Timeless Yacht

10/21/2026

This morning we saw Ti Amo, Tug Along and Aspasia off the dock before departing a little after 0730 in our rental car for Florence. We took the Natchez-Trace parkway and country roads lined by corn and cotton fields with little traffic and great scenery arriving at Florence Harbor at 0825 where we to meet Johnny Belew our tour guide plus old friends from Ahead of Schedule and new ones on Passport.

Johnny is a tour guide extraordinare, local private caterer, musician and friend to everyone. He regaled us with tales a d stories and that was all before our first real stop at FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises). This world famous studio is still owned by the with of the founder Rick Hall, run by his son and still used and in operation today. This is where the famous Swampers started the tradition of music which continuous today. We were able to tour the studious where famous songs were recorded like:

• Aretha Franklin: "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (1967) and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (1967)
• Etta James: "Tell Mama" (1967) and "I'd Rather Go Blind" (1967)
• Wilson Pickett: "Mustang Sally" (1966) and "I'm in Love" (1967)
• Percy Sledge: "When a Man Loves a Woman" (1966)
• Clarence Carter: "Slip Away" (1968) and "Patches" (1970)
• Arthur Alexander: "You Better Move On" (1961)
• Jimmy Hughes: "Steal Away" (1963)
• The Osmonds: "One Bad Apple" (1970)
• Bobbie Gentry: "Ode to Billie Joe" (1967 sessions/production elements)
• The Rolling Stones: "Wild Horses" and "Brown Sugar" (1971 Muscle Shoals sessions)
• Mac Davis: "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" (1972)

From there we headed to the original site of Muscle Shoals Studios, not a museum. Muscle Shoals was started when the Swampers left FAME and founded their own studio. While the original location is a museum famous songs recorded there include:

• Aretha Franklin: "Respect" ( #1) and "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" ( #9)
• Wilson Pickett: "Mustang Sally" ( #9) and "Hey Jude"
• Percy Sledge: "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "Take Time to Know Her" ( #11)
• The Staple Singers: "I’ll Take You There" ( #1)
• The Rolling Stones: "Wild Horses" and "Brown Sugar"
• Paul Simon: "Kodachrome" ( #2) and "Loves Me Like a Rock"
• Bob Seger: "Night Moves" ( #8) and "Mainstreet" ( #24)
• Etta James: "Tell Mama" ( #23)

Waning many others.

We then headed to lunch at the local cafe Claunch for lunch all the while listening to stories from Johnny. We enjoyed lunch with a member of the Muscle Shoals horns who toured with Elton John, played on the tonight show and with John Lenon and recorded with Bob Sieger.

I walked by Spring Park, the tallest man made Waterfall (per Johnny) at Spring Park before continuing on to the Alabama Music Hall Of Fame. After wander through the exhibits we headed off to our next stop in Tuscumbia, Helen Keller’s birthplace and childhood home.

We toured the house and grounds and learned of her history and impact she had.

Our last official stop of the day was at the Frank Lloyd Write Rosenbaum house where we received another great tour, filled with history of both the family and architect. Having visited a handy of Wright buildings it was interesting to compare their design based on their intended uses and when he designed them.

It was an extradordibary day. Our only disappointment was having to return and not see more of the sites, spend more time in the town and go to the live music at Floribama tonight. The great part is it leaves the option open for a “next time”.

Tomorrow we depart for Fulton at first light.

10/20/2026

Change of plans!

Instead of getting caught up on this and that, today we decided we needed to cure some FOMO and visit Florence, AL. So we hopped in a curtesy car with other loopers heading to return their car and picked up a rental car on Corinth. We did a provisioning stop and then visited downtown Corinth. What a beat little town.

But the real reason is that we’re going to visit Florence tomorrow. While we -could- boat right to it, it’s a three day excursion by boat of one day by car….so we’ll drive down and the. Get underway on Wednesday.

10/19/2026

Brian of Brileen

10/19/2026

Pickwick Lock 1000x110
63 ft average drop / rise
Competed in 1984

10/19/2026

At 0645 I spoke to the lock tender at Pickwick Lock. He said show up at 0900 and he’d get us through. At 0720 we were hauling anchor with our chain coming up up cleaner than the engine room on “Ahead of Schedule” and -THAT’S- clean, maybe the cleanest 20 year old engine room I’ve ever seen. As we slid out of the anchorage we marveled at the “river smoke” from the brisk morning with bright sun glistening through, setting the stage for a beautiful day.

By 0729 we were underway, averaging 7.5 knots against the current to arrive at 0900 promptly at Pickwick Lock. This part of the river is quite beautiful. Houses on the hill, on stilts and some at water’s edge. Beaches and cliffs. Eagles and fowl. There is always something interesting to see.

We checked in with the lock one more time at 0815, the tender confirming “0900”. At 0850 with the lock in sight we hailed the tender who told us he’d be back from a quick bathroom break to open the doors for us. Dee was “Too much information” lol with that. At 0910 the doors opened and we entered for our solo locking. A 1200 ft lock feels even bigger when your by yourself. By 0950 we exited the lock and were underway for the second half of today’s cruise to Safe Harbor Aqua Yacht in Iuka, Mississippi, adding another virtual state sticker to our virtual bumper.

We arrived at 1100 on the dot, first pulling up to the fuel dock to pump out and pump in. We were first by a “volunteer” dock hand filling in to help the dockmaster Randy with all the summer dock hands back to college, and by Charlie McVey Super Harbor Host. I think Charlie (and his with Robyn) greet and help every looper who arrive, and that’s a BIG job! There are nearly 50 loopers here, multiple AGLCA sponsors with 10 or more coming and going ever day!

We were told they had to see how much fuel they had left so we’d pump out first. After pumping out, with a pump out that REALLY sucks, we were told they only had about 320 gallons left. Oh boy, that’s a problem. We needed about 500-550 gallons to be full and make it to Orange Beach without re-filling. While the retail price is VERY high, well over $7 the Safe Harbor Member price is $5.85 (plus 3% by paying by credit card). We’re used to paying the add on fee for our slip but we’d pay by check next time for fuel. This is only a tad cheaper than Pebble Isle, but more with credit card fees. I was honestly pretty frustrated that they were nearly out of fuel as I’d been planning this as our only real fuel stop between Lake Michigan and Mobile / Orange Beach for a LONG time.

Thankfully I spoke to Randy (Dockmaster) who later who re-measured the tanks and let me know he has enough fuel to top us up. He should be able to pump it in, right in our slip next to the fuel dock. We’ll top up and make it all the way to Orange Beach, or if not very close with a just a bit of a top off.

After backing out and around from the fuel dock to our slip on the other side of the dock house, I got the decks washed down from the mud from a couple days ago, bugs off the house, and windows cleaned. I then stopped by our friends on Ahead of Schedule for a quick tour, which became a long excursion, ending only when I received a call from Dee equal to a mom yelling when kids were playing too long outside, (but the cell phone version).

After scurrying back to Timeless and getting cleaned up, we headed up to Earl’s to meet up with friends on Brileen, and Ahead of Schedule which turned into a bigger party with Ti Amo, Tug Along and Aspasia joining in.

After dinner we moved west (one room over) to listen to Brian (the “Bri” part of Brileen) regale us with his renditions of everyone’s favorite rock and folk songs, icing the perfect day.

Tomorrow, we stay put and catch up on non boat projects (and finish topping up the tanks).

10/18/2026

Last night we had a cruise ship (American Symphony) and a Tow (the same one we passed earlier in the day) slip by. It's very neat watching them slip by watching on deck and with the night vision camera.

We woke up this morning, started to haul and hose down the 250ft of chain we had out in about 30ft of water. Link by link in the COLD 🥶 morning air I rinsed the heavy caked on mud from the rode. When I could just see the 25ft mark come out of the water, the battery in the remote I use to control the boat while hauling died. Oopsie. Quick change! (Of course the battery cover is screed on). I got back to hauling while Dee spotted and yelled out "11ft" (that's below the keel)...time to maneuver and continue washing in deeper water.

Once hauled, we maneuvered slowly out of the Rockport Landing Anchorage, brought the RPMs back up tot he low cruise of 930rpm and headed south against increasing current. We stated the day at 7.7 to 7.6 knots but as we cruised further south, the current from Pickwick lock increased, slowing us more and more the closer we got. The weather also imported, with the sun shining we opened the pilot house doors and let the fresh air cook the helm and warm our hearts. Our average speed ended at 7.2 knots after about 73nm and a bit over 10 hours, arriving at Wolf Island.

We inched our way in from the south end, looking to drop the hook on the 13ft mark on sonar charts, with 20ft all around, allowing us to put out less chain. Unfortunately that charted 13ft is more like 4ft. While we softly felt the boat stop, it took a bit to wiggle rotate the boat off its resting spot using the thrusters and engines and wiggle off. Definitely a bit stressful for a few minutes. After backing out the way we came in, we headed for a bit deeper spot in the eddy north of Can 45 at the south end of Wolf Island. With not a whiff of wind and no current we're just floating gently and silently over our anchor with the genset off.

Darlene already had roasted chicken thighs with root vegetables in the oven to anchor a wonderful home cooked meal.

Today we broke the 15,000 nm mark just on Timeless.

Tomorrow we'll arrive at Pickwick lock after about an hour and a half cruise, then head into Iuka, fuel up for the rest of the cruise to Orange Beach, pump out that holding tank (just because) and visit with friends and fellow loopers for a couple of days.

10/17/2026

We only passed a small amount of commercial traffic on Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River. Last night American Symphony past us while we were anchored. Today we met up with American Splendor. Outside of small bass boats we haven’t seen much traffic at all.

10/17/2026

Dee returned yesterday a couple of days delayed to recuperate from hurting her back at home. She tripped over Violet's paw who of course is always underfoot with her best pal Lilly. Dee is still mighty sore but slowly recovering.

We dropped lines about 0720, with just Dee and Me onboard, finally departing Green Turtle Bay (great stop). We turned west for a bit to transit the Barkley Canal and then pointed south to continue down Kentucky Lake. Kentucky Lake is beautiful, though today's dreary skies didn't do it justice.
While there were some local fishing boats in the canal, we saw and passed very few boats today. The boats we did see mostly stopped at Paris Landing though we could see some on AIS in front and behind us. We cruised slowly at 930rpm averaging 7.3 knots and covered a little over 70nm in under 10 hours. As we made the large bend around the Tennessee National Wildlife Refugee the wind died and the sun began to send rays through the clouds to the water. We the threw the hook out off the pointy end, a bit below the island at Rockport Landing anchorage. This is a beautiful anchorage though deep at 30 ft deep just beware to not cut the corner before turning up into the anchorage as we did see some very shallow water (7 ft for a bit) or if you're braver than we are, you can transit through the slot between the island and the left down bank.

As soon as I was happy the anchor was set, Dee had dinner finished so we could chat with a couple of future loopers who will join us on our penultimate leg from Panama City to Clearwater in just a few weeks. A wonderful ending to a nice day.

10/15/2026

Last week we passed through the Kentucky Lock as we headed up the Tennessee River to Kentucky Lake southbound. Today we drove by and were able to look directly into the open chamber as well as view construction of the new, 1200 ft long chamber which is progressing nicely.

10/14/2026

In just a little over three weeks, Timeless will depart Orange Beach, AL on the last legs of our first Great Loop. You could join us in the ONE cabin we have left before we cross our wake.

Attend the AGLCA Rendezvous and then put EVERYTHING you learned together while onboard Timeless the AGLCA Sponsor of the year!

This short leg will travel the beaches of the pan handle from Orange Beach, AL to Panama City, FL. We’ll be taking our time to explore new water for the crew of Timeless, allowing guests to experience the best of the pan handle in Florida. Planned stops include Fort Walton, Destin, and ending in P...