Saturday Sept. 14 

27 miles    Tenn. river mm#275.8 to Decatur, AL

Traveling time today was 0740 to1030. The scenery today was a little different. We passed several power plants (Randy was starting to feel right at home) and some other industries.

 

 

Our plans were to cruise to Guntersville AL. But even the best laid out plans can be changed. As we got near Decatur AL we had one railroad bridge we had to call ahead to got opened for us. While we were talking on the radio to the bridge tender we noticed a lot of tents on shore. The bridge tender told us there was a rib festival going on. Well that boat just had a mind of its own and made a right hand turn to the nearest dock. Right next to the park where the festival was going on was a launch ramp and docks. The ramp was closed to be used as a parking lot so we could tie up at the docks.

 

This was one very serious rib festival with about 150 teams entered from all over Tennessee and Alabama. There was every thing from pop up campers to fifth wheels to Grey Hound buses. The smokers that were used came in all shapes and sizes also.

 

 

 

We met one team who is a family from Alabama. This was their first time entering a competition like this. We sampled some of their ribs and chicken and if we were the judges they would have taken 1^st place.