And the plan goes on.....

It's all just a dream, ain't it ? That's just so much of the fun....the plan! Mines on hold ,somewhat,the tornado and damage to my boat have put me on hold...but it's gettin better. The Bimini is torn but if the local canvas people can't repair it before I want to leave ,the top is still livable and I'll just deal with it. Now the real stopable damage is the cabin door. It's a mess ,BUT I've contacted the manufacture in British Columbia ,Canada and it can be replaced just takes 6-8 weeks to deliver. Ok ,in the meantime the door frame is somewhat able to be straightened and a temporary ( plexiglass) window can be installed and the door remounted and that makes the cabin secure ( bugs) and I can plan to go. Time is screwed up with all this so I'll have to move departure back till mid June and at that time it mite not doable to do the upper reaches of the Cumberland as the lake level on the Cumberland lake mite already be drawn down and the river levels too shallow ,below the dam,for my draft . BUT from Celina,Tn. down the river is doable year round so maybe I can't do quite as far but I can do the navigable Cumberland . I've received so much help from 'Traces on the Cumberland ' and a chart from them on the upper reaches and depths and can't thank them enough. When I'm ready to leave I'll sure contact them to see if the upper river is doable,their Marina facility is on the river and they know!The storm sure squashed my spirits but a few days,and looking into repairs, time frame , temporary repairs , and the sudden realization that it's all still doable have me all fired up .I'm dreaming of a nite hanging on the hook, a little rum,gentile motion of the boat swinging on the hook,and the quiet.......it's the plan!Sure wish I knew how to place a picture on here ,would love to put a shot of her (the boat Bobcat) so you knew what I'm on! So maybe you don't care ! Oh well ... Nite ...Jim

What plan!

So much has happened.Replaced the jabsco pump and seals ($80) the John works great, new batteries are doing fine ,weather here is crap! Been raining raining ... So son told me about some Marina changes at a Marina we used 25 years ago so decided on a gloomy Saturday to drive there 20-25 miles and look. Called him to discuss what's goin on and why son and I thought they mite be doing the 'improvements' and what a boring day this was and son suggested ( the 25 C Dory ) is all enclosed  why I didn't just go for a ride ? Seemed like a good idea so I went to where ' bobcat' sits on its hoist under a roofed dock ,dropped it and went for a short cruise. Now realize I relish trawler speed ( 4-8mph) and away I went on our muddy Mississippi up stream thru a cut ( breakfast chute ) to us locals but Bolter Chute on the army corps of engineers chart then a gentile turn east ( River here for a short spurt runs west to east) ,throttle back as now I had River current on my beam and down I went at 1500rpm 8+ mph ,nobody else out , great ride , time to just think ( dream) plan ( more dreams) and enjoy the occasional eagle ,other wildlife and solitude. Rainy days have a advantage for that. All Is good ! Needed to be home by 4 so cut short my cruise and turned thru the 522 island cut and headed back up the dardenne slough to my Marina ,( Lake Center Marina umr224) and watched the weather turning..........a quick storm was developing and I thought I had plenty of time to reach my dock and be done. As I got closers I realized it was gonna be close and picked up a little rpm and as I turned into my Marina the wind ( breeze) had suddenly died and made for the idle in easier.........then BAM noise , docks moving , stuff flying and silence! All in maybe 45 seconds, but what a mess ,boats drifting ,massive dock wreckage and debris everywhere and the Marina channel suddenly blocked by a whole long dock with cruisers still in their slips drifting across and colliding with the docks on other side of channel blocking my way and boats drifting every way all around me. Did a 360 and headed to a open 'safe' spot and tied boat to a 'courtesy' dock and then awled by the wreckage got ......' scared ! No one hurt ,rainy day had kept boaters home, my Bimini top is torn and the glass door into cabin shattered and bent but ....that's it! Wanted to write about the good info I got from the Marina in Kentucky' 'Traces On The Cumberland 'about launching ,River levels, a 'chart' available and storage for the truck etc. But all is now on hold as I need to repair the damage to the'Bob' and to top it all off weather wise the rain is now causing flooding and my Marina will soon ( tomorrow next day) be unreachable as road will flood . So the boats alone till water goes down and I'm on hold...but it just means making plan changes... And ... Parts ...to replace those broke . It's not the destination ...the journey ! The Cumberland is still the dream...till next time....Jim