10/02 - 10/06 - “Meet in the Middle” C-Brat Gathering

txmntman · Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2023 10:17 pm Post subject:

For those of you who are coming to the “Meet in the Middle” Gathering….
WELCOME!!! WE ARE HERE!!!

I will be the closest thing to a “Host” this week, so come by site 37 and get registered for:
Monday Night program at 6:30 (Colby “The Cumberland River”
Tuesday Cruise (led by Colby)
Chicken Dinner Tuesday night. (At site 37). Dinner at 5:30, Program 6:30
Wednesday Pizza Dinner (at site 37). Dinner at 5:30, Program 6:30
Thursday Pot luck dinner (at site 37). Dinner at 5:30, bring your favorite boat mods at 6:30

There will be a corn hole tournament (Boat vs Boat. And. Open division)
Register at Site 37 to get your name tag, sign up for the dinners, the corn hole tournament. If you haven’t figured this out yet, I really want you to come by site 37. It is conveniently located by the restrooms at the boat ramps. I have a green “Easy-up” and flying flags, the US flag above a “skull and crossbones”.

Monday night, don’t miss Colby discussing the Cumberland River (the river we are on…..)

thataway · Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:49 pm Post subject:

Dirt yacht “thataway” ( A 25’ Winne VIA) arrived on Sunday, and is in site 34, a few away from site 37. So far we have had 8 Cbrats drop by and saw two others in the store. We will be around the docks and the camp. Nice place beautiful weather. And the best: C Dorys and the C Brat extended family!

Molly Brown · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2023 12:23 pm Post subject:

The Molly Brown crew pulled in Thursday morning last week, and after a 2.87” downpour, launched and spent the afternoon rigging the boat for our month long cruise. Friday morning, right on the agreed schedule, the crew of the C-Otter took us out exploring for a short 3.5 day cruise. A super nice introduction to these new waters and we are appreciative of the opportunity to reconnect with an amazing couple!
Currently still anchored out in the cove just past the marina and we’ll head your way once Betty finishes up a business meeting. Can hardly wait 😂

James

colbysmith · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2023 10:07 pm Post subject:

First official day of the gathering. I believe 12 boats, 3 campers, 1 cabin and 1 hotel. Good turn out for this revived gathering. Lots of socializing at the slips, then this evening yours truly gave a presentation on the Land Between the Lakes and cruising the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, along with some brief discussion on trailering and traveling. Think I need to get a new iPhone case. Photos appear to be a bit fuzzy. Colby

colbysmith · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 11:01 pm Post subject:

Day 2. Once again, great weather. Warm and sunny. I lead 6 boats up to Lighthouse landing, while C-Otter took a crew and one other boat up to Thirsty Turtle. Those of us in my group enjoyed Patty's 1880's Settlement. Returned back to Prizer Point for a chicken dinner, and then a presentation on Alaska's Inside Passage by Dr. Bob.

Our host, Mike, in the cockpit of C-Traveler

Several of us enjoyed lunch together at Patty's.

Dr. Bob's presentation.

Gavin17 · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:28 am Post subject:

Thanks to everyone for the hospitality, we had a great time Cruising with Mike and Jill. We loved the boats and are pretty sure a C-dory is in our future.

A few photos I took. https://imgur.com/a/MgK4z8G

texasair · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 2:03 pm Post subject:

Sharon and i just stopped for lunch on the Asphalt river,
should be there with Bixby's Cub in a few hours.

colbysmith · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 11:07 pm Post subject:

Day 3. Another lovely day. Not quite as warm, and partly cloudy. Cornhole competition at 3pm. Some fun entertainment for about a dozen of us. 5:30 Pizza. With plenty left over for the potluck and leftovers tomorrow. 6:00, Cat-O-Mine John gave a presentation on Locking. Following that, a few of us shared about the Erie Canal. (A great boating cruise!) Rain in the forecast tomorrow as a cold front comes through this weekend. We may be having to squeeze the galley gadget sharing and potluck in at our covered slips!
I'm a bit upset at my iPhone case. It appears some scratches in the case covering the lens is causing the blurriness! Colby

Cornhole competitors

Mike opening our evening meeting

Notice the boxes of pizza left over for tomorrow evening...

John studying his notes for his presentation on locking

John sharing his knowledge on locking

Cat-O-Mine John

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2023 11:42 pm Post subject:

While the first three days of the Meet in the Middle gathering had plenty of sunshine and warmth, today we began with rain that lasted all day. Still didn't dampen our spirits as we had our potluck at 5:30, followed by our favorite gadgets showing. Thanks to Mike and Dana for pulling this gathering together, reviving the great Midwest gathering. I think there is a very good chance this gathering may once again become an annual occurrence. At least I believe it will happen again next year around the second week of October. Everyone enjoyed the time together socializing, and some even did a little cruising during the day. I believe by this evening, we ended up with 15 boats in attendance. Many, if not most, will head home tomorrow, while a few of us hang around to cruise for several more weeks. Following, some of my photos from today. Colby

C-Dory's on the even side of the slips

C-Dory's on the odd side of the slips

Some socializing on the dock under the covered slips.

Potluck

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Molly Brown · Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2023 12:03 pm Post subject:

Many thanks to Mike and Dana for putting this on even though they don’t own a boat. Nice facility and great people. Kudos to you both!

James and crew

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2023 12:21 pm Post subject:

Well, by 10:30am just about everyone had pulled out. I got underway, along with Mystery Girl, Little Joe, Consuela, and Dragon Fly, and headed up river. Dragon Fly peeled off at lunch time to make lunch and then head back to Prizer Point. I believe they are pulling out and heading home tomorrow. Consuela peeled off a ways after to meet a friend I believe, leaving us three amigos to continue up the Cumberland. Calm nice day. We passed one tow, and then around 3 pulled into Neville Bay to anchor for the evening. Colby

Little Joe

Mystery Girl

Little Joe passing a flock of Pelicans

Little Joe passing a tow

C-Brat replication of a tow. Mr. Green

Mystery Girl, C Traveler and Little Joe anchored in Neville Bay

Sunset over Little Joe in Neville Bay

Hunkydory · Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:22 pm Post subject:

Colby, wonderful reports & photos & you final three are very much the Three Amigos with many good times & cruises shared. I feel fortunate to also having shared time with you all.

Jay

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2023 11:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks Jay. As a few of the new members to gatherings said this past week, C-Brats are quite a friendly group of folks. Many of us have been fortunate enough to cruise with each other a few times, making the cruises that much more fun! It's been a pleasure to me to be able to meet, and cruise with folks like you!
This morning, with the 45 degree air temperature, and water at 72, it was a foggy morning. The fog quickly burned off after the sun came up, and us "three amigos", departed for Clarksville. Very quiet day on the water, with several fishing boats, one large cruiser, and a 300' Passenger Ship. (The American Melody that was doing her last cruise in this area for the season. I believe she begins in Memphis or Knoxville, on the Tennessee River, then cruises on the Cumberland to Nashville, before returning to go to Paducah.) Didn't see any tows today. Did see the Cumberland City Ferry however, crossing back and forth across the river just upstream of Cumberland City. Highlight for me is taking the barge staging area route next to the Cumberland Fossil Plant, seeing the more industrial side of the River. Colby

Mystery Girl in the morning sunrise at Neville Bay

Little Joe on the other side of me, in the fog.

Somebody asked me at the gathering about private docks back in some of the coves during winter pool. This is a common example. They become grounded until summer pool starts flooding back in.

Little Joe and Mystery Girl going past some of the machinery at the Cumberland Fossil Plant.

Zoomed in a little more on Little Joe

Little Joe passing by some of the barges.

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2023 9:30 pm Post subject:

Due to the current night time lows in the 40's, and water temps in the low 70's, once again we woke to some fog. Last night we stayed at the Clarksville marina, which is a very nice marina. $1 a foot plus $5. Boat US members get a 25% discount. There really isn't anywhere to anchor within 5 or so miles of Clarksville down river, and nothing really until past the lock upriver. At Clarksville is the Red River, but it's rather narrow, and fisherman frequent it. Only saw a few fishing boats on the water today. Had one tow running 6 miles behind us, and one that was coming the other way. That one was still in the Cheatham Lock when we got there. Waited about 45 minutes, then entered the lock. I think half their valves were not working, so it was a very slow lift. Turned into the Harpeth River, which is rather scenic. Went a few miles to Pack Island, but decided to come back to where the river widens out near some bluffs and makes for another nice anchorage. (That's so we are a mile closer to Nashville, our destination tomorrow.) Colby

Look close, and you can just barely see Mystery Girl behind Little Joe

Mystery Girl and Little Joe anchored on the Harpeth River.

Robert H. Wilkinson · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2023 1:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks Colby for all the beautiful pictures!

Rob