Home is where the boat is...

Hey folks, It's Radar.

We have a new blog. If you care to click here (Istaboa's Waypoints) you will be redirected to that site. It's now 2012 and we have gone from Tennessee to the Exumas, the Chesapeake, and back to Florida. Now our plans are to go back up the east coast to see America. Places we have never seen before.
Life is good.

Hope you enjoy.

Radar

The end of Istaboa's Cruise 2007

I finally got around to finishing up the blog for the year.

After coming back from our Tennessee River Cruise, we just did normal holiday things.

And worked!

Since then we have brought Istaboa back down the Tenn-Tom and been stuck in Mobile.

Orange Beach that is...

Though Orange Beach, AL is a nice place to be stuck, family issues sadly forced us to delay our trip to the Yucatan until next year.

So, as far away as we ventured was Pensacola, FL.

Family and friends have made up for our disappointment.

I haven't started the layout yet but I will start writing and posting pics again at a new address.

http://istaboawaypoints.blogspot.com/

So... from the crew of Istaboa... Melonie, Radar, and Bob

Goodbye for now.

PS... We are at Dog River Marina in Mobile. Sonny Middleton, the owner and operator has been selling fuel at his cost. Just to help us cruising types keep cruising. So if you're in the area and need service... Call Dog River! they are the best.

Thanks Sonny

Going home for the Holidays

A beautiful sunrise as we leave... Then the weather starts to turn as the day goes on.
By that afternoon we had a full-blown storm with lightning and winds gusting to 40mph.
But it moves on after a while and turns into a beautiful afternoon.

On giving thanks

Obviously we all enjoy our computers or we wouldn't be blogging or reading said blogs. So during this holiday season maybe we should share this technology and experience the joy of unselfishly giving without feeling the gratification of personally seeing the smiles our gifts bring.

This article explains it all clearly... Click here

One learning child. One connected child. One laptop at a time.
The mission of One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. In order to accomplish our goal, we need people who believe in what we’re doing and want to help make education for the world’s children a priority, not a privilege. Between November 12 and November 26, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. During this time, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. One learning child. One connected child. One laptop at a time.

You probably have heard about this cause but if you haven't, read here about the OLPC (One Laptop per Child). We truly believe this is a wonderful program and a lot of people and organizations have put tons of money and effort into this.

Giving thanks for the wonderful life that working in the technology industry has given us... We think this is an exceptional idea for a gift that will keep giving.

After reading the articles... Think of the possibilities!

Happy days

Happy Thanksgiving

Joe Wheeler Park and Marina

In the early morning light.

The color

Woke up early on this cool and clear morning. Took the camera with me while I walked Radar and got a few pics of the color around Joe Wheeler State Park. Caught this little guy watching the sun come up.
The color at the park was even better than on first stay a week ago.

Happy days

The Eagles

Not much to say about the eagles... Saw a few off in the distance and as we worked the boat over closer to them they seemed annoyed and flew away. The light was not good so the shots are a little blurry. It's really nice that we have eagles on the Tennessee all year long. Good sign the river is getting cleaner.


This guy gave me moment to snap a few off but then....
He too took off.


Happy days

On the way home

So it's a beautiful morning as we leave Hales Bar and start our way back home. The fresh early light makes Painted Bluff glow. And the closer we get the more it glows...
The colors are really amazing...
Then we see our first Eagle. He's off in the distance so the pic is a little fuzzy.
Then as we round the bend toward Goose Pond Marina the sky changes
The wind picks up and the makings of a storm are in the air.

Chattanooga Downtown

Finally bandwidth!! Downtown Chattanooga is always fun. Plenty to do. Restaurants, museums, Imax theater, and not just a great aquarium but two great aquariums. The folks in Chattanooga seem to be very laid back and nice. Memphis and Nashville could take a lesson or two from these folks when it comes to hospitality.
Radar does his glamour shot at the steps in front of the water cannons. He is quite a natural at this... we do not pose him... we just wait until he is ready for his picture to be taken.

and this is just a weird picture of an old wooden sailboat. Has nothing to do with anything I just liked the color and patina of the old wood.

While here we met a very nice couple. They docked behind us at the downtown marina.

Robert, Dana, and their dog Bristol. They were on a very pretty Fountain boat and we struck up a conversation about our friend, David, from Pier 57 Fountain Sales at Pickwick. The dogs also became great friends and had a big time chasing each other around the water front. Nice folks, nice night.

Sunday morning brought brunch and a cruise back down the Gorge to Hales Bar. Friends and In-Laws (or Out-laws) Frattatas and Mimosas were consumed... Music was by Allison Krauss and Union Station... and a good time was had by all.

Well as luck would have it-- work did call us back-- so we have been pushing hard to get home.

Next up: Eagles, color, and a storm or two.

Happy days

The run to Chattanooga

So after hangin out at Guntersville Yacht Club, which is a very friendly and unpretentious club, we left early to head for NickaJack Lake and Hales Bar Marina where Rod and Mary Lee (friends and in laws) are staying. It was cold but a beautiful ride. The trees were almost perfect.
You have to click on each pic to see how vivid the colors were.
We will stay here for a day and move on to Chattanooga.

Happy days