Mike and Beth's Adventures

Cruising Dead River near Hontoon State Park Great Loop:  Hontoon State Park – Jungle Cruise March 22 nd , 2022 It all began with a conversation on the dock.  We stopped to talk with a fellow on a Rosborough trailerable trawler.  He is retired and volunteering for a couple of months at Hontoon State Park on the St. John’s River.  As we always do, we made his acquaintance and inquired  about what fun or interesting things there are to do locally.  Mast is in the Down Position The conversation ended with “Can you get your air draft down to 10’ or less, I’m taking family out for a cruise around Hontoon Island tomorrow, would you are welcome to follow along?”  “We’ll be following a dead branch of the St. John’s River and it’s full of wildlife.” Why a 10’ air draft I asked.  Well for the overhanging trees was the reply.  Our Ranger Tug, being trailerable, has a fold down mast.  We can reduce our air draft to 9’.  We were in! We foll...

Morning fog at Joe Wheeler State Park   A mystic softness to start the day

Amy Marie is in the water!  We've traveled 3840 miles from Everett Washington to splash Amy Marie in the waters of the Tennessee River.  The Alabama hills are green and lush with trees down to the water.  The mornings are cool and crisp.  Days have warmed to the high 70's with winds rising in the afternoons.   The biggest treat has been southern hospitality.  Beth had contacted a gentleman named Bill, the local AGLCA Harbor Host, whose role is to be your local concierge.  He made our first day much easier.  We arrived after driving 330 miles from Little Rock Arkansas. He and his neighbor Hal met us at the launch ramp and helped us get the boat in the water.  They then drove me over to the marina so we could see our slip assignment.  This greatly simplified moving from the ramp to the dock.  We returned to the boat and motored a short distance to the marina.  Upon arrival we pumped out and then tied up in our slip.  Bi...