Joe Wheeler State Park

Friday, October 21^st

After all the early morning  commotion of the bass boats leaving for their tournament we moved over to the gas dock for a pump out along with our friends  Salt n Sand.  Rich had talked to the Marina  operator the day before and someone was supposed to be there at 8am.  He had also called the Wilson lock, that was just a short distance away  and was told we should  leave Florence Harbor  at 8:45 am.  When no one had  show up to do our  pump outs we found the breaker and did it ourselves and left as scheduled.  

There were 8 boats in total that left.   As we reached the lock there were two other boats ahead of us and the gates were open.  We were in luck.  Upon leaving the lock the lock master informed us that he had called the next lock,  named Joe Wheeler Lock and that we should all stay together and we would be able to lock through without waiting.  This lock has the highest lift we will encounter on the Loop.  It
was once the  highest single lift lock in the US , now it is the 6^th.  Every thing went smoothly with 11 boats locking through at one time without any waiting.

Our first lock of the day.

The very tall Wheeler Lock.

As we approached Joe Wheeler State Park for the AGLCA Rendezvous there were many Loppers already there to help get all the boats into their slips and tied up.  They had a good system and everything went smoothly. We really appreciated that, as it can be somewhat stressful when getting to some where new.

Passport in her slip at Joe Wheeler.

The view from our aft deck at Joe Wheeler.

Saturday, October 22^nd – Thursday, October 27^th

The AGLCA is a cursing association started by a couple who completed their Loop at the end of the last   century.  It is devoted to enhancing the “Loop” experience for everyone either planning or doing the Loop.  In addition  to a web site with daily updates, the association holds two Rendezvous a year, one here in Alabama in the fall and one in Virginia in the spring.  At this rendezvous there were presentations by former Loopers who gave detailed information on what to expect between here and the Chesapeake.  They also had many vendors who were offering all kinds of free items as well as good deals on merchandise and services.  This rendezvous was attended by over 250 members and 59 boats.  Each night there were door prizes and Mary one the first one, which was a gift certificate that we have used to buy another guide book and the flags needed for our trip to the Bahamas.

It was really fun to see some of the people we had already met along the way and to meet up with others we had not met before. During the introductions at dinner the first evening we had planned it so that when John and Mary from Mackinaw City introduced them selves we were next to them and also used the same introduction. Needless to say there were no others with the same names and same home ports. We had not the seen the other John and Mary along the way and it was fun finally catching up with them. They are the FAST ones, with a 38  ft. Sea Ray Express.

Their were a lot of activities such as the Looper Crawl (kinda like an open boat for others to see your boat),  a dingy race, buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners.  We now have about 10 more pounds on board Passport.  There were also impromptu get togethers on the docks with fellow Loopers.

Evening docktales with fellow Loopers.

Both sets of John & Mary's from Mackinaw City.

Rich & Carol from Salt n Sand.

Kate & Greg from Grianan.

Our Canadian friends, John & Marsha and  Bob & Brenda from Kadadi.

Wednesday night after the Rendezvous was officially over there was an informal sing along get together around one of the large fire places at the lodge.  There were times when John never  imagined that we would ever actually make this trip, much less to be in the same room with the authors of the book that got him hooked on doing the Loop and had started the AGLCA.

Eva & Ron Stob founders of AGLCA,  John Belford from Kadadi & Bob DeGroot from Spirit Dancer.

On Thursday at the end of the Rendezvous many boats left to head down the Ten Tom Waterway to Mobile but John and I had decided to head to Chattanooga for a side trip. The colors and scenery were suppose to be really good. This trip will take about 3 or 4 days to get their and then a day or two to see the sites, after that we will back track back to Grand Harbor to start our trip down to Mobile Bay and further south. 

Some of the boats still at their slips as we were leaving Joe Wheeler.

That’s all for now but we will catch up with you again soon. 

Mary & John