bike climb, boating

Met Bill on Sunday, we did a bike climb up Raccoon Mtn in a light drizzle.  It was about 50º.  Felt harder than the one I did on Friday.   Later that evening, I cruised into Chattanooga to meet Vik and Bill to see a IMAX movie on the James Web Space Telescope.  Then went to dinner at an upscale Latino restaurant.  

I slowly cruised back to the gorge by late evening, drifting with the river current much of the several miles, still in occasional light rain.  I had treated my canvas top with most of a gallon of waterproofing and it was great, no drips, warm, dry as a bone.   I had hot tea, watched football (Eagles v Bills), 60 Minutes, and then the Yellowstone TV series on the way.  Having high speed internet and Direct TV on the boat is really a game changer.   

By the time I went to anchor, the wind was really picking up and temperature dropping.  But, I stayed quite warm with the 12v electric blanket and the sherpa blanket.  

It was a quiet placid cold morning, mid 30ºs and cloudy, but as soon as it got sunny, no need for the heat.  The sun heats up the boat canvas enclosure like a greenhouse. 

Beautiful day but quite cool, upper 40ºs at most.  Other than 2 commercial barges, I didn't see one single boat all day.  The quiet was awesome.   

I was going to stay out until Tues morning and do a hill sprint workout today, but decided to come back because it is going to be in the mid 20ºs tonight.   It's just a 2 day cold snap then back to nearly 60º by the weekend.  Tomorrow night in the low-mid 20ºs.  I'm simply heating the boat instead of a complete winterization, keeping the possibility for one more trip, but it doesn't look promising.  Warmer this weekend but forecast to be rainy.  We'll see.   Just loving being out there, mostly because no one else is.

Tomorrow will be my first workout in freezing temperatures as the wind chill should be in the upper 20ºs.

Pulling out

Morning espresso and milk

Night cruising, watching football

wilderness

Chattanooga dock