Birthdays!! and Camp Nana

Happy Birthday, Nana & Matthew!!

   July is a time of birthdays for us.  Nana & Matthew share a birthday, so we all celebrated this weekend in Asheville with pizza dinner at Brixx and presents & homemade birthday cookies at home.  Matthew has been enjoying his summer at Nana's by swimming, bicycling, and watching Shark Week!    The brothers have been separated for 3 weeks and really missed each other.

Meanwhile, Thomas just finished his 6-week job at Boy Scout camp and will spend the coming week resting, sleeping, and taking hot baths at Nana's before we return home for 2 weeks at Marching Band Camp (then school starts).

Our big birthday boy!! 

Brothers missed each other! 

Scout Camp wore Thomas out!!

Matthew's summer of fun!

Matthew ready for soccer camp

   While Thomas is working at Boy Scout Camp, Matthew is having some fun of his own.  He will enjoy a few day-camps this summer.  He started out attending a S.T.E.M. camp in Lenoir City with his buddy Steve.  They had a great time learning about science, sports, and went swimming.  We traveled to Atlanta to visit with family and had fun playing with his cousins.  He will spend some time with Nana and attend soccer camp for a week.  He is also enjoying having his Lego Room back on our boat and has spent hours building cool stuff!!

Ninja Matthew! 

Diving board - swimming with cousins 

Happy Father's Day!!

   After a delicious homemade dinner & movie last night, bagels & presents for breakfast this morning, David & Thomas will spend the rest of Father's Day at Boy Scout camp today.  David will be helping our Troop this week at camp.
Best wishes to all the dads out there! !

Teenager's first job

Thomas in living quarters

   Our boat has been docked in its' home port for almost 2 weeks now.  We are enjoying having our Home home!  Meanwhile, school is out and it looks to be a busy summer.  The first part of the summer, Thomas will have his first real job!  He is working at the local Boy Scout camp for 6 weeks.  He has attended the camp the past 3 years as a camper, and this year, he will be working in the Trading Post, while living in the Staff quarters.  He is very exciting, and truly enjoying his more grown-up status as Staff at camp.

Thomas' home for 6 weeks 

Staff cabins 

View of the camp from the lake

HOME!!

Home - safe & sound

  After M/V Holly Goodhead being gone for 17 months, she finally returned to her homeport in Lenoir City, TN on Saturday, May 30 at 12:39pm!  David & Matthew got up early in the morning to start the last 60 miles & 1 lock home.  The weather was gorgeous and the river was calm.  Our friends at FLM were happy to see us and her return, and we toasted with champagne to celebrate.

Sunrise on the TN River

Cruising into Ft Loudon Marina

Holly Goodhead back in her slip 

Spring City, TN

Chattanooga waterfront at sunrise

   We awoke to a beautiful morning, and the guys cast off the lines just as the sun was coming up.  They had a calm, early start before all the holiday traffic joined them.  They got through Chickamauga Lock with no problems or delays, but had to wait 2 hours before entering Watts Bar Lock.  Therefore, they decided to stop the day's journey in Spring City, TN.  The boat is almost home.  One more cruising day and she will be back in her regular slip.

Start: TN River mile marker 463         End: TN River mile marker 544
Miles traveled today:       81                Total Locks:  2
Total miles traveled:  3,363

Days cruising:    48

The Dock's Shrimp & Grits 

The Dock's Bread Pudding with rum sauce!

Chattanooga, TN!

   We hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful Memorial Day weekend.  My boys left our early this morning from Scottsboro, AL (teenager was still sleeping, but he sleeps through anything - even loud diesel engines & generator starting!).  They had a leisurely cruise and made good time, but got delayed at Nickajack Lock.  Since it was still early in the afternoon, they decided to continue on to Chattanooga.  

Start: TN River mile marker 378         End: TN River mile marker 463
Miles traveled today:  85  (nm)            Total Locks:  1
Total miles traveled:  3,282

Days cruising:    47

Bumps in the road, I mean river!

Leaving Ditto Landing Marina

  The question we get asked constantly these days is: "When is your boat coming home?"  Good question!  Delays for various reasons have kept us from bringing her home promptly - David works in NY each week, Thomas is back in traditional school, family obligations, and, of course, repairs!   Our cursing adventures were not without a few bumps in the river/ICW.  Recently, our boat has been sitting in Huntsville, AL due to a broken transmission caused when we grounded on an unmarked sand bar on the ICW near Panama City, FL (in December).  At the time, TowBoatUS, after waiting for the incoming tide, was able to get us off the shoal.  Once freed, the starboard engine would not start back up, and we cruised into Panama City Marina on one engine in the dark (a very exciting evening!).  Fortunately, the next morning, it started right up, and we were on our way.  At the time, we must have fractured the input shaft to the transmission, because 7 cruising days later, it broke and the starboard engine would not go into gear.  The guys were 10 miles from Ditto Landing Marina on the TN River, so they cruised in on the port engine, and we called the infamous Diesel Don to check out the engine.  It took a little time, but he was able to get the parts and get her put back together. YEAH!   So, after 5 weeks in Huntsville, Holly Goodhead was ready to cruise again!
   Last night, we drove down to Huntsville, and this morning, the guys got underway for a slow, gentle cruise up the TN River.  After taking 2.5 hours to get through Guntersville Lock, they made it to Goose Pond Landing by 3p CST.  We will have a relaxing evening and they will set off again in the early morning to continue further up the TN River.

Start: TN River mile marker 334         End: TN River mile marker 378
Miles traveled today:  44  (nm)       Total Locks:  1
Total miles traveled:  3,197

Days cruising:    46

Dinner at The Dock @ Goose Pond

Tennessee River Cruising again

   After a long month of waiting, we finally got back down to the boat in Counce, TN.  The guys started out early on a cloudy day, praying the rain would hold off.  They made good time cruising on the TN River again.  We needed to make sure we got above Wilson Lock, as they will be shutting it down in May for 6 weeks for repairs; then we would get stuck in Florence, AL.  But by 10:30am, they were cruising through that lock with no problem and continuing up the river.  A little rain in the afternoon didn't keep them from cruising 120 statute miles and 2 locks today.  Mom caught up with them and a delicious dinner of homemade spaghetti sauce (cooked ahead of time), noodles & garlic bread for the weary travelers.

Start: TN River mile marker 215         End: TN River mile marker 334
Miles traveled today:  119  (32nm)       Total Locks:  2
Total miles traveled:  3,153

Days cruising:    45

Wilson Lock on TN River 

Front of Wilson Lock

Finished Tombigbee Waterway!!

   Today, after another early morning, the guys finished the last 36 miles of the northern portion of the Tombigbee Waterway and arrived in Counce, TN by 9:30am.  Beautiful cruising day!

The whole weekend was a great success:  234 miles and 10 locks in just over 2 days (should have taken 3-4)  Our "home" will be home soon!

Start: Tombigbee mile marker 413       End: Tombigbee mile marker 450
Miles traveled today:  36  (32nm)       Total Locks:  0
Total miles traveled:  3,034

Days cruising:    44

Bay Springs Marina, New Site, MS

Whitten Lock

   Another amazing cruising day by the McCurry guys!  We got up early and the cast off the lines shortly after sunrise.  They had good luck with the locks and didn't have to wait much (until the last lock), so they were able to cruise further than planned.  In the last lock, they actually locked through with a barge (see above).  They cruised 77 miles and went thru 7 locks!!  They are tired!  We are almost done with the Tombigbee Waterway!

Start: Tombigbee mile marker 335       End: Tombigbee mile marker 413
Miles traveled today:  77  (67nm)       Total Locks:  7
Total miles traveled:  3,002

Days cruising:    43

Getting ready to enter Whitten Lock 

Thomas is our lock master

Columbus, MS

Leaving Demopolis, AL

   After our boat sitting in Demopolis for 2 months awaiting our return, we decided to take a long weekend to move it further up the Tombigbee Waterway.  We are trying to get her home by May.  So, we got up early this morning, and Mom cast off the lines and waved goodbye as her guys started their journey this morning.  With a goal of 90 statute miles and two locks, the McCurry men were able to cruise the boat 117 statute miles and 3 locks (and this with a 1-2 knot current working against them and a slightly wet, rainy day!).  Mom was very pleased to meet them in Columbus, MS after 10 long hours of cruising.  She was waiting with Krispy Kreme donuts for a reward, then treated everyone to sushi in the nice town of Columbus.  Tomorrow:  we do it all again!

Start: Tombigbee mile marker 216       End: Tombigbee mile marker 335
Miles traveled today:  116  (108nm)       Total Locks:  3
Total miles traveled:  2,935

Days cruising:    42

Cruising into John Stennis Lock

The guys arriving safely in Columbus, MS
(isn't she beautiful?!) 

More Snow in TN!!

Snow covered Ft Loudon Marina

   I thought I would be able to write about something more exciting than the weather (again!), but that seems to be the excitement for the 2nd half of February.  Just when we were starting to defrost from the ice and freezing rain (with a little snow), we woke up this morning to more snow!  Schools are canceled, roads are closed, everything is white.  At least our electricity didn't go out!  So, the boys & I walked around the marina enjoying the beauty, and getting a small snow fight in as well.

Snow fight 

Icy Tennessee

Icicles on a houseboat

  Is it cold where you are?  East TN got a nice cold front come through this week!  Monday night, we got ice and a little snow, which was just enough to knock the power out all across our area.  We had no power for about 20 hours, mostly due to ice on trees, causing trees to break and fall on power lines.  Many boats had their generators running to keep the boat systems from freezing.  We all checked on each other and huddled together to keep warm.  Unfortunately, it is not supposed to warm up for the next few days, and we are expecting more snow and cold weather.  David's flight was canceled, as well as Thomas' school.  So, we are hanging out as a family keeping warm.  Mom ccoked up some Chicken Matzoh Ball Soup, which everyone enjoyed.

Haul out boat in Demopolis

M/V Holly Goodhead in sling

   Sorry I haven't posted lately.  Recently, our lives have settled into a normal, regular routine.  David flies out each week for work, Thomas goes to school, Matthew & Mom home school, Mom catches everyone up on their doctor appointments, the bills, and our life in general while we have been gone  from TN for a year.  The weather has turned cold:  TN has seen cold, but not much snow, while David is seeing snow in NY.  Thomas is enjoying being back in regular high school, being a Patrol Leader in Boy Scouts, and hopefully get his braces off soon!  We are reconnecting with friends and seeing some family.

   The boat seems to be enjoying Demopolis, and this weekend, so are Mom & Dad.  After almost 3,000 miles of cruising, one year of which was in salt water, we decided to have the boat hauled out to make sure everything underneath looks good and there is no damage.  We were thankful to see a fairly clean bottom, and just some zincs needed replacing.  Back into the water and into the slip within 2 hours. Great!  She is ready now to start moving further north to bring her home.

Demopolis boatyard 

Our beautiful re-worked prop

Science Class at American Museum of Science & Energy

Learning about Hydrogen & Oxygen molecules

  As we are spending time in TN, and the teenager is back at the regular high school, Matthew & mom continue to home school.  Friday, we drove to Oak Ridge to the American Museum of Science & Energy for a chemistry class for home school students.  The class was great, teaching 3-6 graders about some basics of chemistry and doing some experiments.  Matthew enjoyed spending time with kids his age.  We explored the museum a little while we were there.  We look forward to going back for another class!

Experiment 

Chemistry class