Decatur, Alabama

Back when we were in Chattanooga, we met several loopers.  John and Diane on Tutto Bene, retired on Friday, and then got on their boat and started the great loop on Saturday.  We saw them again at Goose Pond and Ditto Landing.  Here's a photo of them going under the railroad lift bridge near Decatur. 

We arrived in Decatur, AL on Sunday afternoon. 

We met some other loopers (Clay and Sally) along the way who had told us of a free dock in Decatur.  We tied up directly behind the Pickwick Belle.

We talked a while with the captain of the Pickwick Belle, and he invited us aboard.  It's a true paddle wheeler (no props or thrusters)

Pam read somewhere that Decatur had a hysterical district full of old houses.  Didn't matter that it was a loooong walk from the free dock.  So we hiked what seemed to be a hundert miles to look at some old houses.

They had a wedding aboard the Pickwick Belle that evening.

And speaking of weddings, I forgot to mention that while we were in the Moon Pie store in Chattanooga, we overheard a customer call in to order several cases of moon pies for their wedding.  Didn't see any moon pies go aboard the Belle last night.