Rogersville, AL – September 30, 2008

We got our rental car this morning and drove to Huntsville. Our first stop was the Visitors Center. 2 very nice ladies were there and offered their suggestions. The major draws here, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the Botanical Gardens and Burritt on the Mountain, are what we will be seeing on our group tour the day after our Fall Rendezvous concludes, so they came up with other things to see.

Another of the attractions here is Harrison Brothers Hardware and we went there. Harrison Brothers Hardware is the oldest operating hardware store in Alabama. It was founded in 1879 and was moved to its present location in 1897. When ownership of the store passed from father to son, the store was maintained in turn-of-the century condition. In 1983 when the last son and owner died, the Huntsville Foundation purchased the property to preserve the store.

It is indeed a popular tourist attraction. The wood displays, tiny drawers, hand operated rope elevator, pot-bellied stove and cash register are among a few of the wonderful things to see. It has been re-stocked with many items to be purchased. We bought a Tiddledy Winks game (remember those) to have at home for the grandkids.

We then drove around the historic section of Huntsville. There were many old, beautiful homes with beautiful gardens and grounds. Most were very well maintained and some were in the process of being renovated.

It had been quite awhile since we had seen a movie, so our next stop was a theater. We decided to see a move entitled “Burn after Reading”. We didn’t know anything about it, but George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand and John Malkovich (big name stars) were in it. We nearly left during the movie, and afterwards we felt we should “Burn the Movie”. At the end credits we discovered it was directed by Ethan and Joel Coen. They have made some good movies but also a number of really “off the wall” films.

Part of Joe Wheeler Park is a habitat center. On the way back to the boat, we stopped for four fawns on the side of the road. They were quite unafraid of our car. Tomorrow, more sight seeing.

Rogersville, AL September 29, 2008

Today we decided to stay at Joe Wheeler Marina for a few more days. We will be taking a trip further up the Tennessee River into Chattanooga, but since we will be back here towards the end of October for the Looper Fall Rendezvous, we found it would benefit us to convert to a monthly rate.

Tomorrow we are renting a car and will do some exploring. We may backtrack and go visit the Shiloh battlefield. There is some more work we want to do on the boat so we will also be doing some shopping and picking up some supplies.

There are 4 other looper boats here and we got together for cocktails. It’s always fun to visit with other loopers to hear about their travels.

Rogersville, AL – September 28, 2008

Today was spent doing (still) more jobs around the boat. There is always something to do. We do have internet here, but unfortunately our cell phone coverage is very spotty here. We have weak signal for a few minutes and then it’s gone for an hour or so.

There are also a couple other looper boats here. One couple has been doing the loop for 9 years, and they haven’t yet completed it. They keep finding areas they really like and spend a lot of time exploring them. They will eventually finish the loop and will have been able to see everything.

We found that there are many boats that had planned to spend several weeks or a month here at Joe Wheeler Marina. They have had to postpone their arrival because they’ve been delayed due to the flooding on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

Fuzzy and the Swan

One time when we were anchored Fuzzy saw a swan swim up by our boat. It was so pretty and graceful and Fuzzy wanted to know more about it.










Swans are birds and are in the same family as ducks and geese. There are many kinds of swans and this one is called a Trumpeter Swan.

A boy swan is a cob, a girl is a pen, and babies are called cygnets. A swan can have 25,000 feathers!! That’s a lot of feathers!!!!







Fuzzy got to throw some bread to the swan. The swan liked to eat the bread and stayed by the boat to get more. Then he drank some water.

Florence, AL – Rogersville, AL – September 27, 2008

After getting up early to call the next lock to check on availability, we were underway at 7. We traveled again with Footloose, who also left today.

Wilson Lock has a lift of 93 feet and, other than the pan lifts on the Trent-Severn in Canada, is the largest of our trip. Wilson Dam is named after Woodrow Wilson, is 137 feet high and 4,541 feet long and when it was completed in 1925, was the worlds largest. The arches forming the spillways are patterned after construction skills dating back to the Roman Empire and, in 1966 the dam was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

We crossed Wilson Lake to Wheeler Dam. Footloose called ahead to the dam and found it was locking through a tow and that it would be 2 hours until they could take us. We slowed down considerably, but still arrived at the dam 45 minutes before we could get in. This dam is only 72 feet high and the

lowest of all the dams on the Tennessee River. However, with a length of 6,342 feet, it is the third longest.

We arrived at Joe Wheeler State Park Marina at 11:30. This is a very pretty marina, with well-kept facilities. The boat rates are among the most reasonable we have found on our trip, $0.75/ft. per night. We have paid more at many places having much less in the way of amenities. Joe Wheeler State Park also offers camping, along with cabins, cottages and lodge with rooms.


There are hiking trails and a golf course. There is a restaurant here offering everything from snacks to full meals. This is where our “Loopers” fall rendezvous is being held so we are getting a preview.

2 locks – total 90

Florence, AL – September 26, 2008

Last night we ate at an Italian restaurant recommended by the marina. It was a very popular place and we were lucky to get right in. The food was good.

Today was spent completing projects around the boat. Darrell also washed the boat while Beth took the courtesy car to get a much needed haircut.

The weather has been very nice these past few weeks. It has been warm and sunny during the day and cools down at night for really good sleeping weather.

Florence, AL – September 25, 2008

The area where we are staying is referred to as the Muscle Shoals area. It consists of four cities, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia on the south side of the river and Florence on the north side. This is the third largest urban area along the Tennessee River, population approximately 75,000.

Along with Jim and Sandy of Footloose we rented a car for the day. First on our list of places to visit was the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Showcased here are the best known Alabamians who have influenced the course of music history. Some of the singers from Alabama who had exhibits are Tammy Wynette, Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr., The Commodores, Bobby Goldsboro, Lionel Richie, Nat King Cole, and Alabama. There were many others who were not familiar to us.

After this we drove to Helen Keller’s birthplace and home. Ivy Green was built in 1820, by the grandparents of Helen Keller. In 1954 Ivy Green was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Helen was born in the small cottage next to the main house. The picture of the well-pump is the actual pump where Helen’s breakthrough occurred and is located between the main house and her birthplace cottage. There are huge trees in the yard of the home, including a 150 year old English box-wood.