Day 19 - May it ever be so humble

Miles cruised 62, fuel purchased 59 gallons, fuel cost $154, slip fee $49

Our second and final night at Pebble Isle was delightful. The owners Tammy and Randy are very attentive. Dinner was cooked by Bubba. When not cooking he plays his banjo on the front porch of his log cabin on the river. Dale ordered the Reuben sandwich. He has searched far and wide to find the best Reuben on the planet. He advises the one he had last night at the Pebble Isle was in the top tier. A highlight each morning is free fresh baked cinnamon rolls. Just stop by for free coffee and have a cinnamon roll or two.This morning there was a new cook named Billy. I had just returned from a cardio walk up a steep hill to visit the Crocket cemetery. Davey Crocket is not buried there but some of his relatives are. Billy commented that he couldn't go hiking because he has a bad knee. He is afraid to go to the doctor in case the doctor would put his leg in a cast and then he couldn't drive to work. I suggested he buy a knee brace at Walmart and try that out for a while said Captain Father Doctor John.We met the former owner of Four Winns boats John Winn. When he found out we were from Waukegan he mentioned he sold his boat building business to Outboard Marine in Waukegan and they destroyed it. Fortunately it was an all cash deal with no stock or future earn out. He is still bitter. He has a new Silverton 48. Only problem is his starter motor broke on one engine so he is traveling on one engine until he can get it repaired.I found this press release on John WinnCHARLEVOIX, MI – John Winn jokingly tells people he and his wife are selling their lakefront home on Round Lake “because we need a bigger boathouse and a smaller house.”The “bigger boathouse” part is hard to believe when you consider what the co-founder of the Four Winns boat manufacturing company is putting on the real estate market for $6.99 million.The five-bedroom Nantucket-style house is built around a massive boathouse that has three large bays and several storage rooms that hold and display about 30 of Winn’s antique, wooden and recreational vessels and boating related paraphernalia.Winn, who retired 12 years ago from the Cadillac-based company he founded in 1975 with his two brothers and father, has lived in the waterfront mansion they built in the heart of Charlevoix’s Round Lake harbor since 2003.The price of diesel is working in our favor. Gasoline is $3.19 per gallon and diesel fuel is $2.55 per gallon.We are at the Clifton Marina in Clifton, Tn. It is a very cozy little harbor but they fit us in along with John Winn and his buddy boat and the trawler Dream Catcher that we have seen several times along the way. The two ladies that run the marina are also the cook and hostess in the restaurant. Tonight they are serving a spaghetti dinner but haven't decided how much to charge.We are close enough to the restaurant to order and they can deliver the food over the starboard rail. Andy invited the Pat and Dick from Dream Catcher over for sundowners. Our first Looper get together on our boat. I will provide a full report in the next blog post.Tomorrow we will cruise to the Grand Marina in Counce Tn. We will stay two days and visit the Shiloh battlefield on Sunday. Then we will go to the Florence Marina on Monday. We have three locks to transit before we arrive at the Joe Wheeler State Park for the Looper rendezvous on Tuesday.Carl (Chef) Wooden - quote for the day.And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by - John MasefieldChanging Latitudes looks small compared to the other Looper boats at Pebble Isle Marina. We are second from the end,}Priscilla ordered the Super Burger - 12 ounces of Angus beef.Gunnery Seargent Lavonne RubyWe have seen many blue herons during our cruise. Not our photo.