Fall Rendezvous and Chattanooga Side Trip

The AGLCA (America's Great Loop Cruiser's Association), has a four-day rendezvous spring and fall each year. The fall one, is always in Rogersville, Alabama at Joe Wheeler State Park which is on Wheeler Lake, which in turn, is part of the Tennessee River. We were one of 57 boats currently doing the loop, that gathered there along with 59 "wanna-be-loopers" (those planning to do the loop someday), and 59 Gold Loopers (those who have completed the loop), some of whom were on boats and others not. Also in attendance, were many vendors interested in our business.

 

Some of the looper boats at the rendezvous

One of the rendezvous sessions

While at Joe Wheeler, for the third time on this trip, we were the univited guests a a wedding. The first was a military wedding at West Point, the second was a gay wedding in Saugatuck, MI and this, the third, was a "country" wedding. The groom and groomsmen wore vests and jeans and the bridesmaids wore cowboy boots. We heard there was line dancing at the reception and the bride also wore cowboy boots.

Country wedding

 After the rendezvous, needing to kill some time before our insurance company will allow our boat to get within 100 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, we took a side trip up the Tennessee River  to Chattanooga. It was a 380-mile, 10-day, beautiful fall trip which took us through the Tennessee River Gorge, locally known as "The Grand Canyon of Tennessee."

TN River Gorge

Painted Bluff in TN River Gorge

Camps along the TN Gorge

Just before we arrived in Chattanooga,
we passed a floating stage on a barge.
It was the  Coca-Cola floating stage, the
centerpiece for Chattanooga"s annual River

Departing a marina on a foggy morning on the way to Chattanooga

Bend Festival.

Chattanooga has done a fabulous job of tying it's waterfront to its downtown and offers loopers discounted dockage right in the heart of downtown in front of the Tennessee Aquarium.

Coca-Cola Floating Stage

Chattanooga Waterfront

Chattanooga Waterfront

Docktails Chattanooga

 We had a great time exploring this nice, small city, visiting the amazing Tennessee salt water and fresh water Aquariums, the Chattanooga  Cho Cho building (now a luxury hotel) and ate at two, New York City class restaurants.

Pete in front of one of the TN Aquarium buildings

At Aquarium

Diver at Aquarium

Aquarium Tunnel

Penguin at Aquarium

Chattanooga Cho Cho Building

We're now heading back down the Tennessee River to join the Ten Tom Waterway which will lead us eventually to Mobile.
While underway today, I carved our jack o'lantern.

Departing Chattanooga's Waterfront

Happy Holloween!