboard Sea Pearl and Nelson Hallman aboard Isolde are here. Also, Steve and Di aboard Aurora live in Stuart and will be by to visit.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cQpPVGrp3oPAieSzZjUUwwLTCAfPG7ZnGmuRqx6EvlVUa2PV5Dq1TiFXAvua62hrVqkrqVYs9FKKNABUW9WAyDi0A5-eQ9Fji0pCHZR_t8sumG__Wf9sCqHHTCIWbyL8WKrhiJ0f1gmg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cQpPVGrp3oPAieSzZjUUwwLTCAfPG7ZnGmuRqx6EvlVUa2PV5Dq1TiFXAvua62hrVqkrqVYs9FKKNABUW9WAyDi0A5-eQ9Fji0pCHZR_t8sumG__Wf9sCqHHTCIWbyL8WKrhiJ0f1gmg/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The gang at Sailor's Return Bar (Nelson taking the pic)</div><br />
Well, that's it for now. We'll be back later with an update on the rest of the boat shows and our other kooky activities.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-47788714819465801142011-12-13T14:03:00.000-05:002011-12-13T14:03:40.256-05:00Finally, St Petersburg, FL..............<div style="text-align: center;">Tide Hiker is now for sale by owner. For a full description and photo gallery, please go to <a href="http://tidehikerforsale.blogspot.com/">http://tidehikerforsale.blogspot.com</a></div><br />
Season's Greetings to our loyal blog readers. Nice to be back with you. Please forgive us in this holiday season. We know that we've been amiss at keeping the blog up to date. So here goes...<br />
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We had intended to be in St Pete before Thanksgiving to enjoy a holiday meal with our friends, the Cicconi's. Bummer......that did not happen. We arrived in Dog River Marina on time for some scheduled maintenance which we were told would be completed in 2 weeks. Then the skies broke, rain fell and winds accelerated. Our promised 2-weeks "on the hard" (this is when the boat is hauled out of the water and situated on ground to facilitate the work) turned out to be 1 month. That set us back considerably, but we still thought we could wisk on over to St Pete in time. Bummer......that did not happen. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit637yTMioNw9_7IZD1NRigThUuDnCjsc45NvPiAB_ZZbik-ZLt_ZKCi4Eih_DOsANt1BBr_ZnkiY3SKjQOILNbbR0kwGfMvxUwW5noFu0mmcMAqZOyTShFVNqLQWflaXsSUvGJorh1OxT/s1600/002+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit637yTMioNw9_7IZD1NRigThUuDnCjsc45NvPiAB_ZZbik-ZLt_ZKCi4Eih_DOsANt1BBr_ZnkiY3SKjQOILNbbR0kwGfMvxUwW5noFu0mmcMAqZOyTShFVNqLQWflaXsSUvGJorh1OxT/s320/002+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maintenance included new cutless bearings, bottom paint and spider crack repair.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2LY7J0lRiJyLjLVQ9VTDppK-Y6xpQosLkAxaHdMpgXkevY0rxTGojq8X6-03tdTfTdwmJkf1RYWQqC3evCO54yQEPIf7QmRaRdC0uvbxGviKOZ08jTvYyTVAG_THVNbS7F3OdWDR4Ma3/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2LY7J0lRiJyLjLVQ9VTDppK-Y6xpQosLkAxaHdMpgXkevY0rxTGojq8X6-03tdTfTdwmJkf1RYWQqC3evCO54yQEPIf7QmRaRdC0uvbxGviKOZ08jTvYyTVAG_THVNbS7F3OdWDR4Ma3/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here, Tide Hiker is drapped for painting the spider crack repairs.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW5NFZ76l3764V094wzSN8RuYXzfwVZYV4sRAO4jzBhYB_H8t3slRqIh-ygGQnZGzsfSj1lk2RMFS4fGPbpgWlZsy8m5t3KTQ-JduwhhzOvs_NdOdWiaHI_krU48EO_UMIJVUIhpT7Ijf/s1600/005-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGW5NFZ76l3764V094wzSN8RuYXzfwVZYV4sRAO4jzBhYB_H8t3slRqIh-ygGQnZGzsfSj1lk2RMFS4fGPbpgWlZsy8m5t3KTQ-JduwhhzOvs_NdOdWiaHI_krU48EO_UMIJVUIhpT7Ijf/s320/005-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were most fortunate to have met up with Bill and Charolette Rudy. They were also at Dog River for some maintenance. We all took a break one night and splurged at a great seafood restaurant downtown Mobile.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqkwn7RiFceiIPCuZcq4xhFAplufnoCmAE4yoDYIqWLuOgfJoZ_1kqYae8UJojJEe1Nt7rTlJ0PQGyJSAPPYW_h6kF5PzTNpENuXrs97bS3U4I5aRgts4PCHc2WWdOPDoDGhpvcUtMNN0/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqkwn7RiFceiIPCuZcq4xhFAplufnoCmAE4yoDYIqWLuOgfJoZ_1kqYae8UJojJEe1Nt7rTlJ0PQGyJSAPPYW_h6kF5PzTNpENuXrs97bS3U4I5aRgts4PCHc2WWdOPDoDGhpvcUtMNN0/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tradesmen doing their thing "prettying up" Tide Hiker. Work's almost done here and wax is being applied.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJIUoagk8LHHC1EQeYeBurf_Xq9j-tTWgY0CDqrTm6OjmLJ_4uu3CW3BpP2ksidMKnq10DDrOEP-Hqef8KMNGZhIBGJLMez1fJNitu9ymAK4EbXb2ODk97juiEAXPcwW5c3DOpx3pqXDO/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJIUoagk8LHHC1EQeYeBurf_Xq9j-tTWgY0CDqrTm6OjmLJ_4uu3CW3BpP2ksidMKnq10DDrOEP-Hqef8KMNGZhIBGJLMez1fJNitu9ymAK4EbXb2ODk97juiEAXPcwW5c3DOpx3pqXDO/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also rented a car and drove over to Pensacola Naval Air Station to see the Blue Angles' final 2011 show. It was fantastic. Here's Norm in front of one of the birds they use. If you are interested in more pics, including some video, just let us know and we'll send separately.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Work's done, time to get underway. The weather did not improve much and we had to pick out the very few good cruise days just to get to Carrabelle at the top of Florida's Panhandle. There we waited longer for the right crossing day. That day finally came and we got underway in forcasted 1-2 foot seas. We did cross, but not in 1-2 footers. They were more like 3-5's. Arrived safely in Steinhatchee plus three additional days to Cedar Key, Tarpon Springs and finally into St Pete. Many folks cross directly from Panama City or Carrabelle to Tarpon Springs. We were tempted, but good thing we decided to take the safer route around the panhandle. Coping with 3-5 footers for 24 hours in the pitch black of night would not have been fun. Here's a look at what we saw from the pilothouse.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzxtP2gQ0P95BHLD9QUiT_h6GXHsBGJljpFN8v1a10f-IKtvJz9rQaIkuB6-IktnyPi9W-ba11sYJgyoACIbw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=209687670057056651320.0004b3fdab162190689b1&msa=0&ll=27.839076,-82.63916&spn=5.807656,12.645264">Click here to see our route from Mobile to St Pete</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Shortly after arriving in St Pete, our friend John Van Vliet visited us from Phoenix. We had a great time exploring St Pete (again, for Vicki and Norm; but, first time for John). As usual, lots of laughs, looks and liquor for John and Norm. Vicki was on her good behavior.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TlRRKvqPsuwWce06G5Ehu4ZXG5on8c46RBOlHcjkzVAaN5ZCtTCclk2WhJWSkxODt6JRFd2nbLMcyOO66CUHF4uCxR7hOSEMKrkR6lgBqf7Yb7cL3_JPansB29JFtLrlT1bQKf6AVuo6/s1600/072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TlRRKvqPsuwWce06G5Ehu4ZXG5on8c46RBOlHcjkzVAaN5ZCtTCclk2WhJWSkxODt6JRFd2nbLMcyOO66CUHF4uCxR7hOSEMKrkR6lgBqf7Yb7cL3_JPansB29JFtLrlT1bQKf6AVuo6/s320/072.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Norm, Vicki and John at Sandbar Bills Grille on St Pete Beach. The hamburgers were awesome.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianFXm1wSdZTx-fMYUa9_9Bqi25ocp2fh0Ab2cOvq69VetszG-L5VUnf2xpVaU_QOGmi08x0BlI7uP-DVV31_lwWd8VWiieLKh2lVbxsoHXIOy5jrBx5tNQDaVbObU5J0eoGPZnNSKWnQR/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianFXm1wSdZTx-fMYUa9_9Bqi25ocp2fh0Ab2cOvq69VetszG-L5VUnf2xpVaU_QOGmi08x0BlI7uP-DVV31_lwWd8VWiieLKh2lVbxsoHXIOy5jrBx5tNQDaVbObU5J0eoGPZnNSKWnQR/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki never passes on a Farmer's Market. And, St Pete's is by far the best we've ever been to. Live music, food and, oh yes, farmer's produce. You can see by her coat it was a bit chilly that day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki's mom arrives tomorrow for another visit. She loves the boat!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More later..........</div><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-44770584541791000272011-11-03T19:41:00.000-04:002011-11-03T19:41:47.838-04:00Socks? Jeans? Closed-toe shoes? Electric Blanket? Goin South!!<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Tide Hiker is now for sale by owner. For a full description and photo gallery, please go to </em></strong><a href="http://tidehikerforsale.blogspot.com/">http://tidehikerforsale.blogspot.com</a></div><br />
<div> </div>In this issue:<br />
<ul><li>Brrrrrrrrr</li>
<li>Summer Cruising Statistics</li>
</ul>Vicki put the electric blanket on the bed the other night because it was forecast to be in the 30's and we were not going to be in a marina for shore power. This low-amp blanket works great on the inverter. Well, it never got below mid 40's and the blanket never got turned on. The mornings are crisp however and we broke a panel in the bridge see-through curtains trying to roll it up. Oh well, another task for the Dog River Boat Yard when we get there. The point here is that it's time to push it a bit getting south. It never got above 62 the other day. Frigid!! The good news is that the sunny cool days makes for great scenic cruising, lower engine room temps and hot soup/chili for lunch.<br />
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We happily caught up with Life's-2-Short in Demopolis, AL. It just so happened that a dock party was scheduled that night. Soooooo, yes, we had to partake and continue the festivities with Todd and Brenda at a local Mexican restaurant where the margarita's were again served by the pitcher. Very important though, they delivered to us that magic elixir only known in these parts. We ordered it a while back and they were glad to get it to us.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pCHZ7SCV3C2ujqOXfJTKif3JIUOKS8kOySF-Hlq8FglRwkB8xfa-x__GftLe5Qw7iCfQNXiW79kHyOZhz6XCIubdMeftVMCIrE-fv3AHrt0ZWhwJfmvyhf2c5tdRy5XpNkjWTsvSHqmT/s1600/038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pCHZ7SCV3C2ujqOXfJTKif3JIUOKS8kOySF-Hlq8FglRwkB8xfa-x__GftLe5Qw7iCfQNXiW79kHyOZhz6XCIubdMeftVMCIrE-fv3AHrt0ZWhwJfmvyhf2c5tdRy5XpNkjWTsvSHqmT/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">Todd and Brenda delivered this mystery drink we ordered. The first person to e-mail his/her guess as to what it is, gets some for Christmas. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was on to Bobby's Fish Camp. We arrived early after a short day cruise from Demopolis. Why would we run such a short day? Why stay in the frigid 60-degree days instead of steaming south? Well, if you have been one of our followers, you know that we missed Bobby's fried catfish on the upstream cruise. They are only open Thursday-Saturday. Unfortunately, this was Tuesday. What's one to do? We learned in the last 4 months that Laura will open the restaurant and cook if enough boats stop there. So, we waited..................</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As it turned out, the dock was full with three boats (small dock) and Laura opened the restaurant. It was a fried catfish, hush puppies, fries party. Yummy!! Norm took two of his cholesterol-lowering meds that night.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We all wanted to shove off early the next morning; but, FOG arrived as it had for the past 3-4 days and we were delayed a couple of hours. We did make it through the last lock that morning and Oh, Oh.....we're back in salt water and tidal currents. After a restful night at anchor in the Alabama River Cut-Off, we arrived Dog River Boat Yard, Mobile, AL. We'll remain here for a couple of weeks for some cosmetic fixes, some scheduled preventative maintenance and of course, repair of the bridge curtain.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lucky us, we found some friends here. Pete and Linda on Carina, whom we have come to know as we cruised south; and, Bill and Charlotte on Omega, fellow DeFever friends. Is another party brewing? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We are hoping to arrive St Pete mid-November. Stay tuned!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are some summer cruise statistics:</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Number of TVA locks passed through from Gulf to Knoxville and return: 38</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Number of miles from Gulf to Knoxville and return: 1700</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Elevation change from sea level to Knoxville (made possible by TVA locks): 850 Ft.</div></li>
<li>Biggest lock up/down: 93 Ft</li>
<li>Best city visited: Chattanooga, TN</li>
<li>Best memories: Discovering Chattanooga, Civil War history and the Trail of Tears; Underground Bluegrass in Cumberland Caverns; Hiking the Smokies with the Wilson's; Visitors aboard (Tierney's, Lanning's and Mom Cooper), Dancing Bear; 60,000 Bats! (If this sounds confusing, just go back and read the blog)</li>
<li>Want to see our route? Click on this: <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=209687670057056651320.0004b0dcd0bc6435cc289&msa=0&ll=33.559707,-85.418701&spn=5.23565,12.645264">Knoxville, TN -to- Mobile, AL</a></li>
<div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-71441999883090006552011-10-17T11:12:00.000-04:002011-10-17T11:12:32.267-04:0060,000 gray bats. Music video shoot. The "Iceman", and more..........Tide Hiker is now for sale by owner. For a full description and photo gallery, please go to<br />
<a href="http://tidehikerforsale.blogspot.com/">DeFever 49' Raised Pilothouse (Plan B) For Sale</a><br />
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In this issue....<br />
<ul><li>Street dancing lessons in North Chattanooga,</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Good bye Chattanooga and Tennessee River. Hello, Tennessee-Tombigby Waterway</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Sixty thousand gray bats,</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">Dancing Bear in a professional music video shoot, </div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">The "Iceman" cometh.</div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: justify;">After three great cruise days, we arrived Pickwick Lake. Pickwick is at the top of the Tennessee-Tombigby Waterway and the junction with the Tennessee River. We'll be here in Aqua Yacht Harbor for a few days, then continue our route south to Mobile, AL and the Gulf of Mexico. We've cruised downstream about 400 miles, through three states and decended about 400 ft in elevation since departing Ft Loudoun. As you know, Vicki's mom, Avie, cruised with us from Chattanooga, TN to Guntersville, AL. Avie anchored with us in some beautiful coves, watched 60,000 gray bats emerging from their cave, and whipped us at canasta. But, all good things must come to an end and Avie had to go home. After all, we needed some rest. After dropping Avie off at the Huntsville, AL airport, Vicki and I went on to Birmingham, AL to tour the Civil Rights Institute and Museum. We also received word that Todd and Brenda aboard Life's 2 Short will be in town and another party was in the making, including participating in a professional music video shoot at their friends, "The Iceman's", palace on Pickwick Lake. Here's the picture-story of these awesome events.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYNxj6bD2XsYx0IlvVeFJYWWkPJJ4SQK4suyJZUh6Hire1U7Tu773FVdC5BhgJJZP6BUeeBR63TlJvqFjIP_AEjs0yKHoa-ZfmovNXoQheKGu0fpqxoL8p0jgPWeADe1v4hmU0-1obFi1/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYNxj6bD2XsYx0IlvVeFJYWWkPJJ4SQK4suyJZUh6Hire1U7Tu773FVdC5BhgJJZP6BUeeBR63TlJvqFjIP_AEjs0yKHoa-ZfmovNXoQheKGu0fpqxoL8p0jgPWeADe1v4hmU0-1obFi1/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Vicki and Avie always wanted to work in a "Gentleman's Club". So, in downtown Chattanooga, they put on a frustrated public display of...well........... </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vXWur19mDasg2Bp3QvU1893dwZrtew04nVjQM-FABrBwwoKifHkhYW4wiV-GZXdR3Tv6IlN5HZAqZKw3DsLiEz54l_PulNW0N8SmydEzGLgeGuWs79WGPKUaIWd29Fdm8RXbNqseP_SH/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vXWur19mDasg2Bp3QvU1893dwZrtew04nVjQM-FABrBwwoKifHkhYW4wiV-GZXdR3Tv6IlN5HZAqZKw3DsLiEz54l_PulNW0N8SmydEzGLgeGuWs79WGPKUaIWd29Fdm8RXbNqseP_SH/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Vicki and Avie on the pedestrian bridge overlooking North Chattanooga and the moored Delta Queen river boat hotel and restaurant.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxiuYzECgvuy0Tu1Sn42ZVOBhX1XrJfQ_oPNO30Ww1LHeOT5D-T5L4Q8-vlKzqkhZSqwOWZ3107kMN6_Hg_3w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Imbedded in the sidewalks of North Chattanooga are metalic feet in the formation of dance steps. There are several on both sides of the main street. Here, Vicki and Avie demonstrate the tango to a couple of passers-by.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTasXNe5s5BtOhWlaa_TiMg_nP3t6D5VMfAT2tu4LSImdkbK2HJi4iB824p9UHqza7cWalQz0QffgzrSvHybBC-rzTSeLh9FPTAoB-WFf4dRZGHbx1YLMQ4sPz9N4FlAiWVo4gLX9FTe9/s1600/022+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTasXNe5s5BtOhWlaa_TiMg_nP3t6D5VMfAT2tu4LSImdkbK2HJi4iB824p9UHqza7cWalQz0QffgzrSvHybBC-rzTSeLh9FPTAoB-WFf4dRZGHbx1YLMQ4sPz9N4FlAiWVo4gLX9FTe9/s320/022+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just another photo opportunity of Vicki and her mom, Avie at the downtown Chattanooga Three Sister's Bluegrass Festival. It was a bit chilly that day, with strong winds blowing off the river.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY804yXe46UvI59Kms-E7w_fwQUm42xxI71Qs9lLRvWpsSutiXVyZ2P0ltZ_uMhO48wdJG1y8cMyWy72Iw9ls8F18irLzMejDOZN5rZzT4Cq5LNOGNJGTfJhw7MPVrcz5h6FulwiNogAH/s1600/017+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY804yXe46UvI59Kms-E7w_fwQUm42xxI71Qs9lLRvWpsSutiXVyZ2P0ltZ_uMhO48wdJG1y8cMyWy72Iw9ls8F18irLzMejDOZN5rZzT4Cq5LNOGNJGTfJhw7MPVrcz5h6FulwiNogAH/s320/017+%25282%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We departed Chattanooga, TN and cruised to Guntersville, AL, with a stop in Goose Pond Colony Marina. Avie treated us to a great meal at the restaurant on-site. Avie ordered the crab leg special. Those farm girls sure have a great appetite.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ2F24xILyCUd_g7Cf_KC2MAlST0gSezkbMKUxKsKipaszNK_F1Rh57DuapJAdgtbmJ5VCchlWmLEUfPQvaX2UPxKzOW-AkuD8wkcOPWdVKn51QCo-SllT2LR5xFWbQjh3B-wkmVBPzul/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ2F24xILyCUd_g7Cf_KC2MAlST0gSezkbMKUxKsKipaszNK_F1Rh57DuapJAdgtbmJ5VCchlWmLEUfPQvaX2UPxKzOW-AkuD8wkcOPWdVKn51QCo-SllT2LR5xFWbQjh3B-wkmVBPzul/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> We anchored in a beautiful cove not far from Guntersville and dinghy'd over to a well known endangered Gray Bat Cave. Here, we're hustling to the cave to watch the bats emerge after sunset.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqv7fkNhOoShw1m5xyAY7TnWYW152UtpHYxHiZHAbiN9B20msXt_ty7BQhEGn8wpeHQEw9m0Xqr0NHhWYvZDYYOhsSQnJ7Q1KNTSR5lf9_46xXygTxafFjJ-BEu1o3ySnNOdSmvxVsM81k/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqv7fkNhOoShw1m5xyAY7TnWYW152UtpHYxHiZHAbiN9B20msXt_ty7BQhEGn8wpeHQEw9m0Xqr0NHhWYvZDYYOhsSQnJ7Q1KNTSR5lf9_46xXygTxafFjJ-BEu1o3ySnNOdSmvxVsM81k/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got to the cave just before dark and anchored about 20-ft off the mouth of the cave and waited. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Actually, we opened a bottle of wine and some snacks and giggly waited. We told scary goulish stories and Vicki got scared. Later, darkness fell upon the earth. We were nervously awaiting the emergence of VAMPIRES? BLOOD-SUCKING GOULS? We didn't know. The wine was working on us. Then, Then, they came!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzIkFUTJcYV0uwYF1KJqyyGrVcAMewVxiv_TQpLkuYT68o_bps7OWaFPEf4p-VUBK2fK8Wf9uxh6_LgaQr8WQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ooooooooooo!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We departed the next day and returned to Guntersville. We drove Avie to the Huntsville, AL airport and after seeing that she was safely checked in and her luggage was secure, we drove to Birmingham, AL. Vicki wanted to visit the Civil Rights Institute and Museum there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexE5T4HKRxCde5ResO3aqTsaUfRGCLJSYWAvEEh_Nx4WnHPBL01F6F8dORdggeuZH4R3O1hfmosGujIamTWhgA_j4Z5x69crrn7J-icutTkSPUuZB0yE_tgchefNkIDMzP50b6MyBSOwq/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexE5T4HKRxCde5ResO3aqTsaUfRGCLJSYWAvEEh_Nx4WnHPBL01F6F8dORdggeuZH4R3O1hfmosGujIamTWhgA_j4Z5x69crrn7J-icutTkSPUuZB0yE_tgchefNkIDMzP50b6MyBSOwq/s320/033.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki with MLK</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We proceeded East on the Tennessee River to Pickwick Lake and the junction with the Tennessee-Tombigby Waterway, our route south to Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. But Mobile Bay is about 450 miles further so we'll be making many stops. The first was Aqua Yacht Harbor where we plan to spend a couple of weeks. Not long after arriving at Aqua Yacht Harbor, we got a call from Todd and Brenda, aboard Life's 2 Short. They were driving up from Demopolis, AL and would be in the Pickwick Lake area for a couple of days. So, on Friday, they stopped by Tide Hiker for a few "pop's" and we got caught up. Before departing, they asked us if we wanted to participate in a professional music video being shot at a friends home the next day. We jumped at the chance and couldn't wait till Saturday. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBPev2fqQ0a1eyeqOmFtYfNxJFyQG0GHdA4UaNOrMCmWTc9aCig_RzOubT8NRD-QwYzjsZabbcJVQjs1KK6z81ius6T7k16GT5SQy6bLtrUb9VNqhHyoVtbXG122E-BpX4_G7BHWoUC5K/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBPev2fqQ0a1eyeqOmFtYfNxJFyQG0GHdA4UaNOrMCmWTc9aCig_RzOubT8NRD-QwYzjsZabbcJVQjs1KK6z81ius6T7k16GT5SQy6bLtrUb9VNqhHyoVtbXG122E-BpX4_G7BHWoUC5K/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Here's Todd (in the green apron) and a helper "pulling the pork" as it were.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdu3dljosAKX_mZiO2CyLJC6IpH40ty4MRymBAFuhjba1KFr2MZVC7E4mnEipQycR3SDl2T8OZjLjwo1S7bdB2_KKtdlo7fIss4xniAHA_oEqsX5aRKgciSX95VEzO6zptgkBXeWfbwrr/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAdu3dljosAKX_mZiO2CyLJC6IpH40ty4MRymBAFuhjba1KFr2MZVC7E4mnEipQycR3SDl2T8OZjLjwo1S7bdB2_KKtdlo7fIss4xniAHA_oEqsX5aRKgciSX95VEzO6zptgkBXeWfbwrr/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center">After a couple of ice cold Miller Lite's, it got a little crazy. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Todd and Brenda are selling their boat "Life's 2 Short" and moving ashore after 6 years. We'll miss you guys and hope we always stay in touch. Good luck and LOL.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The music video was performed by the country music singer Jay Stone and was shot at the home of Bud, alias "The Iceman". The release we signed prevents us from displaying the shoot here. The Iceman gets that name because he cruises on Pickwick Lake all summer on his Sea Doo with a cooler of beer. The ice melts and the beer gets warm. So, Bud accepts donations of ice from anyone and everyone to "save" the beer. Hence, the "Iceman". Actually, The Iceman is a legend on the lake. Most important, Bud is a really nice guy, a generous spirit and a good friend to Todd and Brenda. He welcomed us with open arms. Thanks Bud for a great time.</div><div align="center"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-32679726660827728362011-10-03T19:31:00.001-04:002011-10-03T20:01:03.337-04:0040's At Night. Time to aim the pointy end south...After a few restful nights anchoring in the scenic foothills of the Smokies, we rejoined the "father river"- and began our long trek back west and south. We're currently back in Chattanooga. Vicki's mom, Avie, is here with us. She'll cruise with us to Guntersville, AL. But first, let us catch you up on our whereabouts and activities since "Dancing Bear" melded with Tennessee's Native Americans.<br />
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First, knowing that Norm is a bluegrass music fan, Vicki set up a surprise. She purchased tickets to a "Bluegrass Underground" concert 300' deep in the Cumberland Caverns. We got into the car and drove 1.5 hours from Chattanooga to the Caverns. Norm was ecstatic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW5BuDOEFek7buBvMrWokdhKgHXmL0vFYBOPFDJtoY3rVlR7R-iWJOj7WhNND9w9mrvNmEn7v9kgsn0AeRlMb78Th7sEVB9Cf1PsqMX-CFyR8bguFUm8SyHbfD32fE1D4nBQNmp2t4uYI/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW5BuDOEFek7buBvMrWokdhKgHXmL0vFYBOPFDJtoY3rVlR7R-iWJOj7WhNND9w9mrvNmEn7v9kgsn0AeRlMb78Th7sEVB9Cf1PsqMX-CFyR8bguFUm8SyHbfD32fE1D4nBQNmp2t4uYI/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's Vicki entering the caverns--an old illegal hiding place for a still</div>
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A huge screen behind the stage welcomes everyone to the caverns</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdpljUA2xFQPtvJvDcauALzemGB60zmYXAa59sjpUaHk9NgrBPy3vtl3jhtikRPg8nCCDPBNjZsOVlNnIGLOLordK-kqn2Vqt0aFVXYADdMhK8Qg6HZ867eVzGKqxvjz_5MIUEEjZhO3_/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdpljUA2xFQPtvJvDcauALzemGB60zmYXAa59sjpUaHk9NgrBPy3vtl3jhtikRPg8nCCDPBNjZsOVlNnIGLOLordK-kqn2Vqt0aFVXYADdMhK8Qg6HZ867eVzGKqxvjz_5MIUEEjZhO3_/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This "room" is 300 feet below the surface inside the caverns</div>
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This is the "Spirit Family Reunion". Guess where they are from---Brooklyn!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt80xIsFFygK1zBsuAKNNnH-tNUxxA0ObOwLdRgXeZEMmPzqwMFWrrLMv1N6-Dxpb-uhFDH3Iaw3W5W4GHAhm3MfQ0Rs3XDfBhuQs3-s9Bplzl4rC9-1yi34gga0cqOuGQ0O2dsBbxzQ1/s1600/033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt80xIsFFygK1zBsuAKNNnH-tNUxxA0ObOwLdRgXeZEMmPzqwMFWrrLMv1N6-Dxpb-uhFDH3Iaw3W5W4GHAhm3MfQ0Rs3XDfBhuQs3-s9Bplzl4rC9-1yi34gga0cqOuGQ0O2dsBbxzQ1/s320/033.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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A few days later, Avie arrive in Chattanooga. We visited the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel and Museum. Here's Avie engineering the Choo Choo.</div>
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Vicki and Avie at the Three Sisters Bluegrass Festival. Sorry, our video's of this event on Norm's phone did not turn out well. All in all, the festival was, well, super awesome!!</div>
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The Delta Queen paddleboat is moored in Chattagooga. It's a hotel, a restaurant and a bar. Lots of fun.</div>
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We also watched the hot air balloons on the north side of the river. Awesome!!</div>
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We'll close off todays post with this pic of Vicki and Avie at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.</div>
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See ya, next post. Hope all is well. We depart tomorrow from our summer home for our winter home.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-14833522679047188482011-09-13T13:49:00.000-04:002011-09-13T17:38:36.185-04:00Little Tennessee River, Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As luck would have it, the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, located a short distance from Fort Loudoun, was holding its annual celebration. Sequoyah, was a Cherokee who was pushed out of the tribe for being partially disabled and thought to be a bit "slow". Well, it turned out that he was brilliant, and invented the Cherokee Nation's first alphabet. His legacy is memorialized every year and it just so happened to be occuring when we were there. In the video above, Vicki was invited to enjoy the Bear dance with local Native Americans. Norm's ("One Who Shines On Top") little squaw ("Dancing Bear") did pretty good!!</div>
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We departed Fort Loudoun and continued upstream on Tellico Lake close to the last dam on the river. We anchored in a great place with a great view of the smokies and "painted" (weathered) bluffs. Up here on the Tellico, there is a volunteer boating assistance program. We can call 911 and get help if needed. Here's one of their signs.</div>
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Boaters answer to the 911 emergency call</div>
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There's a motorcycle route that only motorcyclists are aware of. It's called the "Dragon" and we stumbled onto it while dinghy-ing up to the dam. Yes, you see a Harley Davidson store right out here in the middle of nowhere. (Skimpy T-shirts are $30. Vicki would not let Norm buy her a dozen.) Actually, the river parallels U.S. Highway 129, which is were the Dragon runs.</div>
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Here's Tide Hiker anchored on the Little Tennessee River, with the Smokies in the background. </div>
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And the painted bluffs on the other side.</div>
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Moonrise over our Little Tennessee River anchorage</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-5168435297534774242011-09-13T12:54:00.000-04:002011-09-13T17:33:38.933-04:00Little Tennessee RiverWe said goodbye to our new friends at the Ft Loudoun Yacht Club and got underway for our next destination--The Little Tennessee River. After a short cruise retracing our track back to the Ft Loudon Marina and refueling, we headed over to the Little Tennessee River and to Tellico Lake. We have posted here that the Tennessee River has been some of the most awesome cruising we have ever done, the LTR is even better. The river is lined on both sides by carpets of trees up steep hills. The river winds through picturesque canyons and meanders around small islands.<br />
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Our first stop was at the actual Fort Loudoun-a restored British outpost in the mid 1700's. We were in settled weather, so we anchored just off the peninsula where the Fort stood. We were in luck. They were holding the annual Ft Loudoun Faire this weekend. So we were able to walk through the fort and settlement that was bustling with reenactors. Great fun, which included magicians, tumblers, minstrels and Red Coat and militia soldiers. </div>
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The fort and settlement as seen from our anchorage<br />
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Vicki entering the "Sally Port" to the fort. A sally port is a small entrance.</div>
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Life in the fort (or lifeless in the fort?)</div>
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Red Coats at morning muster (actually the Faire's opening ceremony)</div>
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The traveling fire-eating, needle-swallowing, singing magician.</div>
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The "Begger Boys" traveling musicians</div>
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Inside the fort looking out over the not-so-Little Tennessee River<br />
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The Red Coats and Militia in formation entering the fort's main gates.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-70152213017699051702011-09-13T12:34:00.000-04:002011-09-13T12:35:10.039-04:00Hiking the Smokies with Friends<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: justify;">
We were treated by Mike and Peg Wilson our friends and neighbors from Wilmington, DE. They had a Wyndham time-share in Sevierville, TN, just a short distance from Gatlinburg and the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains. So, it was 3 days of hiking the Smokies with them. They also brought their daughter-in-law, Thum and grandson Jack. Son, Joel is deployed in Korea. Thum and Jack did not hike, but instead enjoyed the pool and amenities at the Wyndham. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3YcQ6veW2t0uiNsoJ0NVWJm2mFdTWUwEBtAfFtZh4m4-kXxdLx8ft1P5uvpgz5HuBVXfOVFYFiKkv9wPQuWiUcU_R1kv_aT36chjoRsAV1-G-FcqhYpl6OAAFq8vQ2EtbM8aZ1oBPee_/s1600/012.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3YcQ6veW2t0uiNsoJ0NVWJm2mFdTWUwEBtAfFtZh4m4-kXxdLx8ft1P5uvpgz5HuBVXfOVFYFiKkv9wPQuWiUcU_R1kv_aT36chjoRsAV1-G-FcqhYpl6OAAFq8vQ2EtbM8aZ1oBPee_/s320/012.JPG" /></a> </div>
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Vicki Boon, Peg Boon and Mike Boon ready to go hunt bear.</div>
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Actually, on one of the trails we ran into another couple heading back to the trail head. They saw a bear and were frightened. Vicki and Peg wanted to go back too, but Mike and Norm talked them into continuing. Well, we never saw and BAR and the hike was great, trekking up to a great waterfall. Of course Mike and Norm had to endure listening to songs and childhood fairy tales and whistling loud all along the way. Peg and Vicki wanted to "scare" the bear.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mcDbwnIt8_m9pWhJGkdSNlEYM-xYwOhRHx29ZrBhREB3Aq2YJUqs9gE245wXq9OQ-rk8vWSEappzJEAQPof5ulWn4u3MtDb6aBF69QF_nIN4eMSAhrMnQoTt2OO6v92NUcZ76LnG4AgH/s1600/014.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mcDbwnIt8_m9pWhJGkdSNlEYM-xYwOhRHx29ZrBhREB3Aq2YJUqs9gE245wXq9OQ-rk8vWSEappzJEAQPof5ulWn4u3MtDb6aBF69QF_nIN4eMSAhrMnQoTt2OO6v92NUcZ76LnG4AgH/s320/014.JPG" /></a> </div>
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Vicki just showing off on one of the creek crossings. Peg saying "get a move on Vicki--we have a long way to go". </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVq-sSzLQnpBwxnmSBvAsY-p9sRlzGn917_QmTNOCpML3C9eO-WuASb0hnwG_XdNYy_UHFnV3gEFr-6raZzZ9s5aA0Ebmw134jB-a1XN0Z4kJtJnX9yn4rQKUfUKOTZ5p1jFZaus4-R3WQ/s1600/017.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVq-sSzLQnpBwxnmSBvAsY-p9sRlzGn917_QmTNOCpML3C9eO-WuASb0hnwG_XdNYy_UHFnV3gEFr-6raZzZ9s5aA0Ebmw134jB-a1XN0Z4kJtJnX9yn4rQKUfUKOTZ5p1jFZaus4-R3WQ/s320/017.JPG" /></a> <br />
Norm and Vicki at the waterfall</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpkk-39-zwaNIOML-3NNHZMgHvuojFP8t57U-3rXU0uw7ZkSAK7dRzr-UrGyjsIX3KyNAn2aGWf8yYOEUIHertEwW7rMlcyF5x9ke3Cn2gbbPkl5Uu7oVSbXZrtnxcKfPTTZkj9bFvQV6/s1600/018.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpkk-39-zwaNIOML-3NNHZMgHvuojFP8t57U-3rXU0uw7ZkSAK7dRzr-UrGyjsIX3KyNAn2aGWf8yYOEUIHertEwW7rMlcyF5x9ke3Cn2gbbPkl5Uu7oVSbXZrtnxcKfPTTZkj9bFvQV6/s320/018.JPG" /></a> <br />
Mike, Norm and Vicki at the waterfall</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-_EhO8LM6bu1o1y9zA3v__6gVCJUt0pEeXfYNGUOzHNLHzIWCBkBnrX0ikURoUFD7o0VnfGp2PUxKl3-pHXwe66gOVj-tXISWaOvZX7LGv6ZBTfOUIZDZIUAvDYUMgxObh8YG3oRFEFi/s1600/036.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-_EhO8LM6bu1o1y9zA3v__6gVCJUt0pEeXfYNGUOzHNLHzIWCBkBnrX0ikURoUFD7o0VnfGp2PUxKl3-pHXwe66gOVj-tXISWaOvZX7LGv6ZBTfOUIZDZIUAvDYUMgxObh8YG3oRFEFi/s320/036.JPG" /></a> <br />
No bear, but we did see this deer at pretty close range.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE3z_h_y4GCAcsbyF4s3OQHY-HNrlbKNuS_vMQ3Rw90OEf0NGVJFmaU2-9vkRSOPwW7OA4Z9jO0LOI9AGQQmEyBsOFAd-x3w89EcUghfVX7uXHU8oorBIAODpeTwF46NQ0_IDkR2zVntv/s1600/038.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE3z_h_y4GCAcsbyF4s3OQHY-HNrlbKNuS_vMQ3Rw90OEf0NGVJFmaU2-9vkRSOPwW7OA4Z9jO0LOI9AGQQmEyBsOFAd-x3w89EcUghfVX7uXHU8oorBIAODpeTwF46NQ0_IDkR2zVntv/s320/038.JPG" /></a> <br />
An exhausted group of hikers back at the trail head</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-27285784348550619522011-08-14T14:54:00.000-04:002011-08-14T14:54:44.140-04:00Knoxville, TN--Our Northernmost 2011 Cruising DestinationBefore departing for Knoxville, we rented a car and rushed to Columbus, Ohio. Daughter, Colleen, who has had ongoing complications from a c-section in May required another emergency surgery at the Ohio State University Medical Center. This was the third one!!! Our little Colleen has been through hell. As we write this, she is improving and things are looking up. Fortunately, baby Ella Grace, 9 lbs, 22 inches at birth is doing great.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFuAO_EF8l2NNCYopBsR4rZQFsmkZxTF_GnxaMx0SWvXF1f-EZV8wwxkJ8HMlceFjClQ6MNzu9xZGikbK1FTeGZulRFGrEjD0IWoPmSoVq5LQz6CRmcy5V-yboroFzJgXflBWchNMdcKn/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFuAO_EF8l2NNCYopBsR4rZQFsmkZxTF_GnxaMx0SWvXF1f-EZV8wwxkJ8HMlceFjClQ6MNzu9xZGikbK1FTeGZulRFGrEjD0IWoPmSoVq5LQz6CRmcy5V-yboroFzJgXflBWchNMdcKn/s320/093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki feeding Ella, grandmiracle No 4, while visiting Colleen in hospital</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmvaFBuE5We4ek6Fo5tvbkSW0dIm6S2kqJdT2DmNYshbTibW526by1FWjDcxPLXk-TX4FUA4876H5enxtxgzfIiybpwduBRX4chFPCaTxaFF5YfekFQ5pz6FAn3LwqciiWNZD7aj7ro9v/s1600/DSC_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmvaFBuE5We4ek6Fo5tvbkSW0dIm6S2kqJdT2DmNYshbTibW526by1FWjDcxPLXk-TX4FUA4876H5enxtxgzfIiybpwduBRX4chFPCaTxaFF5YfekFQ5pz6FAn3LwqciiWNZD7aj7ro9v/s320/DSC_0158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dad (Brian) and Ella visiting mom (Colleen) in the hospital</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkLL_hmVw9e9_nalE79K4bwNl94N096LdqNIxClQHMc6RfRJN_1V8WmekZcudAlVlLbTgxN376birMuVNiAprVw-wh9yVQBJfLoj-2KxuREj6QeyV6pY34ymK_jLtMX-mPs0RMIeSehlP/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkLL_hmVw9e9_nalE79K4bwNl94N096LdqNIxClQHMc6RfRJN_1V8WmekZcudAlVlLbTgxN376birMuVNiAprVw-wh9yVQBJfLoj-2KxuREj6QeyV6pY34ymK_jLtMX-mPs0RMIeSehlP/s320/084.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A more recent pic of Ella and PapPap</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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One of our stops on the way to Knoxville was at the Ft Loudoun Marina in Lenoir City, TN. The marina just happened to be on the way home for one of Norm's army buddies. Bob Rowan and his wife Julie, who Norm has not seen in 15 years, visited. It's a small world, isn't it?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWL73AtN6lHLhYCnt3Vv541fuJWHLW5Giu1_IlBdhhMQivl9lBBbIVLY00IRC-0FErIQFjdf5oUDj786C9vyigNnwDOFT3y0ikTPs4zJ0oc6K5r_uiCp7Tqpv8vghkB8Iq7xsYZzC69IW/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWL73AtN6lHLhYCnt3Vv541fuJWHLW5Giu1_IlBdhhMQivl9lBBbIVLY00IRC-0FErIQFjdf5oUDj786C9vyigNnwDOFT3y0ikTPs4zJ0oc6K5r_uiCp7Tqpv8vghkB8Iq7xsYZzC69IW/s320/100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bob and Julie Rowan visit us while docked at Ft Loudoun Marina (not to be confused with the Ft Loudoun Yacht Club) We had a fantastic time getting caught up and promising to get together again, much sooner this time.</div><br />
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So, We're now in Knoxville. Actually, about 2 weeks ago, we arrived at the Ft Loudoun Yacht Club--our most northern destination this summer. Here's our latest cruise route. Just click on the link below:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=209687670057056651320.0004aa79d45f3cd11f2d7&msa=0&ll=35.871247,-84.028931&spn=1.386547,3.337097">Chattanooga to Knoxville, TN</a></div><br />
We have not been here much though. We docked here on Sunday, July 24 and departed by rental car to Wilmington, DE for our annual medical checkups and to visit friends there. We got passing medical grades and the doc's don't want to see us for another year. While that is always good news, our real excitement was in reconnecting with old friends. Vicki set up a nice lunch with a couple of her Chase Bank associates and a separate dinner with the ones that could not get away for lunch. We got caught up on the lives of our "still working" friends and the many changes going on in banking, and especially in the credit card sector. Also, our neighbor friends hosted a wonderful dinner while we were there. All-in-all, a fantastic visit in Wilmington, DE. Sorry, we forgot to take pictures.<br />
We stopped in Asheville, NC on the drive back to Knoxville. They were having a downtown festival at the time. So, of course, we had to partake. We enjoyed Asheville very much but decided it's too far from anything to even consider living there.<br />
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Two days after returning to Tide Hiker, we were off again. This time on a flight to Milwaukee, WI see two of our daughters and their families; and, to attend Vicki's family reunion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4JNYnNKlPUpyR34JgWxA7UJ8J9OGMtmCnWFa8_QKeN0iCD9yBesMD8L5mcwqS3R9W76Ugi9l5QdglvQ-OEYcZpPTF5bXLnkN5UA5-ulwk6hyYCoD1itgFRXhEJ4NqefLkbyIayDQBli4/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4JNYnNKlPUpyR34JgWxA7UJ8J9OGMtmCnWFa8_QKeN0iCD9yBesMD8L5mcwqS3R9W76Ugi9l5QdglvQ-OEYcZpPTF5bXLnkN5UA5-ulwk6hyYCoD1itgFRXhEJ4NqefLkbyIayDQBli4/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daughters Katie and Chris celebrated Norm's and Vicki's birthdays by treating them to an awesome lobster dinner at the Golden Mast Restaurant on Okauchee Lake. Grandmiracle No 3, Joyce, was with a babysitter. We're told her table manners are not up to par yet.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp3bxgGN90dMMW2czcOqwUGZ8pw33cAzlvfVCHQKzo-Zdn67Dp10nJB3xJepgPyI8aFWBzZ-llAWpxaJM25cCr1-Vm4-m672xG1fxdtoMPefgGKDKL120SjpKnY0oj058c4QT2rWiYOr1/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZp3bxgGN90dMMW2czcOqwUGZ8pw33cAzlvfVCHQKzo-Zdn67Dp10nJB3xJepgPyI8aFWBzZ-llAWpxaJM25cCr1-Vm4-m672xG1fxdtoMPefgGKDKL120SjpKnY0oj058c4QT2rWiYOr1/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jake, grandmiracle No. 1 perusing the menu</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdkgloYB3ZKi9NgwdphKnOoJ8P0fHYnIrd9OYDsqSxaimhUMbb_lztrRD7boNmW37AJfnuathOcn_xGl74cFmsjxwl5LE1dXKaAfZPaPYbEMtPcw0McwqsaYI-2VPFk6UIdxRR6K6si4O/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdkgloYB3ZKi9NgwdphKnOoJ8P0fHYnIrd9OYDsqSxaimhUMbb_lztrRD7boNmW37AJfnuathOcn_xGl74cFmsjxwl5LE1dXKaAfZPaPYbEMtPcw0McwqsaYI-2VPFk6UIdxRR6K6si4O/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evan, grandmiracle No 2 with a fork at the ready</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Wisconsin State Fair was going on at the time of our visit. So, it was a fantastic time to take the grandmiracles to the Fair.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI8yRy8nxKti48xVffr5_HMrfsCTN46g_G6eRtLhUXZcnkpkSCaZ2Wq4RqjYe-m1i7zJgqn_OkXhAfNIXJly6QHvAjTq3-NY6rDk1wCJz8LrsZVhxBEVlaMGbGL8vGc9oyxhOo3edf8ub/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI8yRy8nxKti48xVffr5_HMrfsCTN46g_G6eRtLhUXZcnkpkSCaZ2Wq4RqjYe-m1i7zJgqn_OkXhAfNIXJly6QHvAjTq3-NY6rDk1wCJz8LrsZVhxBEVlaMGbGL8vGc9oyxhOo3edf8ub/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Joyce, grandmiracle No 3 with PapPap on the merry-go-round</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvT_uQtRLVFOmAEZK7ElvU99FAozQGvy1lxBxf3OWe_Q3r1sWof0a8Df_CslW7E3av6ncC2euDh0hJpFQmqRIx64rpQvD9NOihfIVUyJFKoKOZ_MHenFZtIjQs9BMDu9UPmNsG0pU0y5J/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvT_uQtRLVFOmAEZK7ElvU99FAozQGvy1lxBxf3OWe_Q3r1sWof0a8Df_CslW7E3av6ncC2euDh0hJpFQmqRIx64rpQvD9NOihfIVUyJFKoKOZ_MHenFZtIjQs9BMDu9UPmNsG0pU0y5J/s320/017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evan, at mid-mountain and Jake at the summit</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRi0Rc_11EaaiCGmSZFyhb1XE52xr5X8F4vJIMFpUIbAAq0Gy3LF4qbWoaPzWHseZvaFXzChOefk2Dx5QxetUkXnie3e7mOW_TXKuKw9f3FFIBd9Qsa3FucXVnzvXEX339PSRFOWcqHW4/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRi0Rc_11EaaiCGmSZFyhb1XE52xr5X8F4vJIMFpUIbAAq0Gy3LF4qbWoaPzWHseZvaFXzChOefk2Dx5QxetUkXnie3e7mOW_TXKuKw9f3FFIBd9Qsa3FucXVnzvXEX339PSRFOWcqHW4/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evan and Jake, just foolin around</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wSdKXh2ZU4QF0Nf0jH5gf2dMjBZ5wiaVNaQfojmiatUXom2DQ4CL3LlyOYkFTpP4FFGCBL6qIMWk7ikgQwWu1jAe77fnumDWxXlCka1HPdlLUlXNs4nngPK7f_XbxWv48Rm-nEkxxmlN/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wSdKXh2ZU4QF0Nf0jH5gf2dMjBZ5wiaVNaQfojmiatUXom2DQ4CL3LlyOYkFTpP4FFGCBL6qIMWk7ikgQwWu1jAe77fnumDWxXlCka1HPdlLUlXNs4nngPK7f_XbxWv48Rm-nEkxxmlN/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki also had an opportunity to visit with her friend Cindy at the Fair</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mf_sPpkqywnD0KbdWuKrjCClewQa-o1xg2KMDBRdMij58429mgAUNCcK1G4Gq-zT8KY8RLSZmcBpDrbpuY4TEUCfq_el3CZalrm-QmZPQlU_y6st7DKnLHF-re7SUKKg-uwCQv7RkEY8/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mf_sPpkqywnD0KbdWuKrjCClewQa-o1xg2KMDBRdMij58429mgAUNCcK1G4Gq-zT8KY8RLSZmcBpDrbpuY4TEUCfq_el3CZalrm-QmZPQlU_y6st7DKnLHF-re7SUKKg-uwCQv7RkEY8/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the many "fried" foods at the fair. One could also have fried beer, fried cheese curds, etc.--a cardiologist's dream come true.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHOZOUJCAesUq53kDrDgnRhCtP_FhVJ9bdODpezVGl80JKq7N4rG3N2Eubj4lfi5Jfss7_UGdFGTv0-wpNisoCDN4A-Tx_2RZBvvZS_r6tx_3x_xgujXnI97PnSANmpdRpgbtrinGh4GV/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHOZOUJCAesUq53kDrDgnRhCtP_FhVJ9bdODpezVGl80JKq7N4rG3N2Eubj4lfi5Jfss7_UGdFGTv0-wpNisoCDN4A-Tx_2RZBvvZS_r6tx_3x_xgujXnI97PnSANmpdRpgbtrinGh4GV/s320/054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Cal Cooper family at the Cooper reunion in Dodgevillee to, WI. Here is niece Rachel, Norm, Vicki's mom Avie, Vicki and nephew Alex. The next day we drove over to Richland Center, WI to visit with Vicki's uncle Bill and aunt Donna. Not to be outdone by the Coopers, Bill and Donna arranged a fantastic Thompson family reunion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVmBujLm4gxHOwbRv1oCzznvrEASnNZO35R8qaQtXKprtRX3iRUmuzeOKZIUm00WpPTBrLS5cVtGn62PV2K3be6xCCHuJjWJ6prU4I4YsqHi39Icw3KhnGqCci3zmfI8uMJfiazqFgDvs/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVmBujLm4gxHOwbRv1oCzznvrEASnNZO35R8qaQtXKprtRX3iRUmuzeOKZIUm00WpPTBrLS5cVtGn62PV2K3be6xCCHuJjWJ6prU4I4YsqHi39Icw3KhnGqCci3zmfI8uMJfiazqFgDvs/s320/046.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">While in Milwaukee, we attended the annual Miller Brewing Human Resources Reunion. We were most appreciative that they scheduled the reunion around our travel schedule so we could make it this year. The reunion is always held at Miller Stadium, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Here, Vicki is hugging the hot dog, her favorite team mascot. They also have a sausage, a kielbasa and a brat. But, the hot dog ranks highest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're once again back at the Ft Loudoun Yacht Club. And, another treat arrived the next day. Friends Rick and Lynnie Tierney drove down from Raleigh, NC to spend a few days with us. So, we ate, drank, and were merry for 4 days. We spent a day at the pool here and also drove into Chattanooga for dinner and a Shakespeare play. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPf5qYZGTAicTOLWtDtxkPJxDR4WxKLPl-RCEM8H99OL7RKpaQN-4xfV8Y9jW6t2lCOVzjkASl3sWbLIHe28WJXzhyphenhyphenctSTkfPZajRcr7xJ7u1ij68QD7IwxZjuJJUbjpk93fbD9zmfE5F/s1600/045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPf5qYZGTAicTOLWtDtxkPJxDR4WxKLPl-RCEM8H99OL7RKpaQN-4xfV8Y9jW6t2lCOVzjkASl3sWbLIHe28WJXzhyphenhyphenctSTkfPZajRcr7xJ7u1ij68QD7IwxZjuJJUbjpk93fbD9zmfE5F/s320/045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rick and Lynnie wanted to see Chattanooga, so a day trip was necessary. Here's Vicki, Rick and Lynnie at the Riverfront</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DHRt600woC_lITLji62yngBvr3nwolBs55U8V6LgVsDWD3MIHv_hHrI9R7VUe0pM5gfT8_R-MozOjASSLO656VjbV3BKm3S9RUFh5rRuCZU9YsWW-TCdTp3doBPYAAD_t75woisuCij6/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DHRt600woC_lITLji62yngBvr3nwolBs55U8V6LgVsDWD3MIHv_hHrI9R7VUe0pM5gfT8_R-MozOjASSLO656VjbV3BKm3S9RUFh5rRuCZU9YsWW-TCdTp3doBPYAAD_t75woisuCij6/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We then needed an afternoon at the pool at the Ft Loudoun Yacht Club.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We will be resting for a few days to get ready for a few days of hiking the Smoky Mountains next week with friends Mike and Peg Wilson. More on that later. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hope everyone reading this is well and having an awesome summer. And, we'll try to be more prompt with future blog updates.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-63058538038928283592011-07-03T11:47:00.001-04:002011-07-03T11:49:58.427-04:00Chattanooga Choo Choo and more..............<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRONtRk63QPMQi176IffRMudH6bcTWN4VzepB9wAuGhKm3nQP381LSU983HCoY8w0jWVwrkiHcW-5LbxbpuzGYqlWK1SCfVanNYe5XTxdJhfuveLWl4u_ZzSvx2Cw1n31uHp1jXNGxDFa/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRONtRk63QPMQi176IffRMudH6bcTWN4VzepB9wAuGhKm3nQP381LSU983HCoY8w0jWVwrkiHcW-5LbxbpuzGYqlWK1SCfVanNYe5XTxdJhfuveLWl4u_ZzSvx2Cw1n31uHp1jXNGxDFa/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A visit to Chattanooga would not be complete without seeing the Chattanooga Choo Choo. The Choo Choo is more than a train. It's a museum of trains that are being used as a hotel and restaurant. Yes, you too can sleep and eat in the historic Choo Choo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4SNWWPez0xG3NkOSUOsVI9eamR_bUuO2kCjerBVGNsSB-eqnmzmCv8P3u42Qz6HzdkL3IirDFN-kMmHAeBcyv7HIM74cw_B9jNA5gQYaQjrkBxRqOouew1Agn69B6QuZrnlhCyCH_34F/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4SNWWPez0xG3NkOSUOsVI9eamR_bUuO2kCjerBVGNsSB-eqnmzmCv8P3u42Qz6HzdkL3IirDFN-kMmHAeBcyv7HIM74cw_B9jNA5gQYaQjrkBxRqOouew1Agn69B6QuZrnlhCyCH_34F/s320/029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are the hotel and restaurant grounds. See the dining and sleeping cars in the distance?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PixxSM6z7i9Z9JzocKXy4bLy1e3wvqvgWtSxsRoos95faW2EhA-KeFlQWePOeRXzg4NbxeESnI7ry_WbOcFqQLFMUakJE0jJUDZyHnCDafZzWo4DddqLmfwRVVFm2q6hyphenhyphenVU0hiRZPx0W/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PixxSM6z7i9Z9JzocKXy4bLy1e3wvqvgWtSxsRoos95faW2EhA-KeFlQWePOeRXzg4NbxeESnI7ry_WbOcFqQLFMUakJE0jJUDZyHnCDafZzWo4DddqLmfwRVVFm2q6hyphenhyphenVU0hiRZPx0W/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Engineer Norm at the controls of the Chattanooga Choo Choo</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfHZ4q9jlEzGnnH3EnywDlxJl9ygN9SYHI4ESTokGfQboFs5y2IrmKmdgirOm_wJ7uoq7zSTPjo4hQqfcGTzYUv8Ha9JBOq0e0PXoNeoFQfuL8VX0C1xpESfYFfIwyjzup8r0jaay1ehk/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfHZ4q9jlEzGnnH3EnywDlxJl9ygN9SYHI4ESTokGfQboFs5y2IrmKmdgirOm_wJ7uoq7zSTPjo4hQqfcGTzYUv8Ha9JBOq0e0PXoNeoFQfuL8VX0C1xpESfYFfIwyjzup8r0jaay1ehk/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's Vicki at the Hunter Museum of American Art. This horse is not made of driftwood. It's metal. Cool!!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQo0Hhx3_fDJ32SD0DebASw18fnwEiKTMZ-5iL9jsfBIXtODJqjTkeqCDdQAc7r5m4jrIpJotUgg1Oc-VL5UD24UE8IWSPFrZ_1mTOk3kzPLVRvjplHFZ4frptOVzWJwI8tqbXGDnHKmU/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQo0Hhx3_fDJ32SD0DebASw18fnwEiKTMZ-5iL9jsfBIXtODJqjTkeqCDdQAc7r5m4jrIpJotUgg1Oc-VL5UD24UE8IWSPFrZ_1mTOk3kzPLVRvjplHFZ4frptOVzWJwI8tqbXGDnHKmU/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 10-mile long Tennessee River trail includes this "Glass Bridge". Norm was a bit uneasy crossing it having some fear of heights. Funny, he's also a pilot and flying never bothered him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b7B_WEp26exwaYEJkuv6N5OBSTUZ2i1-BkVJQPnpwtZ7Hdiwmg3TPpK2BvP01ZtwLoNfu3dceXU_xXJSd1bVo1_HNwmaNewwcISZXkj1apVdHAYYckEn2-8nradZSFHX4rO0SZ_n4FQ8/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1b7B_WEp26exwaYEJkuv6N5OBSTUZ2i1-BkVJQPnpwtZ7Hdiwmg3TPpK2BvP01ZtwLoNfu3dceXU_xXJSd1bVo1_HNwmaNewwcISZXkj1apVdHAYYckEn2-8nradZSFHX4rO0SZ_n4FQ8/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Fourth of July Fireworks will be shot off from a park just on the other side of the river. We're told that Tide Hiker has a great viewing spot. However, we were invited to join some new friends at that park where the Chattanooga Symphony will also be playing. Do you think the "1812 Overture" is in our future?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-8158183450467845542011-06-29T13:02:00.001-04:002011-06-29T13:04:52.601-04:00Arrived at our first Tennessee Destination: ChattanoogaWe promised earlier to post some more pics/videos of the "Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River." Connectivity was bad then. It's much better here so we will include those pics here now. First, here is our cruise map for our final leg to Chattanooga, TN from Guntersville, AL (our last map posting location):<br />
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<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=209687670057056651320.0004a67c3992e46b8705c&msa=0">Guntersville to Chattanooga</a><br />
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Here's those videos and pics we promised:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzhkewpvyNJP7OtHXyH8T8ObyKkM1Tcy8QQEndqr3VwxkIvck1HxUnRaB6SPArbihj_DV_zT6MPDZQM6ouJ9g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, there's lots of culture to be learned here on the Tide Hiker blog. Acutally, the river scenes are breathtaking, no matter what they're called. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmBr1q4gCLYWvN3BzwHQPocFxubRG0hCt7voZ4OjaoBeOffvfnOG20abFlF9eeILYlor1RQPlrlcSccLuTzeTgakyrnoKnVX5YM2W1ALa05j8DBsLC3TCgIgrQ_X_76HK_znBDZSSIh0l/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmBr1q4gCLYWvN3BzwHQPocFxubRG0hCt7voZ4OjaoBeOffvfnOG20abFlF9eeILYlor1RQPlrlcSccLuTzeTgakyrnoKnVX5YM2W1ALa05j8DBsLC3TCgIgrQ_X_76HK_znBDZSSIh0l/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cruising up the Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTfNcSiTWaxHOjC6rOmchhWWJhVFMPIB48RVRendMMTd6q-3pmRdiw2XfoOSGQ1SPl7NBYbuiYZYuROoyGzKpdT6KHFzYTlxE1RIUE3gPMu5as-gvRb00zIcOWLgx2NIku-NGniy-FGzH/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTfNcSiTWaxHOjC6rOmchhWWJhVFMPIB48RVRendMMTd6q-3pmRdiw2XfoOSGQ1SPl7NBYbuiYZYuROoyGzKpdT6KHFzYTlxE1RIUE3gPMu5as-gvRb00zIcOWLgx2NIku-NGniy-FGzH/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More of the Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've actually been in Chattanooga for three days now and have been exploring the city and surrounds. So far, we like what we see. Just steps from our downtown riverfront dock is a 10 mile walking, biking, roller-blading trail along the beautiful Tennessee River. We're liking that!! Movies, restaurants, shopping, fitness center and attractions (including the famous Tennessee Aquarium) are also just a few steps from Tide Hiker. We're liking that!! The riverfront here has been transformed over recent years. It is home to music festivals, art museums and sculpture gardens. We're liking that too!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8_UpMIyTR4LngGmitxcr1rANlQCBdV3zjBuJzbABxrUyxzRL310Ks0a5U2Y7JvbPDUGP5e9BLYfHLHDj-2my7DO3pTWnx5RYC00eUZps6Fy5uw3T7Yym590rLuTkuqwr-ckrU5TJY7AA/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8_UpMIyTR4LngGmitxcr1rANlQCBdV3zjBuJzbABxrUyxzRL310Ks0a5U2Y7JvbPDUGP5e9BLYfHLHDj-2my7DO3pTWnx5RYC00eUZps6Fy5uw3T7Yym590rLuTkuqwr-ckrU5TJY7AA/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These water fall steps are enjoyed by the public as place to cool off. Acutally, they are part of a memorial to the "Trail of Tears" american indian forced relocation back in the 1800's.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjla16DDBLR3hTHz-2vdbKQrqOrSGVAOIrAxauUHLLDVUkLpolQ3EErSQGnUZbqG_tGMMOkOHqLSVTzzyrJuAZsC5QiHqgMbtjeqrRSZCI14YO7x7WQn84ggxTjMhGGvXt1Q6M8G1srFkYN/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjla16DDBLR3hTHz-2vdbKQrqOrSGVAOIrAxauUHLLDVUkLpolQ3EErSQGnUZbqG_tGMMOkOHqLSVTzzyrJuAZsC5QiHqgMbtjeqrRSZCI14YO7x7WQn84ggxTjMhGGvXt1Q6M8G1srFkYN/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tide Hiker is right in the center of this downtown riverfront bluff dock. Those are condo's up on the bluff. The Tennessee Aquarium is the upper right building with the trianglular roof line.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-52624721173798121452011-06-23T18:42:00.000-04:002011-06-23T18:42:50.219-04:00No More Locks, Please!We cruised from 6:00 this morning to 3:30 this afternoon and made it to Nickajack Marina, locally known as Hales Bar Marina and pronounced as Hells Bar Marina. One lock today which we're sooo thankful that the tow and barge on our tail and the lockmaster decided to let us lock through ahead of the tow. Otherwise, it would have been a couple hour wait in the strongest current we've seen yet. We've been cruising over 8 mph, but were at 4.9 mph as we were passing the tow just below the lock. It was truly a case of the racing turtles. Fortunately, we put the pedal to the metal and beat him to the lock by.....well, seconds. But the tow had to break down his barges to go through the lock. So, the lockmaster and the tow captain agreed to let us go first. Awesome!!!!<br />
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We've had threatening skies for what seems like a week. Sometimes they turn into vicious storms, like the one at Guntersville. Sometimes they don't amount to anything except "I'm watching you, Tide Hiker." Today was no exception. We have very limited connectivity here, so will add the pictures later. BTW, we crossed into Tennessee today; and, tomorrow we change back to Eastern Time Zone. Imagine that!<br />
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Lynnie Tierney asked me a while ago how the locks have been. I told her " a piece of cake" and most of them have been easy. Must have jinxed it-- we've had three that got the heart pounding. The first was the one where we tied too loosely to the bollard and I fell into the lazarette. The next was the tallest lock on the TennTom - the Whitten Lock. It has depressed panels along the wall that a fender could easily get caught it and there's no way to position the fenders to avoid all those panels. We ended up repositioning fenders along the way up the way -- a bit of a panic. The other challenging lock was probably our fault again -- we tied very tightly to the bollard so there wasn't enough room for the boat to float away from the wall. We thought the forward fender was going to tear right off the boat and both of us pushing off couldn't budge the boat from being mashed up against the wall for much of the vertical trip. No more locks for awhile - thank goodness!<br />
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We're practically within spittin' distance of Chattanooga, our first destination. Only 35 miles upriver, 4 hours tomorrow if the weather cooperates. Can't wait!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-58454609389321193062011-06-22T18:56:00.000-04:002011-06-22T18:56:44.683-04:00Stormy in Guntersville ALWe tooled around Guntersville today in the courtesy car and saw many trees down from yesterday's storm. Winds were reported at 60 mph. Had a great lunch at The Rock House and Vicki got a nice pedicure at the nails place in downtown Guntersville. Then, off to Walmart. We hadn't accounted for the small cab in the truck we were driving, so most of the groceries resided in the truck bed as we raced to the boat to avoid yet another storm.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-14053462455139429872011-06-21T17:50:00.003-04:002011-06-22T11:56:49.500-04:00Sitting Pretty in Guntersville, AL.......Here's our cruise map from Columbus, MS (the last time we posted a map) to our current location, Guntersville, AL. Just click on the following link. Sometimes you will have to wait for the entire course line to load up and sometimes you will have to use the + and - keys to zoom in or out. Let us know if you have any problems.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=209687670057056651320.0004a64e99ee188d60e23&msa=0">Columbus MS to Guntersville AL</a></div><br />
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We departed Ditto Landing early this morning to outrun the 40% chance of forecasted thunderstorms this afternoon. Again, we didn't. It was our intent to make it to Scottsboro, AL, a 45 mile run with only one lock. But the clouds started thickening much earlier than expected. After 24 miles, we pulled into the Guntersville Marina in Guntersville, AL. One bright spot along the way today was the Painted Bluff. Here's a shot of it:<br />
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There were several nice anchorages in the area and one free dock in downtown Guntersville; but again, it was 93 degrees and steamy. So, we were coveting the electric hookups for the AC. Once again, we were greeted by 3 very nice folks. They helped us tie up and hook up the electrical connection, and offered their courtesy car if we wanted to explore the area. Looking around the marina, we could see some of the metal roofs over the covered slips missing or twisted. You guessed it--results of this spring's vicious string of tornadoes. Another marina just up the river had all of their transient slips just blow away. They, therefore, are only open for permanent slip-holders. Another marina we passed on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway was hit especially hard and the owner was killed. It's not been a good spring for the Tennessee Valley.<br />
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After getting settled in, we borrowed the courtesy car and went off to Huntsville, AL and the Rocket and Space Museum. Friends have told us that the museum is only so-so if we have already visited the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. So, the purpose of our trip was to view the new IMAX movie on the Hubble Space Telescope --awe inspiring! All right, all right, the real purpose of our trip was to have lunch at the Blue Plate Cafe in Huntsville. This restaurant was recommended to us by Jenny, the dockmaster when we told her we were looking for homemade southern cooking. AND, we were not disappointed. We had two of the three Tuesday "Blue Plate Specials". Vicki had the cube steak, macaroni and cheese, fresh peas, cornbread and peach cobbler. Norm had the pot roast, brussels sprouts (soaked in ham hocks and bacon), hash brown casserole, cornbread and peach cobbler. $7.95 each!!! Needless to say, no dinner out tonight after splurging like that.<br />
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The storms have hit here and we are writing this as sheets of horizontal rain drape the boat, the marina and surrounding area. Loud clasps of thunder are echoing off the surrounding hills and streaks of lightening are flashing the darkened landscape. The tin roof on the covered slips in front of us is beginning to peel away; still not secured from the spring tornado's. By the way, we made it back to the marina in the car, just when the drizzling started. Again, Vicki averted another storm-related meltdown.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyKvDBWSvAi-IKJavEvbAI0VPgjy0GOu92mqPEA-eAOQVr-VxEus8CUKh0W9R2i_Wi_AOqSg8UapYapv2SP5g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Roof peeling off in storm</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We expect that we will be here another day and explore Guntersville tomorrow. Another gloomy, stormy day predicted. Not good boating weather.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-61291218758423508022011-06-20T19:34:00.000-04:002011-06-20T19:34:05.989-04:00Northern Alabama is BeautifulOur last blog displayed a couple video's of Tide Hiker locking up in an 83-ft Lock. Here are some more in the very next 93-foot Wilson Lock. Some different views show spectacular construction. Hope you enjoy the ride:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Video walk up the wall of the 93-foot Wilson Lock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Last night we were at Bay Hill Marina in who-knows-where Alabama. It's west of Decatur - that's what we know. While the people were very nice we thought the marina was a bit of a scruffy place with a few randomly placed cletes. We tied to the uprights supporting the roof. Probably not a good place for a 65,000 lb. boat in storms-- fortunately the weather was clear. We spent the afternoon at the pool, reading in the shade in 101 degree heat index and taking the occasional dip in the very refreshing pool for relief. Our dock was near the public ramp.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PCE0IFzcW-ZmECx0cPnBnXSd5tP8E3OzOkAKMZjh3i5qvOodSHILhUYUeLIzoYejbIIKZ6LFrjGsKvYtD_5l8D4F-T9jHadkjpJVkwQ98H2JjCm4dKRkRjUyNLoElEvsetKZ-arX5jjz/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PCE0IFzcW-ZmECx0cPnBnXSd5tP8E3OzOkAKMZjh3i5qvOodSHILhUYUeLIzoYejbIIKZ6LFrjGsKvYtD_5l8D4F-T9jHadkjpJVkwQ98H2JjCm4dKRkRjUyNLoElEvsetKZ-arX5jjz/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We thought this was an unusual boat tow vehicle.</div><br />
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Today's cruise (in zero % probability of storms, much to Vicki's relief) was to Ditto Landing Marina just south of Huntsville AL. The US Army's Redstone Arsenal and the Marshall Space Center is nearby. We can hear the explosions every once in a while and feel the vibrations. Very nice marina with great docks. No courtesy car here, so we rested and caught up on in-boat stuff out of the 97 degrees outside. <br />
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What an incredibly beautiful place is northern Alabama. We are in eyesight of the low mountains in the area. Trees and hills are everywhere. Our cruise on the wide river is gorgeous.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-65517564161774965342011-06-18T19:13:00.006-04:002011-06-18T20:28:50.583-04:00Outrunning the Storm.........We spent today's 5 hours of travel watching the Weather Underground radar showing storms steadily sinking south from Nashville toward our route in Northern Alabama. Scary! Fortunately, the storm dissipated most of its energy by the time it hit us about 5 minutes before docking in Florence, Alabama. Vicki is a real fraidy-cat about encountering a storm while underway, so the day was quite stressful for her.<br />
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Florence is quite a nice little town. Home of University of Northern Alabama, the campus is beautiful. The mascots are lions Leo and Una who reside on campus in a deluxe enclosure -- beautiful cats. <br />
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What an incredible cruising ground this is! After the last lock on the Tenn-Tom, we cruised out into gorgeous Bay Springs Lake which reminded us both of Canada. Clear water and dense tall trees growing all the way down to the waterline. Pickwick Lake at the intersection of the Tenn-Tom and the Tennessee River is equally as beautiful and reminds us of the Wisconsin Dells area. <br />
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Most marinas have courtesy cars enabling us to see some of the sights of Mississippi and Alabama. We drove to Tupelo one day and stopped at a hardware store looking for a fan. This hardware store just happened to be where Elvis Presley got his first guitar. The story is that his mom brought him there to buy a bicycle for his birthday, but Elvis decided he wanted a gun instead. His mom was reluctant to buy a gun, so they compromised on a guitar. Great story!<br />
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Wednesday we caught up with Todd and Brenda at Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina in Pickwick Lake. It was wonderful to see them again - always a fun time. We stuffed ourselves with excellent fried catfish filets at Hagy's Catfish Hotel on the Tennessee River. This place was originally discovered by Norm's sister Joyce in 2001 when they did the Great Circle route. Norm remembered the Catfish Hotel (and Bobby's fish Camp) as having the best-ever catfish, and he wasn't wrong.<br />
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We locked up the tallest lock on the Tenn-Tom--83Feet. Since Mobile Bay, we've been locked up over 400 ft. This was the last lock on the Tenn-Tom which created Pickwick Lake, a beautiful body of water that reminded us of Canada's lakes. Here are some video's of the locking.<br />
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</div>Yesterday, we visited the civil war interpretive center in Corinth MS which has fabulous displays about the battle of Shiloh which was fought over control of the railroad crossing in Corinth. The center was built 2 years ago and is the best civil war museum we've seen. We plan to stop at the Shiloh Battleground Park on the way back south.<br />
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Today was our first day on the Tennessee River. What a magnificent body of water - really wide for a number of miles. About four miles into our journey, we detoured into Todd and Brenda's #1 anchorage, Waterfall Cove, where they were anchored. Todd gave us a freshly caught batch of bass filets and snapped some photos of Tide Hiker in front of the waterfall. And, we deliverd oil and ice to him. Then we were off to outrun the storms; which you read earlier, we didn't.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLYKW6a2f2DKLdwLHpyRWgrBKfo8-tc9R8h1AbJbDluMa4_JqmMALhHRcI0uchs1YWgMTlkyUYuP6kAna0kKQjOJWdc5kuGjfGpzKgA-xQ7et04C_KT1riQmFDfaORe2Gm-WEjbBy-5JJ/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLYKW6a2f2DKLdwLHpyRWgrBKfo8-tc9R8h1AbJbDluMa4_JqmMALhHRcI0uchs1YWgMTlkyUYuP6kAna0kKQjOJWdc5kuGjfGpzKgA-xQ7et04C_KT1riQmFDfaORe2Gm-WEjbBy-5JJ/s320/007.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki, Brenda and Todd at Hagy's Catfish Hotel Restaurant.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq28IkLrZgG1keKLmGrutD05gL3cS33ktkf3hZOo-3Y51W3-0qUsmmBThzPPJ6sjfZ8ndcldXz8cwVJAYSMQbSQY0SCh3MzQI-0orGe6_ITB8FWu53nkmvNyCgKUgcKDSOkKSBZ1q3TEM8/s1600/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq28IkLrZgG1keKLmGrutD05gL3cS33ktkf3hZOo-3Y51W3-0qUsmmBThzPPJ6sjfZ8ndcldXz8cwVJAYSMQbSQY0SCh3MzQI-0orGe6_ITB8FWu53nkmvNyCgKUgcKDSOkKSBZ1q3TEM8/s320/012.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life's 2 Short at Anchor at Waterfall Cove. See how he get's snuggled up to the beach and ties to a tree. Life's 2 Short is very protected. Todd and Brenda have a wonderful view of the waterfall that is behind us.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK6SgR-APd6DJSCQLWBrGrkeRMzS209tmlUvKUtP6oAWPQrfSzAPZg7V7ZwBUUKY1qIw29r-3uE3SOMG9n9lxW2gM-BtgMFF-fv-2bTsA8KQCXjnXQVaiLs87cs-7spaAO-VYCo7pGWf6/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCK6SgR-APd6DJSCQLWBrGrkeRMzS209tmlUvKUtP6oAWPQrfSzAPZg7V7ZwBUUKY1qIw29r-3uE3SOMG9n9lxW2gM-BtgMFF-fv-2bTsA8KQCXjnXQVaiLs87cs-7spaAO-VYCo7pGWf6/s320/013.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Todd, just after dropping off some fresh-caught bass and picking up some oil and ice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-15749556169305986622011-06-13T19:20:00.000-04:002011-06-13T19:20:04.275-04:00Ahhhhh, air conditioning....The goal of this journey at this point is to "hot dog" it to a marina where we can hook up to electricity and run our AC. These 95-97-degree afternoons with high chance of thunderstorms have turned us into real "weenies". We feel like shedding down to our skivvies but we're not even "Hebrew Nationals" from NY. "Frank"ly, we're OK with the heat and storms in the afternoon, because we can run fast, like the "sausage guys" at Milwaukee Brewers Games.<br />
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Here's our course since we last reported it:<br />
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<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=31.765537,-87.022705&spn=6.022723,15.391846&z=7&msid=209687670057056651320.0004a59f64af9730a5488">Gulf Shores, AL to Columbus, MS</a><br />
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Vicki has not fallen into any holds since the last time, even though we have gone through 3-4 more locks. Hence, her physical status is good. Dr Naughton does periodic "medical" exams and reports good progress. Only a few skin hematomas. We arrived in Columbus, MS yesterday after going in and out of Alabama and Mississippi a few times. We transited two locks yesterday and both were waiting for us with the gates open when we arrived. No wait. Maybe it's good to be late in the season. So, the day went really fast.<br />
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Today, we used the Marina's courtesy car and did some shopping. We needed more 95-degree light weight, sweat wicking, sun blocking clothes.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-1313556528345932052011-06-10T19:31:00.001-04:002011-06-10T19:36:11.323-04:00Oops--Watch that hole!Norm's birthday was great! No storms. Norm enjoyed 10-year old cheddar with sliced salami after our swim and chocolate cream pie with many candles after grilled fresh grouper dinner. The yellow bug repellent cellophane over the lights worked pretty well -- the cellophane didn't over heat and the bugs attracted were minimal. A few tugs came by during the night with minimal wake. Norm says "thanks much" to all who sent birthday wishes. He says he does not feel old at 67. But he does feel old when he thinks that he is heading toward 70!!!<br />
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Unfortunately it was really hot last night with almost no wind. Even after cooling down the stateroom with the air conditioning the temp in there was 87, so sleeping was tough. We're at Demopolis Yacht Basin tonight with electric (read air conditioning) so we'll have good sleep.<br />
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Nice 71-mile cruise today up to Demopolis. A bit of trauma in the Demopolis Lock. We're still getting used to putting our line over the bollard in the lock and we learned that it needs to be cinched tighter than we did today. As the water entered the lock, the boat angled with the stern up against the wall of the lock. Norm is positioned with a boat hook to hold the stern off the wall while Vicki is positioned on the bow to hold that off the wall. When it became clear that the current of the water was forcefully pushing the stern into the wall, Vicki rushed back to the cockpit to help push off (Norm was stationed on the top deck). In her zeal, she stepped back to get a firmer pushing position and stepped into the open lazarette. (The hatch is open when we're running to allow heat to escape from the engine room. We close it when working back there, but it was unexpected that Vicki would have to assist with the stern push-off.) In a real stroke of luck, Vicki caught herself with only a few small bruises. The lazarette, on the other hand, needs a new gas cylinder arm to hold it open-- it got the worst of that deal! Another lock tomorrow -- no problem -- we learn from our mistakes!<br />
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Norm here......Should also mention that getting to the lock was a bit tense too. We heard on the radio that another boat that past us earlier was about to enter the lock. If we miss this lift, we might have a long wait because a tug and tow was close behind us and heading to the lock too. (Commercial traffic has precedence. And tugs can take up to 4-hours if they have to break apart their barges.) We were 30-minutes behind. We put the pedal to the metal and increased our speed from 8.1 mph to 8.5 mph. The lockmaster was a real cool dude and waited for us. Unfortunately, the other boat had to wait too. So, we slipped right through the open gates; and, we were not even secure on the wall when we saw the gates close behind. This lock lifted us up 40 ft. By the way, since going through the Coffeeville Lock yesterday, we are out of tides and salt water. Yippee!! Also, Vicki is a real champ! Agree?? She could have done serious damage to herself falling into the hold. I know of a guy that fell into one and broke seven ribs. This is a risky adventure we're on. Anyway, I'll apply all the salves later.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-9719786011656423462011-06-09T10:40:00.000-04:002011-06-09T10:40:06.077-04:00Happy Birthday, Norm!Our last night in civilization was spent in Fairhope Alabama, a beautiful small town and suburb of Mobile. We used the courtesy car at Eastern Shore Marine to explore the town. Missed out on panninis at Pannini Pete's (reportedly the best in the nation) as they close after lunch. <br />
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Our first anchorage in the Tenn-Tom was the Alabama River Cutoff, a narrow river that required both a bow and stern anchor. This was the first time we used two anchors and they were tested with a big windy storm late afternoon. The boat was pushed from one side of the river to the other, but we held! Leaving the anchorage the next morning was beautiful - the sun rising, mist on the water, and a small alligator swimming across the river.<br />
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We went through the first of many locks yesterday - Coffeeville Lock. Then on to Bobby's Fish Camp where Norm had the best catfish in the universe when doing the Great Circle Route in 2001. Unfortunately, the restaurant is only open Thursday - Sunday. We'll have to catch it on the return trip. <br />
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We were advised by Hank and Nancy (who are a week or so ahead of us on the river) to get some yellow light bulbs that don't attract bugs for the outside of the boat so that we'll be more visible to tows when we're anchored in the river without ending up with a boat covered in bugs. Couldn't locate bulbs, but bought yellow cellophane to cover the lenses of our lights. We'll try them out tonight when anchoring outside Bashi Creek.<br />
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Today is Norm's birthday. Let's hope it's storm-free, bug-free and filled with wonderful birthday surprises.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-55071816523398574582011-06-05T19:33:00.000-04:002011-06-05T19:33:20.585-04:00Back on the water.........We've been out of touch. We know. And we're sorry. We've been extra busy with expected and unexpected land travel. Our daughter, Colleen and her husband, Brian, were expecting their first baby (our 4th grandmiracle) on May 15. We were docked in St Pete at the time. After 36 hours of labor, she delivered a beautiful baby girl, Ella Grace. Baby Ella was OK and Colleen's recovery from the C-Section was going well. We flew back to St Pete and immediately got underway for our slow trek around Florida's panhandle to Mobile Bay. (See previous blog entry.)<br />
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While off shore and crossing the Gulf we received word that the recovery was not going well due to complications from the C-Section. Colleen was in bad shape and getting worse. Norm was a mess. We had to get to a safe harbor near an airport. It took us two painful, chaotic days to dock in Pensacola. In the meantime, Colleen had emergency surgery to repair a perforated bowl that was not caught for 6 days. It was VERY BAD!! Norm arrived back in Columbus just after the surgery and remained there for 8 days until Colleen was discharged from the hospital. Along with Brian's parents and his sisters, Norm helped to care for baby Ella and be with his daughter during the early, hard recovery days. Colleen's mother is now picking up where Norm left off. Brian and his family were awesome, providing Norm a place to stay and meals when he was not at the hospital. He'll be eternally grateful to them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcUrJIDy7z7VZ1nd2KKs92QF24qzRpFti4hoIzB5KcDd-jkFuBr5gj_24233j9CDIRpcxzz5NYPUpoUYbTKAM6EwjCghhNBN6VepjSEqv9H_DNwcGGL-jXJmJNtn6cgcaF7DaVW930My5/s1600/025+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcUrJIDy7z7VZ1nd2KKs92QF24qzRpFti4hoIzB5KcDd-jkFuBr5gj_24233j9CDIRpcxzz5NYPUpoUYbTKAM6EwjCghhNBN6VepjSEqv9H_DNwcGGL-jXJmJNtn6cgcaF7DaVW930My5/s320/025+%25282%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki with Ella Grace</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-Jq9gh4PyMxavmra54sLJtZXYKkK2r80UNpPEaD-WieZ1zRBWR78VRkHJcVEa20NkceGMAJuaI_gDqZCNRONFbiALXYaA80N9VxnhcTUHpF07o_goQ2KGh-H0sRJp_O-Ex9j0Farmazf/s1600/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-Jq9gh4PyMxavmra54sLJtZXYKkK2r80UNpPEaD-WieZ1zRBWR78VRkHJcVEa20NkceGMAJuaI_gDqZCNRONFbiALXYaA80N9VxnhcTUHpF07o_goQ2KGh-H0sRJp_O-Ex9j0Farmazf/s320/029.jpg" t8="true" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Norm with Ella Grace</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">With Colleen on the mend, and reprovisioning completed, we resumed our cruise today. We are currently docked at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, AL. This is also the home of Lulu's Restaurant. Lulu is actually Lucy Buffett, Jimmy Buffett's "crazy sister" as he calls her. Yes, we both had to have a Cheeseburger in Paradise. But, not before a couple margaritas and a dish of fried green tomatoes--a real southern treat. (Even though Norm's grandmother in Pittsburgh used to make them when he was a kid.)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you are interested in viewing our cruise routes from Sarasota, FL to Gulf Shores, AL, click on the following links:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=209687670057056651320.0004a4fee527200289cc0&ll=27.779557,-82.628517&spn=0.195921,0.480995&z=12">Sarasota, FL to St Petersburg, FL</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=209687670057056651320.0004a4fefc17b8d49b578&ll=30.388277,-87.344055&spn=0.764074,1.923981&z=10">St Petersburg, FL to Gulf Shores, AL</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Tomorrow we're off to Mobile Bay, then up the Mobile River to the Tennessee-Tombigby Waterway. Our friends cruising ahead of us have told us that the river currents and pool levels at the dams are in good shape. More on that later. <br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-494287909366180202011-05-18T17:01:00.000-04:002011-05-18T17:01:10.639-04:00Gonna See TennesseeWe left St. Petersburg this morning on the first leg of our trip to Tennessee. Should take around 25 days to get to Chattanooga. We're anchored out near Tarpon Springs (Anclotte Key). Tarpon Springs is a greek sponge-diving community and we just saw the Sponge-O-Rama (not making this up!) tour boat.<br />
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St. Pete is top of the list for our land-based retirement unless Chattanooga or Knoxville ensnare us with their charms. Stay tuned! <div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-11708525998883796852011-04-19T18:40:00.000-04:002011-04-19T18:40:24.348-04:00I say, I say, hold on folks. Sarasota may not be it................It was a short 4.5-hour cruise up the GICW (Gulf Intracoastal Waterway) to St Petersburg, FL. Our first stop was to Salt Creek Marina for some preventive maintenance requiring Tide Hiker to be lifted out of the water. So after Tide Hiker was hauled, the bottom was pressure washed and she was blocked, we rented a car and drove over to Apollo Beach to spend the night with our friends, Ron and Charma Owens. It was Wednesday and that means happy hour at Circles Tiki Bar. We had a great time getting reacquainted with Ron and Charma's friends whom we met last year.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirsS9uUQOX8jS0GMHA4R9hCU4-4r0IIiXEr9J26gtLiH_Odc6w2ZLBA6UER7XYwKF0nvDpF8rUNKtl4telwBBMYGK_PErKq6yOqiKNlEoZ_-SgXjqdp0saWCKlDVB89fqngYtdKa8Jhbp/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirsS9uUQOX8jS0GMHA4R9hCU4-4r0IIiXEr9J26gtLiH_Odc6w2ZLBA6UER7XYwKF0nvDpF8rUNKtl4telwBBMYGK_PErKq6yOqiKNlEoZ_-SgXjqdp0saWCKlDVB89fqngYtdKa8Jhbp/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Norm, Vicki, Ron, Charma and friends at Circles Tiki Bar</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdueiIo0F9cK9z_ZCubTS2IFbqq2TvWm9EdoO7DCUirPrZ6fb5nL4rwlLQ9J-AHpdf9bH69oCaoUVVggpcI2PILyfDPGbso7fUV_uBrRr3Wf3KGSeWUSeqRFrrAu5lT0PgKrlygkRtPQjg/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdueiIo0F9cK9z_ZCubTS2IFbqq2TvWm9EdoO7DCUirPrZ6fb5nL4rwlLQ9J-AHpdf9bH69oCaoUVVggpcI2PILyfDPGbso7fUV_uBrRr3Wf3KGSeWUSeqRFrrAu5lT0PgKrlygkRtPQjg/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charma, Ron and Vicki at Apollo Beach home</div><br />
The next morning, Ron, the "much-in-demand-Defever-guru" on the west coast of Florida helped Norm. More acurately, Norm helped Ron change the seals on the stabilizer fin shafts. They also replaced all the zinc's attached to metal parts under the water. (The zincs are sacrificial. That is, they are there to take the galvanization attacks common in salt water, thereby preventing the galvanization of the more critical parts--propeller shafts, rudders, etc.) Anyway, they got it all done in 1/2 day. We then relaunched Tide Hiker and moved her over to the St Pete Municipal Marina. Ron joined Norm there, and they changed out the engine impellers--more preventative maintenance. Thanks Ron and Charma for your help, your hospitality and most especially, your friendship.<br />
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It was time to explore St Pete--our next possible permanent retirement location. Vicki says St Pete has a good vibe for her. Norm is more apprehensive at this point, still very much liking Sarasota. We have been walking our feet off getting to know the city and the bay front. This is WORK!!<br />
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Our friend Roger had an interview for a jo---, jo---, jo---, I just can't say it, the next morning. So he and his wife and our friend, Lisa, drove up from Cape Coral to spend the night with us. I say fortunately, because they were a friendly respite from all the city exploring we have been doing. So, it was late lunch with martini's. Vicki and Lisa went for a pedicure and Rog and Norm found the nearest bay-front watering hole and, well, you know....<br />
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More later..................<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-78544636281898146312011-04-08T13:30:00.000-04:002011-04-08T13:30:55.487-04:00"Road Trip".........The cliffhanger from the past blog entry is solved. Joe never made it to the "Dancing With the Stars" debut. He had a very ligitimate excuse: "ooops".<br />
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With all the formal events behind us, it was time for a "ROAD TRIP"!! We boarded a plane in Tampa and flew to Washington, DC for Vicki's niece's wedding. Aimee Cooper and Fish (Brian Fisher) were married on Saturday, March 26. Vicki's minister-uncle (Aimee's great uncle) performed the ceremony, Norm walked Aimee down the aisle and gave the "Father" of the Bride speech. He was quite honored to have been asked to do that and he was moved by the event. It was a great wedding. How could it not be when the program listed "Congo Line Coordinator". And, since Aimee grew up with our three girls, they all came to the wedding too with hubby's in tow. Little JoycE came too. It was a mini-family reunion. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlwH9QQ7DqNFIFh9H6oi3tURJC5XcZ9zm47T0tSqZ47SDQLQIn7iM9v8rATbrtqh5FzfkK9eptFtsheEtvN5SLKmVzBldCrhZ82RAtSeqO0zrdlegm9tmO1uqGJOWGr2oUkfkhN2rw_PQ/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlwH9QQ7DqNFIFh9H6oi3tURJC5XcZ9zm47T0tSqZ47SDQLQIn7iM9v8rATbrtqh5FzfkK9eptFtsheEtvN5SLKmVzBldCrhZ82RAtSeqO0zrdlegm9tmO1uqGJOWGr2oUkfkhN2rw_PQ/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Cheery Blossoms were out in DC</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVzHfslxoIOXL9ZaI8oxfRna7Po6sWOuEaWCaCbxz5jSki4qveRGh1yt2rfRcRHHdgnpYtO5MGOMA3epJnxG1CK_w-AiyKavz6RBNLNKbCYmjP69GngDIvU-pDCbygOIr6qJ2LhfDKinr/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVzHfslxoIOXL9ZaI8oxfRna7Po6sWOuEaWCaCbxz5jSki4qveRGh1yt2rfRcRHHdgnpYtO5MGOMA3epJnxG1CK_w-AiyKavz6RBNLNKbCYmjP69GngDIvU-pDCbygOIr6qJ2LhfDKinr/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki standing by the Pacific side of the WWII Memorial and the place where she (secretly-not allowed) buried some of her father's ashes. Cal served in the Navy, escorted the ship where the Japanese surrendered, and was very proud of his service.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPs6nkMndCDgySNway0662MLZnAicTW83kNihh1Ew_JUGaC_CHTcz02heq20WkJOEEZOmwlHI_Byj4HhwyRfShNoITW-U8fa5UeF4toTxWaeiv-TxGUEIJ0a79Rrlo4HJULAJ0lhBvYVl/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPs6nkMndCDgySNway0662MLZnAicTW83kNihh1Ew_JUGaC_CHTcz02heq20WkJOEEZOmwlHI_Byj4HhwyRfShNoITW-U8fa5UeF4toTxWaeiv-TxGUEIJ0a79Rrlo4HJULAJ0lhBvYVl/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was chilly there!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJaDeFri3Ue0qPmku-dtqk0mpNI3AbZu0tLYjpIIOSlOW8zQNxKQ1litSxNRM1TZe0PPEZP-a-SMbzlBDVycImEhHVonpJwfu0XeP2EMz_hekrs1gZAZMuimCr8OPrntdZOmw5of1xbsx/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJaDeFri3Ue0qPmku-dtqk0mpNI3AbZu0tLYjpIIOSlOW8zQNxKQ1litSxNRM1TZe0PPEZP-a-SMbzlBDVycImEhHVonpJwfu0XeP2EMz_hekrs1gZAZMuimCr8OPrntdZOmw5of1xbsx/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fish is a tour guide when not directing school bands. He got the tour bus exclusively for family on Thursday night. Gave any family in town at the time a fantastic historical tour of the monuments.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnROtEOfHYmEjjg0noPLr9QYxRGc54DjhYe6yQ424g6zouy46XKXfj2DS4Ol3o7qZWdux4MvYm65h4Dgtf14wwNe5fZRTeHVNaOUuVeyz0ttmpYJhwlZg88qX7bqYT8S7PyOT21WYsH9ER/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnROtEOfHYmEjjg0noPLr9QYxRGc54DjhYe6yQ424g6zouy46XKXfj2DS4Ol3o7qZWdux4MvYm65h4Dgtf14wwNe5fZRTeHVNaOUuVeyz0ttmpYJhwlZg88qX7bqYT8S7PyOT21WYsH9ER/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aimee was the conductor and flag distributor</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59fW0Vp1ZcfjOXmpZDWCNlaHo9jmavbvF9vwiMmjBW10fwP3qv_juCiBykKTVJkIc6ld-xY_UkiSuBQlqz0g740m85QWYcAJTnnWSLvGqRbd2QqYcRQ3aroz1-adOLoc94UWcq_Sa24WX/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59fW0Vp1ZcfjOXmpZDWCNlaHo9jmavbvF9vwiMmjBW10fwP3qv_juCiBykKTVJkIc6ld-xY_UkiSuBQlqz0g740m85QWYcAJTnnWSLvGqRbd2QqYcRQ3aroz1-adOLoc94UWcq_Sa24WX/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's where the "elected children" play</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TjQU_3Nm1xHNNoJz3Hu31uHpsOSmgOsOSsRwTQeNwQ_zm1h3iPCHUvuU0wK-Z6Ng_XDBc_Azv2umNPm1IRKQIV3Z9kWSl5CQNLSdaB_-rWdY2hdJOlNiaXpCO_TTZzSqbas55P4gWcM1/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TjQU_3Nm1xHNNoJz3Hu31uHpsOSmgOsOSsRwTQeNwQ_zm1h3iPCHUvuU0wK-Z6Ng_XDBc_Azv2umNPm1IRKQIV3Z9kWSl5CQNLSdaB_-rWdY2hdJOlNiaXpCO_TTZzSqbas55P4gWcM1/s320/023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daughters Katie and Chris; and, baby JoycE and Son-in-Law Joel</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JEin1kz8bm7Zm_d_8MsK_RTyi5Tf9nnd0TmqjA8vxxPmA7yhvBk5k3C6CDAUvoq6PnFqRS3Bx8KJprfj5HeljASWF5LsMyW7cngVFVKpKAMUAOD_zOdgzE3LnTIMOyzEDF2xibQ6Xi2z/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JEin1kz8bm7Zm_d_8MsK_RTyi5Tf9nnd0TmqjA8vxxPmA7yhvBk5k3C6CDAUvoq6PnFqRS3Bx8KJprfj5HeljASWF5LsMyW7cngVFVKpKAMUAOD_zOdgzE3LnTIMOyzEDF2xibQ6Xi2z/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TH7YCZqLNiw9T2gy9QzWwQmVb00FV5RF401tpiMtagBuf9nm2CxVvd_btTpG8VnO6baQ5s-VIZv2EHwO0F01fQ_5q27W57nuAgv0VK3YxGqWp8b2Tm0E7Zgdd6dtdQQ7sYj6nuAe6UvU/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TH7YCZqLNiw9T2gy9QzWwQmVb00FV5RF401tpiMtagBuf9nm2CxVvd_btTpG8VnO6baQ5s-VIZv2EHwO0F01fQ_5q27W57nuAgv0VK3YxGqWp8b2Tm0E7Zgdd6dtdQQ7sYj6nuAe6UvU/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Korean War Memorial--Spectacular at night</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUylLopJYOBwolFC9oNvDbddHrfKHWPnV17N13hlxiPi3M5r5hjvPzO15MCDlIPjzu69-kYj3UK31OPDO0DqfaiRLL3lGE86xvUFK_KhWgwGZNOtL6HVbsoCnX3DeP7NQlZQpeteBcBX7/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUylLopJYOBwolFC9oNvDbddHrfKHWPnV17N13hlxiPi3M5r5hjvPzO15MCDlIPjzu69-kYj3UK31OPDO0DqfaiRLL3lGE86xvUFK_KhWgwGZNOtL6HVbsoCnX3DeP7NQlZQpeteBcBX7/s320/038.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">JoycE, Joel and Chris on the tour bus</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYukeNLaluYsSqa94CcaUwwa6KGq5pUGfashgjFUmW2g0Auoju27HbpZSh_RvxTSx-e8l6F1SnnAKUd_rR57kArnfyEOhEVvmnaDmzThVb0cS15xS2qo3jl_I1LwlwLFS5u_W2QlLO7QNi/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYukeNLaluYsSqa94CcaUwwa6KGq5pUGfashgjFUmW2g0Auoju27HbpZSh_RvxTSx-e8l6F1SnnAKUd_rR57kArnfyEOhEVvmnaDmzThVb0cS15xS2qo3jl_I1LwlwLFS5u_W2QlLO7QNi/s320/042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rehersal dinner-someone brought mustashes, eyebrows and beards--required attire.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3kCulcfMZHOG1My_2P3rEZfQ2C3vHmTVhQ0b4wETjLyz8ai6RmtckPm5xmjPLM4OajJoq2eloCD0XVtbthDYebnlBOWrxYKQTLBU2gaL-m7RdellbCidmgev1iCFRFyYBhZTIrxICsfA/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3kCulcfMZHOG1My_2P3rEZfQ2C3vHmTVhQ0b4wETjLyz8ai6RmtckPm5xmjPLM4OajJoq2eloCD0XVtbthDYebnlBOWrxYKQTLBU2gaL-m7RdellbCidmgev1iCFRFyYBhZTIrxICsfA/s320/049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aimee and Fish</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVtTgCHvW1C951Rp4Kpr7oNztcKM89QiOsIJO47p93ClutQYCIeddsgRFl90coxNYxOmWR3UqqYxLrUlO9G7vGWWYXub0ZwdC0V6qAI2jfPhZz4dhSwRPJ8671Ikgc_B5SWBsuyZn8OAS/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVtTgCHvW1C951Rp4Kpr7oNztcKM89QiOsIJO47p93ClutQYCIeddsgRFl90coxNYxOmWR3UqqYxLrUlO9G7vGWWYXub0ZwdC0V6qAI2jfPhZz4dhSwRPJ8671Ikgc_B5SWBsuyZn8OAS/s320/058.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Norm and Aimee</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd657xX09znOniSFWCngCZZRz_IxcaxDI4KQ5nPsXbtkzk_waMtzTG33I3dp6CCiy7AWhWI-eNfFrtvdjzbe26nVlC3fkYVINvCiH2ig3ilzHW7xxKDN5yXHCQvSa3QEO454DL3BStBwOV/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd657xX09znOniSFWCngCZZRz_IxcaxDI4KQ5nPsXbtkzk_waMtzTG33I3dp6CCiy7AWhWI-eNfFrtvdjzbe26nVlC3fkYVINvCiH2ig3ilzHW7xxKDN5yXHCQvSa3QEO454DL3BStBwOV/s320/062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Norm giving the "father"-of-the-bride toast. He had to wear socks for this event, folks.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h7KInLVWoQrddLTx4XOiFR1quWqkmTfFpzdq6RxgHyoUFyKz8Kh-l87MAPo_fo-gPxnjZRDw_ykOl4UO0w0tfbPyL-IXuAa4WyYwVQtFYWPpky6vFIguHgsSDK0H45BrykJBa6MlOLMc/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4h7KInLVWoQrddLTx4XOiFR1quWqkmTfFpzdq6RxgHyoUFyKz8Kh-l87MAPo_fo-gPxnjZRDw_ykOl4UO0w0tfbPyL-IXuAa4WyYwVQtFYWPpky6vFIguHgsSDK0H45BrykJBa6MlOLMc/s320/064.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bride and groom having a tender moment on the dance floor</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpmBbA5V0JkQQqt3V8tVQlmOG0Qa-aLKkX_Vv1jcBoycdrVr4kp03z18XeahvPMt_xKvF1hqMyPe-OMxahbhEFJiAfCOjHWNBNp0h7LBoaoG9OpR7VVp4-C-5slg3V1mTB5AOD4BknbuK/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpmBbA5V0JkQQqt3V8tVQlmOG0Qa-aLKkX_Vv1jcBoycdrVr4kp03z18XeahvPMt_xKvF1hqMyPe-OMxahbhEFJiAfCOjHWNBNp0h7LBoaoG9OpR7VVp4-C-5slg3V1mTB5AOD4BknbuK/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daughter Katie and Vicki</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6pzEMQh2XVKuC3uw59kJmNkTONVQ-VCqOD6RH0J7VUxMElUgA084l3G3_derj4X95vGqfKrH6wwyRC49GNirAVya9_644gqpdNS7sk_cYVwpr_hD0LxLAB3-e2_wdg4bqzkTOgdl_4k8/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6pzEMQh2XVKuC3uw59kJmNkTONVQ-VCqOD6RH0J7VUxMElUgA084l3G3_derj4X95vGqfKrH6wwyRC49GNirAVya9_644gqpdNS7sk_cYVwpr_hD0LxLAB3-e2_wdg4bqzkTOgdl_4k8/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daughter Colleen, (with grand-miracle #4) and Norm on the dance floor.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gg0Mu4554D8kha7_IGg_dNjgS7k7tR0u9awkKMZDMLcBjLSlef5dlLfg0_SzCvQeeSqaCyqfjzzEj0FynQJNstcWaaWH9wXRK0yuJ5DNPa1AH-fatNuD2ns7U_PkHYw4wRh8mlyUi-LB/s1600/093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gg0Mu4554D8kha7_IGg_dNjgS7k7tR0u9awkKMZDMLcBjLSlef5dlLfg0_SzCvQeeSqaCyqfjzzEj0FynQJNstcWaaWH9wXRK0yuJ5DNPa1AH-fatNuD2ns7U_PkHYw4wRh8mlyUi-LB/s320/093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Four Generations: Vicki's Mom (Avie), Vicki, Chris and JoycE</div><br />
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It was time to depart Washington DC, unfortunately at the beginning of the Cherry Blossom Festival. We rented a car and drove to some Virginia towns we have never been to. First stop was Charlottesville, VA, home to Jefferson's University of VA and Monticello, Jefferson's home. We really enjoyed this stop and learned a lot about Jefferson.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiAge6X2-zdJ82owaVzYgX3y8HZG1t6Dfy0O4EjSTAteUBr8YdiSk1XHgwOyVz6lUR8N4F5KZ2CZsAnxh0qIBXN6WIeWOAAipYVzBg5bAUzWumC5unx2QXtrRUN1OavGlRQ-gSbHk-uj_/s1600/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiAge6X2-zdJ82owaVzYgX3y8HZG1t6Dfy0O4EjSTAteUBr8YdiSk1XHgwOyVz6lUR8N4F5KZ2CZsAnxh0qIBXN6WIeWOAAipYVzBg5bAUzWumC5unx2QXtrRUN1OavGlRQ-gSbHk-uj_/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jefferson's beloved Monticello. His grave is in the family plot a short </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">distance down the hill from the mansion</div><br />
Then it was on to Lynchburg, VA. Interesting town built on the side of a mountain. Lots of Confederate memorials here. And, Jerry Falwells Liberty University is here. Very impressive campus and most important (to Norm anyway) a ski hill with no snow. That's right, it was some other material that is kept wet. Watch this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzM5zpc82WZRPDmghGgFCOl1YnKoTQh_q7ViTaHVqJFpPDN7ZEk9CRRwMWuQck3uI-TWxCI_3O25S5F2qgl9Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out this ski hill with no snow. Cooooool!!</div><br />
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The road trip continued to Roanoke, VA. Both Lynchburg and Roanoke are in the midst of urban renewal. They have real promise but now lots of closed up shops and scars of urban decay. Actually, we were very excited about these towns as possible retirement locations. But, really not our mojo there.<br />
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It was on to Raleigh, NC next. We stopped by Rick and Lynnie's home in Cary (suburb of Raleigh) for a couple of nights. You devoted blog readers will remember our good friends Rick and Lynnie and their Defever "Rickshaw". They buddy-boated with us for a few years. They are land-dwellers now and sold their beloved Defever. We had a great time. Vicki and Lynnie got a pedicure. Norm helped Rick with a house project. After all that, it was play-time. It was a wonderful visit. It was sad to say goodbye when they put us on an Amtrack train for our journey back to Sarasota. We didn't get much sleep on the train and 1 hour outside of Tampa, the train hit a truck that tried to beat the gate--but didn't, by a hair. No one was injured but the authorities had to investigate and fill out reports and do interviews, etc. We were delayed by an hour. The last leg of this journey was on an Amtrack bus to Sarasota from Tampa. We arrived home safe, but exhausted. We've been relaxing since them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg120XyhMObWc8D9iFTQgBYUoSWxCuu6191OKrr-Mi5jw7VejIUlaKnWH0pPyFwZeg_1vP6bE8tpOz3vr1mqzRYJbzsx_0cisgV-UJAaq6JU3ZoDHab_NZfWNIJJJIMgLOSQbRKGlEU9L5U/s1600/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg120XyhMObWc8D9iFTQgBYUoSWxCuu6191OKrr-Mi5jw7VejIUlaKnWH0pPyFwZeg_1vP6bE8tpOz3vr1mqzRYJbzsx_0cisgV-UJAaq6JU3ZoDHab_NZfWNIJJJIMgLOSQbRKGlEU9L5U/s320/026.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki, Norm, Lynnie and Rick at the University Chapel</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEC3LbnErgD_KhKts-E94fOWwC7j-UH2HIj1CDcFJIinfrQO7Ll5URteqYssSjK4K6dlylUtxe-VSew0iZ4plXz0J9uy-KWk5Ul03uaVxBmVINDFrTCtwrbSXORAhG302058c_Ci9x7_c/s1600/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEC3LbnErgD_KhKts-E94fOWwC7j-UH2HIj1CDcFJIinfrQO7Ll5URteqYssSjK4K6dlylUtxe-VSew0iZ4plXz0J9uy-KWk5Ul03uaVxBmVINDFrTCtwrbSXORAhG302058c_Ci9x7_c/s320/030.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rick and Lynnie took us on a tour of Durham, Raleigh, and these gardens. Where's Wal__, ooops, I mean Vicki?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksKAmDkaxJU14tmyQAC7Z8nA8qNfy61dSeCWYDIJo02qHUtEdi5r-VFINAVJ2cNqiw9zKF-VVwsSQRQGIxymh-F-yzmrlIDqrXvgQOrqcB9X3GMWi8oj0hQ7JQFm2X0Qauiaa3ptux9fe/s1600/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksKAmDkaxJU14tmyQAC7Z8nA8qNfy61dSeCWYDIJo02qHUtEdi5r-VFINAVJ2cNqiw9zKF-VVwsSQRQGIxymh-F-yzmrlIDqrXvgQOrqcB9X3GMWi8oj0hQ7JQFm2X0Qauiaa3ptux9fe/s320/031.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lynnie and Rick at the gardens</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSSlO7WunZc92otzTZ-6wB1ugGOW-1FfL7cBS13GgAUr2ps2lZfUYq0rDUhyphenhyphenT1KhPUdxjXYDghkIRINT1SxrzwWehwziG_WdPqN_ISX9GeF4gjcd02htBtHtpE07O74UgPx7hBAyAARBt/s1600/032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSSlO7WunZc92otzTZ-6wB1ugGOW-1FfL7cBS13GgAUr2ps2lZfUYq0rDUhyphenhyphenT1KhPUdxjXYDghkIRINT1SxrzwWehwziG_WdPqN_ISX9GeF4gjcd02htBtHtpE07O74UgPx7hBAyAARBt/s320/032.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One night while playing canasta, Vicki tried to do the mind-meld with Rick. But he wasn't having any of it and protected himself with this mind-meld barrier. He won!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6InQTjv4EfHZv6f4wsYnCh6eeo96JUNOaOX8moRBHa4ODWF1TL11b19CetmURuU8rwvMYuadJ-6fG9ujbTMJ9zvVcDkdv_yetAJIEnEO8opqPfNdu-UoLV1W5NvNQhxzvdXHxMLQkPLxa/s1600/036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6InQTjv4EfHZv6f4wsYnCh6eeo96JUNOaOX8moRBHa4ODWF1TL11b19CetmURuU8rwvMYuadJ-6fG9ujbTMJ9zvVcDkdv_yetAJIEnEO8opqPfNdu-UoLV1W5NvNQhxzvdXHxMLQkPLxa/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This truck tried to beat the RR gate--and lost! No injuries and only minor damage, luckily. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>No long rest for the weary, though. Vicki took off today for Columbus, Ohio for Colleen's two baby showers this weekend. So Norm is "batching it" on the boat tonight. Tomorrow, our friend Roger will pick Norm up for a drive down to Cape Coral to see their new home. And, maybe a toddy or two.<br />
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More later............<div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3910827270236954305.post-33029315077684430922011-03-21T13:55:00.000-04:002011-03-21T13:55:38.192-04:00Maybe. Just maybe, this might be it...............Hello to all our blog readers. As you might know, we have been exploring permanent retirement locations for when we decide to "move ashore". We have been doing this for a long time. While that date is still far off, we have come to like Sarasota very much. Norm's mom and dad retired here many years ago, so we would visit from time to time. But they lived south of Sarasota and that did not give us much of an opportunity to explore the urban areas. On this trip, we took the time to rediscover the city we have been to a number of times. We still have a few more towns to check out including St Pete and some in the Smokey Mountains; but, Sarasota is looking good!! We'll keep you up to date on our progress from time to time.<br />
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Here's our cruise from Ft Myers to Sarasota. We made a stopover in Englewood, FL (we never heard of it before either) and docked at the Cape Haze Marina. OK for one night but not more. Remember, just click on the following link and use the + and - buttons to zoom in or out. <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=26.800784,-82.173615&spn=1.385097,3.337097&z=9&msid=209687670057056651320.00049efed0401493b6b2c">Ft Myers to Sarasota, FL</a><br />
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Our cruise up from Ft Myers was delightful. The weather was superb, the views outstanding and the seas in the waterway were calm. We arrived Sarasota on Sunday, March 13 and will remain here for a month. Our first job was to walk to town and "check-it-out". We were very impressed to see great restaurants, bars, parks, clean streets and sidewalks. There are lots of high and low rise condos, single family homes, churches and all the county government buildings. Not satisfied with just walking, we took a guided tour of the cultural areas--on a Segway. This was a "yet-to-be-claimed" Christmas present Vicki gave to Norm last December. The tour was a hoot. We were like a row of little ducklings following the leader through Sarasota's cultural district. We learned about the opera house, all the theater houses and a good bit of Sarasota's history. And, the segway's were easy to ride and control and a nice break for tired legs. Only one little problem. Norm got a bit frustrated with the speed of the tour. After his orientation and after gaining good control, he wanted to "put the pedal to the metal", but the tour guide would not allow it and he had to be scolded a couple times.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lUBbmV9JMLbgvHsIWPCQYwwax1Qfce4QQnCEYz79tYN4RqHhB2HC8uw-OWmEDXoj0ZD15j7tJ-NRwb4sa_gu6OFNTi-ErLasWXa3r9PmMUkZaTnOPd-zlDTuoV9Qnm9wlEEaVRMrNJmn/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lUBbmV9JMLbgvHsIWPCQYwwax1Qfce4QQnCEYz79tYN4RqHhB2HC8uw-OWmEDXoj0ZD15j7tJ-NRwb4sa_gu6OFNTi-ErLasWXa3r9PmMUkZaTnOPd-zlDTuoV9Qnm9wlEEaVRMrNJmn/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vicki and Norm on their Segway Tour in Sarasota</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We received a very special treat a day or so later. Our very dear friends from our old hometown and church in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin were in town and visited with us for a day. Tom and Pat Schildt and Terry and Cathy Andrus and we took a walking tour of downtown Sarasota, ate lunch al fresco and relaxed on Tide Hiker for a while. Then, we all toured Beverly's (Cathy's mom) home on Long boat Key. Of course we were hungry again--its the American way, you know. So, off to dinner to a great Italian restaurant. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm1anVYXLFENFj4csx_Wgxj7hamVOQA35r21u46PuT-1OIxMuGjk7IgdPTmgK98SwGwVdEeLWSh6Eb_D0yyTQNrHE3RfN9yfXTtXYxz-wbs1sJQALnvuaSRzlz10UvxJoBPLGPJ41-Zys/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm1anVYXLFENFj4csx_Wgxj7hamVOQA35r21u46PuT-1OIxMuGjk7IgdPTmgK98SwGwVdEeLWSh6Eb_D0yyTQNrHE3RfN9yfXTtXYxz-wbs1sJQALnvuaSRzlz10UvxJoBPLGPJ41-Zys/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tom, Pat, Norm, Vicki, Cathy and Terry at lunch al fresco in downtown Sarasota</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7BhUO33TQbvcZUT7Vp5d03hiN074KoDhiAxicWq2VRveJDxpCsyM00qdt0qz76Af5i6u-tjievZC1utuRTWo8cx7on7CvaeAlMLjteIb4jmuZnt_uSJzQ8jxeYzXXeI_w4jyRgi20TYA/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7BhUO33TQbvcZUT7Vp5d03hiN074KoDhiAxicWq2VRveJDxpCsyM00qdt0qz76Af5i6u-tjievZC1utuRTWo8cx7on7CvaeAlMLjteIb4jmuZnt_uSJzQ8jxeYzXXeI_w4jyRgi20TYA/s320/011.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tom, who had never been on Tide Hiker before, and being a retired tradesman, had lots of questions. So, a detailed tour of the engine room was in order.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a fantastic day with fantastic friends. If we settle in these parts, we'll be able to see them more often--giving Sarasota another edge in our thinking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next big event was St Patrick's Day. And, Sarasota celebrates it in style. A couple streets were closed off and the downtown bars were jumping till wee hours. Our friends Bob and Stephanie aboard September Song, Joe and Julia aboard Sea Pearl and Todd and Brenda aboard Life's 2 Short arrived early (like us) to rest up for the big day. And, Doug and Tammy, "the professionals" aboard Gypsies in the Palace drove over from Cape Canaveral. So, we now had a quorum and were able to celebrate St Pat's. Here's a few shots that we know will make the blog albums.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-L6e34RVpupSEc1xPqv7VBoorz95mOwlayLIElZOW4ukGZczSoSwGVS0pJHmhDNWzKvRPACwgTqzR6JmH3DUI321v2xqBwfQnmIMnuLH9CZnja3PfRBuXORROvCFhZjFREeKUL3aGBfT/s1600/P3170012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-L6e34RVpupSEc1xPqv7VBoorz95mOwlayLIElZOW4ukGZczSoSwGVS0pJHmhDNWzKvRPACwgTqzR6JmH3DUI321v2xqBwfQnmIMnuLH9CZnja3PfRBuXORROvCFhZjFREeKUL3aGBfT/s320/P3170012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Norm and Vicki started early</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEPUhTg0CsswyVQAKov3RJQmkApkXNgNnvbWYZ1n9tJzolI5xQNSho7bIgq2CHhBsiBmtiiDgrCKDd-FfZXxgWzUcpTYdaOFWujsDl2rp2om6ArWzMmUZInw4uP0gn3hAuW66getBbwhI/s1600/P3180006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEPUhTg0CsswyVQAKov3RJQmkApkXNgNnvbWYZ1n9tJzolI5xQNSho7bIgq2CHhBsiBmtiiDgrCKDd-FfZXxgWzUcpTYdaOFWujsDl2rp2om6ArWzMmUZInw4uP0gn3hAuW66getBbwhI/s320/P3180006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tammy and Doug displaying their mobile coozies. They keep them on their person 24/7, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">like professionals do.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarGt1eLMLFJCZRULYkJZKbzFk7jFHCnGdISCWzg50d9OoyNkJrCHP8eBu14ufGylmvxjiezf1-i76QTtu-l-MoLXz6Sbx8ToghNHVuxEUDrY9Cvq4whYiEj9a2HsUnW3A9Wp9_TGyl2xb/s1600/P3170055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarGt1eLMLFJCZRULYkJZKbzFk7jFHCnGdISCWzg50d9OoyNkJrCHP8eBu14ufGylmvxjiezf1-i76QTtu-l-MoLXz6Sbx8ToghNHVuxEUDrY9Cvq4whYiEj9a2HsUnW3A9Wp9_TGyl2xb/s320/P3170055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Todd loves the Irish</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm1-aNhnvCtSsVAsNNlzl6ihdLrLPyU1JyzNjvMXp-5u3VPGceJGkHOnWl1IAiShb8Ahe-ANOFm_M8_ZUcj0TsnB3pqQWZzwiwTwuBdWRE7IHhJavtw921mv9DDspitr7PExInG4gaxj6/s1600/P3170050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDm1-aNhnvCtSsVAsNNlzl6ihdLrLPyU1JyzNjvMXp-5u3VPGceJGkHOnWl1IAiShb8Ahe-ANOFm_M8_ZUcj0TsnB3pqQWZzwiwTwuBdWRE7IHhJavtw921mv9DDspitr7PExInG4gaxj6/s320/P3170050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bob, Brenda, Stephanie, Julia, Vicki and Norm posing for Todd</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another important reason for stopping in Sarasota was the Defever Cruisers 2011 Rendezvous. One hundred twenty five members and about 25 Defever boats descended on Marina Jack Marina. We had two days of seminars covering important boating issues, raffles, banquets, open boat tours and partying, including dancing, till the wee hours. All in all, it was a very successful event. Vicki was the registrar and got lots of well-deserved accolades for her hard work. We're waiting for some pics of this event. We'll add them later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, tonight starts the one millionth season of the TV program "Dancing with the Stars" as Norm likes to point out. Vicki says that this is a reason to keep the party going. So, Steve and Di aboard Aurora and Joe and Julia were invited for dinner and a "movie" tonight. Di and Vicki are humongous fans and never miss an airing. Unfortunately, Joe and Julia have other dinner plans but said that they will be by for the "movie". Do you suppose Joe or Julia will become fans like Vicki and Di? Stay tuned to an upcoming post for an answer to this cliffhanger.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Norm & Vicki Naughton
Aboard M/V Tide Hiker
tidehiker@earthlink.net</div>Norm and Vicki Naughtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103951359127488849noreply@blogger.com0