Back on the boat

We spent six days at that cabin in Stecoah and drove and walked most of the roads and trails anywhere near.  Even though it was chilly, it was so inviting on the back porch that we sometimes had meals out there.

I really liked the old hand-stitched quilt with the jagged edge and the soft colors.   I wanted to buy/bring it home, but realized that I have a nice one I made at home that I like and this one will delight so many people if it stays just where it is.

 

 

On one of our expeditions, we went to Fontana Dam and Lake.   It dams up the Little Tennessee River.   Used for hydroelectric energy it fluctuates greatly in depth during a year.

 

It's the highest dam east of the Rockies.

 

 

All along the east side of the lake and dam is the back side of the Smoky Mountain National Park.  We drove over the dam then parked and walked down a forest service road.   The picture above shows you what the Smokys are looking like now.

 

When we came back we saw a trail going up a nearby hill.   We followed it and this is what we saw:

 

 

 

We saw so many nice headstones of babies that died the year they were born.

 

 

You haven't seen our sweet little rental car - It's a Ford Focus.  Guess we'll have it at least through Dec.2.   It's parked just below that cemetery.

 

 

This is another nearby large lake that doesn't fluctuate in level so much during the year.

 

Several days our route took us along the Nantahala River where so many outfitters were that it's obvious it's a very popular tubing and kayaking destination much of the year.

 

A view from our cabin window showing how high the mountain around were.

 

For Arkansas readers/sailors:   On one of the last days there, we came across a locally-famous restaurant in Murphy, Doyles, that is owned and operated by a man who grew up in Paragould, Arkansas.   When I read in the menu about him I had to ask more.  Somehow, found himself a first mate on several sailboats, all down along the islands and as far south as Panama.  He sailed for nine years until his then captain, learning that he was good at gardening, asked him to come to that particular county in North Carolina where he had some land and where the climate was just right for growing vegetables.

So Doyle has been up here ever since.  He opened several restaurants in ritzy areas of Atlanta, but now contents himself with growing vegetables, running the restaurant in Murphy and riding motorcycles.   Well, not  "contents himself."  He said he would like to get back down south and on a sailboat.

Now for what's happening now, not so picture-worthy.    We drove back to Charleston area - Folly Beach marina, where our boat is.   The day after we left, a couple in the slip next to us got cross ways in their slip in a bad current.  To get away from their slip they put the boat in full-throttle and rammed into the back of our boat, ripping the dinghy off the davits and the foot of the dinghy motor off the motor and the motor brackets off the dinghy!   Now that we're back we can see the damage.  The inflatable dinghy is also ripped and unglued at one side of the transom where the motor was.   So now, in addition to waiting for the new transmission to arrive and be installed, we are looking for (and have found) another motor.  We also have found someone who can replace and repair the damaged part of the dinghy, but not until next Friday.    Luckily the man who did the damage has contacted us and plans to pay for the damage.  

It's been COLD here and rainy.  And today, there's a gale warning for winds up to 40 mph!  And we're on the end slip with the wind coming right at the stern of the boat.   Outside we hear pounding and slapping and the water is often coming over the dock.  So what are we doing about it? Nothing we can do!  So I've spent the morning pre-preparing stuff (dressing, cranberry sauce and giblets) for a Thanksgiving meal we plan to have here tomorrow.  And  Tom has just made us a great late breakfast. 

Needless to say, we've felt down about our endeavor.  But see no choice but to follow through on plans to be in Florida for the winter.  Where else should we be and why not be on the boat then?

We'll keep posting as we "adventure" our way down there.