The Real Final Ride, and Starting to Pack

Monday, October 14 2019

First thing in the morning there was thick fog, and I wondered if that would burn off in time to give Duncan a ride aboard Sunny Tug.  Luckily, it did and it turned out to be a lovely fall day.

The morning was spent doing a load of laundry (which is quite a walk back and forth in this marina) as well as setting up arrangements for my trip home.

Duncan arrived later in the morning and we went out for a boat ride.   I took him out on to the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway and we went down that for a couple of miles.   Conditions were great (i.e. calm) and it was fun to run Sunny Tug up to full speed (over 18 knots) for a last time, as well as cruising back at a more leisurely 8 knots.

The final run from Aqua Marine to Pickwick Lake and and back.... Running over 18 knots on the way down.   Sunny Tug at Wide Open Throttle (WOT)!


Final Ride - Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway - At a more sedate 7 knots on the way back


Docking Sunny Tug for the last time - Aqua Marina, Iuka MS


After we arrived back Duncan helped me to remove the canvas cover from the stern/cockpit area and also to lower the radar mast.  All of this in preparation for when the boat will be shipped to Orange Beach, AL where some work will be done and then she will be on display at a marina, ready for perspective buyers.

The mast is down and the AGLCA burgee is removed.  Sunny Tug is ready to be trucked

Duncan and I went out to a local restaurant for lunch and had a really good talk.  It was great having him come and visit and I am glad that he got to see, and ride, Sunny Tug.

Later in the afternoon I took down the AGLCA (America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association) burgee.  This is the small flag that has flown from the bow ever since I first boarded her in Salem.  That leant finality to the end of this journey.    I will keep that as a momento of this trip.  Who knows, at some point in the future (with the right person!) I may want to try this again.

In the evening I started packing up.  The next owners will be getting a very well equipped boat, though the previous owners had left behind a very nice set of kitchen shears that I have decided to take home! 

The marina was extremely quiet when I went out to have a breath of fresh air that evening and Sunny Tug looked strangely bare without the canvas awning at the back.

Final night aboard - Strangely bare without the canvas awning
 






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