Back to Boating

In our 30+ years of coming to Selma AL, we've never
seen this many confusing road signs at any intersection
anywhere else.

As we’re in Selma after the burial, our thoughts start drifting back to boating.  The Admiral says “Why don’t we run down to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach AL to look at marinas for this upcoming winter.”  So we “run” down there – to the tune of 200+ miles each way – and looked at 3 marinas, one of which just might work for us.  Even though we’re not sure where we’ll cruise the remainder of this summer, we’re thinking that next summer we will go back to the Tennessee River to see more of it.  So we want to position the boat to head north up the Tenn-Tom next spring.

The economy in Selma ain't very good, so a guy's gotta do
 what a guy's gotta do!

Entering one of the marinas in Orange Beach AL
by car

Two antiques inside a classic

On our trip from Orange Beach to Chattanooga (to care for Sue’s mother), we spend the night at our good friends Ken & Betsy, who have recently returned to boating (as the saying goes, “The best boat to have is a friend’s boat!”)  Their new boat is a real classic – a fully-restored 1946, 17-foot, all mahogany, Chris Craft run-about, with the original engine.  They invited us to go for a spin on the lake, and boy, did it ever turn a lot of heads!  It is an absolutely gorgeous boat that only very few folks can say they own.

We’ll stay in Chattanooga a couple days before finally heading back down to the Keys.  By the time we get back to the boat, we’ll have been away a whole month.  Starting to plan now for our next trip, departing after July 4^th, hopefully to the northern Bahamas for a quick 3-week tour.

Back south at Marathon FL, this is the swimming pool
at the resort/marina our boat is staying at.
Hope we can join our boat soon!