M/V Leap of Faith

Skipper goes trick or treating and meets ZuZu the hairless cat face to face. With Robert and Brenda on Over Ice, at Florence Harbor Marina on the Tennessee River.

After leaving Goosepond, we headed back out through Ditto and Joe Wheeler. Our next big stop was in Florence, Alabama, which is in an area called The Shoals — as in, Muscle Shoals. We did make a pilgrimage to the Fame Studios. Unfortunately we were there early on a Sunday and didn’t get inside, but still, we had the chills just being there. Also saved for the “next time around” was a drive out to Memphis, as well as a stop at Nashville. Got to tour a Frank Lloyd Wright house, and the Helen Keller house.

Spent many day, night and bottle of Fireball with the crew of Over Ice, Robert and Brenda.

We travelled back down the rivers after the Rendezvous, hop-scotching with LeryLynn and Over Ice. Made stops at Ditto Landing, and then spent a couple of weeks at Goosepond Colony Marina on the Tennessee River in Scotsboro, AL. We tried to keep up with the group going to Chattanooga, TN but were pooped out and stopped at Goosepond. Caught up with Over Ice and other loopers on their way back out.

We were able to borrow the marina loaner car and drove over to the Huntsville, AL Space Center – a terrific stop and well worth a visit. Also stopped at the Unclaimed Baggage Center, where the unclaimed baggage from the various airlines is ultimately deposited and the contents put up for sale. It was an interesting novelty stop, but its not like you get an unopened bag of possible treasure. They actually open the bags and put the items out; it looks sort of like Marshalls or TJ Maxx.

This remains one of the best museums that we have visited. We took the tour of the sub (USS Cobia), as well as the museum tour. That appears to be fellow Looper Dave Fuller of Still Waters II with Artie.

Anyone reading who knows us from our crazier diving days probably recognizes the items above. (Teddy, are you still around?) On the right are valve handles which bear a striking similarity to those off of the USS Tarpon. On the right, the dive horn. (Aah-ooow-gah Dive! Dive! Dive!).

More of what we love about the Loop and about cruising, is walking through the various downtowns. In Peoria we found a café that handed out a doggy menu for the Skipper. Also, an old-fashioned hardware store. We always try to stop at those, as well as marine chandlery stores and salvage places.

Stopped at Peoria on the way downriver. This is the headquarters for Caterpillar; the Silverton had two 3208s, so we got in for free! Playing around in some of the big machines on display.