Jennifer Visits Pickwick Lake

Monday, August 3rd, found us anchored in Five Fingers on Bay Springs Lake. Jennifer, our niece, entertained herself for a while catching bluegill and minnows with a small butterfly net while the Captain relaxed on shore. Later that afternoon we spent a few hours going through part of The Book of Questions, a book of more than 200 introspective questions about all sorts of personal things. Don & Rosie stopped by in their dinghy and joined in for a while, but Don would never tell us about his worst experience with alcohol. Don, inquiring minds want to know!

Jennifer is having fun with her pet fishes.

We left Bay Springs for Pickwick Tuesday mid-morning and had a very warm trip through the Divide Cut. We anchored briefly in a little cove near Aqua Yacht Harbor, dinghied to the Sportsman’s One Stop dock and walked to the convenience store to get a few items. As we were cutting across the parking lot, Jim & Pam Shipp of “Silver Boots” pulled up in their car to say hello. We met Jim & Pam in the Exumas a few months ago and knew they were going to be on Pickwick this summer.

Jennifer tries to get a breeze and some shade as we head up the Divide Cut.

After our supply run, we anchored in Zippy Cove and got in the water to cool off. “Just Rosie” showed up within the hour, anchored nearby and also got in the water. That evening Todd and Jennifer both took short naps while I prepared dinner. Bud (known on Pickwick as “Iceman”) came by on his pontoon just as we were finishing dinner and visited until dark. Storms appeared to be moving into the area, which kept the Captain on watch all night, even though most of the actual storms thankfully bypassed us.

We left Zippy Cove late Wednesday morning with plans to go through the Pickwick Lock and on downriver to Diamond Island to spend the night. However, we stopped along the way so that Jennifer could see the Iceman’s beautiful house and to borrow his vehicle for a quick supply run to Savannah, TN.

The Admiral, Iceman, and Jennifer with "Life's2Short" anchored off Iceman’s yard.

While we were there Bud made us lunch using some of the smoked pork butt from his Fourth of July party. We all loved Bud’s butt, but I think Jennifer appreciated it more than anyone else! By the time we were ready to leave, the lockmaster told us it would be a three-hour wait to get through the lock, so we altered our plans and headed for Waterfall Cove. By 4:30 p.m. we were in “our spot” on the gravel bar enjoying the much-appreciated cooling breeze coming off the waterfall.

Chowing down on “Bud’s butt" and photos around Bud’s gorgeous home.

Jennifer gets a look at her first tow and barges on the way to Waterfall Cove.

Bud showed up in his pontoon boat early that same evening and we sat on his boat visiting while eating chilled shrimp and cheese and crackers. About dark we decided to go for a ride on Bud’s pontoon to check out Grand Harbor’s new solar lights. We also ran by Zippy Cove and said hello to “Just Rosie.” We made a quick stop back at “Life’s2Short” and then took the pontoon out in the lake where we floated peacefully, enjoying a beautiful almost-full moon, before finally turning in around midnight.

Evening boat rides always produce lots of smiles!

Tena & Keith arrived at the Waterfall Thursday morning at 11:00. Kelly arrived a short time later and we all sat around visiting and catching up. Tena & Keith left mid-afternoon to pick up their daughter, Sidney, from school. Bud came by on his Sea-Doo late afternoon with Kelli, a friend he was giving a ride to, and said he might come back later that evening on his pontoon to watch the lunar eclipse. We fixed dinner, watched the moon rise (didn’t see the lunar eclipse or Bud & Kelli again) and called it a night.

The Captain got up early Friday morning to change the oil in the generator. Shortly after that Bud & Kelli showed up with Bloody Mary’s, biscuits and sausage which set the stage for another fun-filled day at the Waterfall. Keith pulled up an hour or so later and hung out until mid-afternoon when it was time to pick up Tena and daughter Sidney from school and bring them back out.

Hanging at Waterfall Cove, good times with great friends!

Kelli had to report for work Friday afternoon so Bud left about 1:00 p.m. to take her home but then showed up with her again later that evening, along with leftover ribeye steak and some very nice chilled shrimp to share for dinner. Kelli and Jennifer had become friendly by this time and Kelli invited Jennifer to go to Freddy T’s, a local club, with her Friday night. So Bud took them to Kelli’s car about dark and the Captain and I crashed shortly thereafter.

New friends Kelli and Jennifer.

Tena & Keith arrived around 10:30 Saturday morning with birthday girl Kathy (a friend of theirs) in tow. Tena had provided a table and made a couple of banners which Todd set up for her earlier that morning, and Tena, as well as friends Ed & Wendy, came loaded with all kinds of food and a birthday cake, ready to feed the masses!

The beautiful and wonderfully cold waterfall.

Jennifer called a little before noon looking for a ride back to the Waterfall from Grand Harbor. Bud, who was still relaxing at home, was gracious enough to pick her up in his pontoon and bring her out. She was a little worse for the wear after closing Freddy T’s down at 3:00 a.m. but mostly she was just hungry and a little worn out from dancing all night!

Just another Saturday at the waterfall.

The Waterfall cleared out by early evening and we were left alone with Bud – well, almost alone. A straggler named Brandon was “abandoned” by his friends who were supposedly coming back to get him. We ate a little dinner and waited until dark but his friends didn’t show up. So Bud placed a strategically worded call to the guy’s father who was hanging out in Panther Cove across the lake and Brandon was picked up a short time later.

Right after that, we were visited by a father and son who pulled up in a go-fast Fountain boat and joined us on Bud’s pontoon with a couple of cans of Budweiser and a bottle of Crown Royal. They were visiting from Nashville and Jennifer told them they sounded like NASCAR drivers. They were very entertaining and proceeded to amuse us with stories of a stripper they were trying to reform and a BUI encounter with law enforcement. And with that, we hit the sack. Just another fun-filled day at the waterfall!

Tena & Keith pulled up Sunday morning around 10:00 or so and Kelly & Melissa arrived a short time later with donuts and bananas. Bo was also there in his big trawler pulled up on the gravel bar near “Life’s2Short.” Bud rode up on his Sea-Doo mid-afternoon and hung with us when he wasn’t cruising other hot spots on the lake or giving women rides. By early evening everyone had gone home and we retired to the cabin to make dinner on our final night at Waterfall Cove.

The Iceman and his babes!

The “Babe-Magnet” himself!

Keith & Tena hanging at the waterfall.

Sunday began with breakfast enchiladas and mimosas. We left the Waterfall about 11:00 a.m. and made our way to Aqua Yacht Harbor to pump out the holding tanks before tying up to the transient dock.

Leaving Waterfall Cove on Jennifer’s last day aboard "Life's2Short." :-(

By 2:30 p.m. we were on our way to Memphis to take Jennifer to the Greyhound bus station. Before putting her on the bus, we walked to Beale Street where we had an early dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Jennifer isn’t much of a city girl and Beale Street made her a bit nervous, so we didn’t linger. Todd & I made it back to “Life’s2Short” by 10:00 p.m. after stopping in Corinth for a few groceries. Jennifer, we enjoyed your stay with us and hope you have fond memories of it for many years to come!

Today is Tuesday, August 11th, and we have several projects to complete before pulling away from the dock this afternoon, one of which is updating the blog. We hope to go part-way to Florence this afternoon, anchor for the evening, go through Wilson lock mid-day tomorrow and continue upriver toward Chattanooga. Ultimately, our plan is to be in Knoxville by Labor Day, but as always our plans are in Jello!