Day 1 On the water

Today we left Cedar Creek Marina in Mount Juliet heading to commodore yacht club. We left out at 9:00 am. \240We will do about 60 nautical miles today. Today we will learn a lot about Neoma !

So far the temp gages are spazing out and not working

We have the dinghy tied up to the stern of the boat.

Athena is sound asleep on her bed. At first she did not like the sound of the engines. She’s now used to them.

Our speed so far is 6.7 knots right now. We’ll go faster once in the channel

Day 2

Day 2 is under way lines are pulled and we’re off ! We stopped at the fuel docks before we left to get diesel their card reader was messed up but we’ll be good until we get to our next destination. I ( Jodi ) pulled out of the fuels docks using gears only ! I also pulled all the ropes and got on the boat before it left me at the docks lol. Anyone who knows me knows that was definitely a big move ! Let’s go to Clarksville.

We have made it to our destination for the rest of the day/ night. Today has been nothing short of an adventure from the dinghy getting a line trapped Uber it and John having to get it unstuck while I manned the helm using just the gear thingys ( forward and reverse) to the lock me dropping my li e in the water TWICE but I did the lines all by my self. I have already learned so much. John has done so amazing because I’ve not been as useful today as I’m trying hard to fight a cold that’s trying to come on. So I’ve napped a lot.

Athena has been amazing she made friends with the lady and gentlemen at the docks. Speaking of this Marina gets 10 ⭐️’s the people that work here are absolutely phenomenal. They tied us off pumped our fuel tied us up at our spot offered to hook up our power and water ! If you are ever in the area on your boat I highly recommend this marina.

I am going to make some hot vegetable soup, cornbread and have a piping hot cup of coffee. We even get to do a load of laundry while we’re here !

Good morning ! We’re about to get day 3 started. WE ARE SORE ! Lol who knew boating was such a workout! I’m so thankful fo this experience we’re having though. I’m hoping 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 for some sunshine today! It’s been gloomy since we left out two days ago. Anyway we’re getting some coffee in us and about to pull lines and head to our next destination. Luckily I dont know how to cook for just two people so we’ll have soup left over for lunch will be a nice hot meal for the mid day ! Also the moon is directly in front of us. It’s beautiful!

Here’s to fair winds and gentle waters to guide our day today!

We’ve been on the water for about two hours so it’s 9:00 am for this entry, we \240have went about 15.1 km. I cant even begin to describe how beautiful of a morning it is. My soul needed this. I’ve gotten to take tons of pictures on my Canon that I cant wait to upload! I’ve sat outside in the sun soaking up some good ol vitamin D. It’s funny how the sun can I stan boost your mood especially after a few gloomy days in a row. Anyway we’re making great time towards our next destination which is Bumpus Marina! The sun is bright , the coffee is hot, the waterway is smooth like glass ! It’s a BEAUTIFUL DAY !

It’s now 11:16 we have about two hours till we reach our destination and then we will deep clean the boat, vacuum, dust , get everything stowed away and go for a walk around the marina with Athena and let her stretch her legs ! \240The sunshine really has been a blessing today!

We have been at our destination for a couple hours. \240We took some time to do on a dinghy ride walk Athena along the sore line and take in the beautiful scenery of this marina. We’re staying at Bumpus Marina in Bumpus Mills, Tenneesee. Tomorrow we will be in Grand Rivers, Kentucky . Today has so far been my most favorite day. We passed so many different things. A barge was dredging the river in one part. A big excavator filling a barge with dirt and the most amazing sunset I’ve ever seen in my life

Good morning and welcome to day 4 of Adventures with Neoma! Today we’re heading to Green Turtle Bay Marina ! I hope I’ll get to see some turtles although it may be too cold for them to be out. It is 7:40 am right now we should be there hopefully by 1pm and we’re going to stay there for two days for a much needed rest and recharge and to do a bit of a deep clean, go get more provisions if needed and did I mention REST lol I have never been so sore in my life. This is the single most challenging thing I’ve ever done (besides giving birth) but it’s also one of the most rewarding. We’ve seen the most beautiful sunrise/sunsets, we’ve seen lots of cool things along the rivers , and some of the most beautiful scenery ever ! I have lost a little bit of weight (which is perfectly ok with me ) from all the up and down the steps, in and out, pulling and securing lines. I’ve made amazing meals and have gotten to watch John do some amazing things. This man can parallel park anywhere I swear. I’m so proud of him and all of his ability’s. We made it to Green Turtle Bay Marina around 1:30. To say we are worn out is the understatement of the century lol. We’re both physically and mentally exhausted to the point we’re both a tad bit on the cranky side. We got some bad weather coming in so we may be here for a few days as it passes which is ok with me because I think we both could use a couple of days to rest and recharge. This marina offers a courtesy car so if we need to go to the store and get things we can. The marina is nice the people…. Not so much. They could just be having an off day but they’re not very friendly. Anyway we will update tomorrow on plans to stay or go. Also pizza rolls were for dinner lol.

Good morning and welcome to day 5. The Captain ( John ) says we rest today. Thank goodness cause he’s been working this first mate to hard lol ( just kidding). \240We will be doing stuff around the boat, and using the courtesy car to go stock up on groceries and things like that. I was so excited to get to sleep in today and I guess all things considered I did “sleep in” I woke up at 8:30 instead of 6am lol I could probably sleep an entire day. Today will be a good day even though it’s gloomy and we got some not so fun weather coming in I’m thankful for the break we’re taking to recharge. Also I’m missing my babies back home so that’s kinda rough too.

Here’s pictures of the stickers I’ve collected so far from the Marin’s we’ve visited. Two so far didn’t have a sticker.

Cedar Creek Marina- MNT JULIET, TN

1274- Clarksville Marina - Clarksville,Tn

The turtle- Green Turtle Bay - Kentucky

Today has been a really chill day for me. For the Captain not so much. He’s not good at being still BUIUTTTT he got all the gauges fixed and topped off all the fluids in the boat. I took full advantage of the bath house and took probably the hottest and longest shower I’ve had in a week I even shaved my legs ! We went to the Village Grocery store and stocked up on a few things I learned that I definitely prefer water over pavement I do not like being in a vehicle. The little town here is so cute. Hopefully we’ll get to explore it before we leave. Everything was closed today so we didn’t get to explore or eat at Patti’s restaurant. So tonight we are having spaghetti!

Good morning! Day 6 started off with a bang ! I was having the best sleep yet. I was dreaming we we’re heading towards clear blue waters when all of the sudden I wake up at 3 am absolutely terrified! I awoke to Hail , intense thunder , crazy lightning ! I had no clue where I was or what was going on. My first thought was how do you survive a tornado inside a boat. It was one of those spring time storms where cold air meets hot air and reeks havoc on each other. Absolutely crazy ! I woke john up he was sleeping like a log. The hail was hitting the boat and was loud. No idea how he was sleeping with all that noise, he walked around the living room to make sure windows were breaking cause it sounded like they were. We checked the weather apps no tornado watch/ warnings just severe thunderstorms with high winds. We both went back to sleep and slept really well. My dream however did not pick up where it left off lol

We probably could have left out this morning but decided to go ahead and stay one more night. Rather be safe than sorry ! As we have severe thunderstorm warnings and some tornado watches in Kentucky, Alabama. We’re happy to say after waking up and looking over the boat there’s not a single leak. Which is great.

Also for anyone that has a predominantly all wooden interiors I HIGHLY recommend you use Pledge wood oil. I used it on all the wood in our living room yesterday and it looked brand new ! And this wood was THIRSTY so it did take a couple of applications but it looks beautiful today!

The food at patti’s was phenomenal! John and I both got the fried tenderloin, green beans , mashed potatoes, and we split a blackberry cobbler for dinner.

When we got back John pumped out the dinghy from all the rain water , I helped pump air into the boat and cleaned all the water off the sides of the boat. I have very much enjoyed our time here at turtle bay and the little town. We’ve gotten a lot accomplished while on our break. It’s been nice to also catch up on rest ! If the weather is good tomorrow we will hit the river on our way again. It’s supposed to be really cold tomorrow so that will not be so fun !

I’m watching the weather as writing this THERES tornado warnings for Mississippi and Alabama this storm is moving FAST

Good morning and welcome to day 7 ! The dock was covered in frost this morning. It looked like it may have snowed a tiny bit. We’re back on the water heading to Paris Landing today. It’s a gloomy cold day \240no idea what I’m going to make for lunch today for the Captain lol I had a rough start waking up. The wind blew the boat around all night and one rope was just squeaking so loudly. John slept like a baby those sounds are soothing to him I think. Anyway i hope you all have a beautiful day and stay safe out there in the world. May we have Fair Winds and gentle waters to carry us through our day !

Now that we’ve had a few hours to settle into our spot for the night I must say how proud I am for the both of us for navigating through uncharted waters and rough seas at that and sprinkling in extreme cold and snow. Overall today was a huge success for the both of us. I personally crossed boundaries I did t know was possible and John made driving Neoma look like a dream. When I freaked out a couple of times he was calm as ever. To say today was challenging is an understatement but we did it and we did it together ! We make an amazing team and I am so very proud of us both !

The water is choppy today BUUUTTTTT we may get to see some snow flurries which would be awesome to take pictures of !

Good morning and welcome to Day 8 it’s a pretty morning ! We have a little bit of sun peaking through the clouds. It definitely does not look as angry outside today as it did yesterday. The Captain says we may have some choppiness but it’ll be calmer than yesterday THANKFULLY! I got to sleep in a bit this morning as I believe we’re not traveling too awfully far today. We we’re going to go to pebble isle but it’s looking to be way to narrow so we’ll be going to Cuba Landing.

We probably have about 7-10 more days left on the water maybe a few more give or take depending on weather next week. My question is how do you go back to normal life after this big of an adventure and all this excitement?

On this journey I have personally pushed so many boundaries ( in a good way) I have done things I never thought I was even physically or mentally capable of, I have re learned that simple is definitely better, John and I have become an even \240stronger team than I thought we were. ( we’re pretty damn strong as is ) I have learned that when it comes to him and I there’s absolutely nothing this world can throw at us that we cannot get through, talk through, walk through, or solve together! This has truly been one of the most eye opening, self confidence boosting, self realization, coming to terms and peace with past things, deep thinking journeys of my life.

Him and I are on the same journey but we each had different and very personal goals to work on that we discussed before we left to get the most out of this journey not just the fun and adventure part and I’d say we have both learned a lot about ourselves and each other along the way. It’s been absolutely beautiful! We’ve had a couple of tiffs when we’re way past exhausted and needing a break , I’ve cried a couple of times from sheer excitement and the beauty of everything around me, and from being overwhelmed.

I personally think this has been one of the best team building adventures of our lives ! I already can’t wait til the next one. There’s no going back after this !

We made it to Cuba Landing Marina. A very beautiful and protected area. The water here is like glass ! Today was kind of a long day as we we’re going against the current and having to zig zag our whole way here. We’re ready for dinner and rest. I never thought I’d be the type to be ready for bed when the sun goes to bed but the first mate is exhausted. I can only imagine how tired Captain John is. I only have to take over for a little while at a time and when I tell him to sit and relax “ I got this” he sits a total of 10 seconds max before he’s up checking on this or looking at that or doing a walk about to make sure everything is secure ( which I most definitely do appreciate) I’m still learning what to look for and it’s second nature to him. If even the slightest pitch changes in the normal noises he will catch it and hunt it down to figure out what it is. I have never not once felt unsafe with him being in charge of the helm. I am so very proud of him and all his amazing abilities. We’re all hooked up to shore power im going whip up dinner , shower and snuggle up with my pup and the captain !

The sunset and walk tonight was amazing. I love for these moments to share with you ! Athena’s favorite thing to do is walk around the marinas and meet friends. She doesn’t like to sit still cause she so excited to see what she can explore.

Good Morning and welcome to Day 9 and a brisk 29° outside! Last night was such a good nights sleep ! We’re having our coffee and going down river ! We stayed at Cuba Landing Marina and it was a nice comfortable Marina. Today we are heading to Clifton Marina. Hopefully I can get some cool pics for y’all and that there will be internet so I can upload the pictures I’ve taken the last couple of days.

May we have fair winds and gentle waters to guide our way today!

Today I am working on editing all the pictures from my camera and hopefully can use my hotspot to post them for everyone to enjoy !

Good morning and welcome to day 10- today is a stay put day. We have rain and wind so we’re hanging out here. It felt so good to let my body sleep in. \240We will take the day while we’re sitting ducks and do our deep cleaning and tidy up better than we can when we’re on the move. Unfortunately the marina is closed today so we can’t run errands or anything which is ok we pretty much have everything we need. \240Did I mention how nice it was to sleep in !!!!! I have missed that lol I hope you all have a beautiful day!here’s a few pictures from the last couple of days !

Good morning star shine ! The Earth says Hello !

Welcome to day ELEVEN!!!! Goodbye Clifton Marina thank you for being so kind to us ! We we’re very well protected in our slip from the harsh winds ! I’m looking forward to seeing what today brings us. So far it’s been an absolutely beautiful sunrise! I am about to whip the captain up some breakfast! It feels absolutely amazing outside so windows will be getting opened soon. There’s still a slight chill in the air lingering with adventure that awaits us ! Off we go. May we have fair winds and gentle waters to guide us to our next destination! Pickwick lock and marina here we come !