Finally enroute #1

Hello all.
Our first post since leaving 4 Corners, mostly because we've been without phone/aircard/WiFi each evening. So, our apologies if you've been checking without success. We plan to post more often!!
We did leave 4 Corners on the 23rd, with a send-off from Ray and Bill. Cuba Landing was very hospitable, and we took Saturday and Sunday to finish preparations and good-byes to
family.
We left CL Monday morning and since then have stayed at Perryville Marina, Pickwick Landing State Park(2), Aqua Yacht Harbor(2), and last night we anchored off Bay Springs Marina. Since Monday we have had lots of cold rain, engine trouble (port engine repeatedly overheating), several miles on limping on one engine including going through Pickwick Lock, some unexpected night travel, and very helpful people. And yes, sometimes amidst all this we have wondered if we are out of our minds. But the 'tide' turned yesterday.
The new port engine water pump was installed yesterday at 8:15am, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and we traveled 37 miles in sunshine and wonderful foliage. This morning we got to the Bay Springs (Whitten) Lock in time to join 8 other boats and traveled with them until we pulled in to Smithville Marina, just above Wilkins Lock. Again the foliage was wonderful. Pictures just don't replicate the splendor. Tomorrow our plan is to travel to Columbus, starting out with the two other transient boats that are tied up here.
What do we miss? Newspapers! News! Corporate worship (2 weeks of our own).
How are the animals? Everyone is doing well. We've been fortunate to have good places for Dinah to walk and run at least once a day. The cats sleep all day and cause rumpus all night.
Do we have enough food? (My mother often asks) We've eaten mostly here on the boat, used the marina courtesy cars as needed, and had good provisions stored. So far so good.
We are asked: You're going to do the Loop in a houseboat? Our answer is 'that's our plan.' On Wednesday we met a young man from Iowa in a 12' pram-type open sailboat with a 9.5 hp engine. He had already traveled 1200 miles (down the Missouri, the Mississippi, the Ohio, a bit of the Cumberland, and some of the Tennessee). Surely if he's doing the Loop, we can too!!
We're headed for warmer temps, new scenery, and more adventures.
From the TN-Tom, nan and jack

(Yes, hopefully some picts soon. :)