-

Since this is not a race, more a series of legs dictated by the season, we are tracking pretty much where we planned.  I wanted to be off Lake Michigan by Labor Day.  While many knowledgeable folks poo-poo the notion of being off the lake, there is no doubt that fall weather patterns start to play.  Some folks behind us were delayed many days waiting for the lake to calm down. That put us into the big rivers during September.  There was a good reason to move along smartly on this stretch.  Primarily, there is a paucity of places to stop and none of them were too inviting until you got to the junction with the Mississippi.  Grafton and Alton are strategically located, welcoming and offered an opportunity to rest and reorganize before heading down the big river. The Mississippi River, from a cruising standpoint, is a sprint.  With virtually no facilities to be had and ominous reports of gigantic tows, floating debris and all other sorts of horror stories, you just have to suck it up and

   DAY 165 September 28 Nashville, TN Paul felt the Goose could use a few days of rest, the Captain too, so he rented a car and we drove to Nashville instead of taking the boat. First stop, lunch at a Barbeque Honky Tonk. Bill and Sue, fellow loopers, from Soul Shine.  We gave them a lift to Nashville.  Hopefully they will return to Kentucky Lake to continue their Loop.  Meanwhile, they are back in Florida dealing with a couple of houses that were inundated by the Helene. Let the Nashville experience begin!  Not really knowing what to expect, being on Broadway, the heart of honky tonk, came as a real surprise.  I didn't get the memo that Nashville is a premier Bachelorette Party destination, where short shorts and cowboy boots are required. (although on some, not really recommended...) Block after block of bars, people and party buses. After lunch we dropped our friends off at the airport, checked into a hotel and took a nap to get ready for our night out on the town. We did see a