Tennessee River Sept 29

Tennesse River

Kenlake Lodge, leaving Kenlake Marina

Beautiful limestone bluff's, Tennesse River

Below, nice homes along way.

Left Kenlake Marina on Sunday for a nice cruise on Kentucky Lake to Pebble Isle Marina in Johnsonville Tennessee. Nice day, a little windy, purchased fuel at Pebble Isle ($2.49 @ Gal) and met lots of loopers at this marina today. We all met on the patio for happy hour and had dinner together in the marina restaurant. It is normally closed on Monday but they opened it for us. Aren’t we special?? Had a good time meeting new friends and discussing everyones experiences. Interesting people from all over the country, some finishing their journey and several getting started like us. Met one couple from Redwing Marina in Minneasota and one couple from Stillwater on the St Croix. Met a couple from Florida with a 45' Ocean Alexander, nice boat but of course we are partial.

We were informed that in the morning the Pebble Isle Marina has complimentary fresh Cinnamon rolls & coffee available at the Marina office. I refused to leave until they were done! And they were well worth it.

Tuesday, we left Pebble Isle at 9:15 AM and had a beautiful cruise up the Tennessee River. Lots of nice homes, limestone bluffs, twisting and turning through a very green landscape. There is very little population, no industrial facilities, very few marinas and about the only boaters you see are people going from the north to the south or loopers. This truly is an absolutely gorgeous river, a beautiful part of America and we are happy to have experienced it. We have attached a couple of images. Tonight we are moored at the Clifton Marina in Clifton Tennessee. (Population 2,699) We used the marina courtesy car to go to the grocery store and the drug store for some badly needed provisions. Clifton is a very small, clean, quaint river community on the banks of the Tennessee River. Really a beautiful setting, friendly people, a very nice find for us. Pretty interesting read on the history of Clifton TN.

Kentucky Lakes

This morning we said good-by to our new friends that we traveled the last 200 miles with, and said we would meet again at the Rendezvous in October located at Joe Wheeler State Park

Today was a beautiful clear 81 degree day cruising from Green Turtle Bay marina to Kenlake Marina on the Kentucky Lake. What a magnificent body of water and the marinas are plentiful offering necessary amenities. We arrived about 1:00 PM, launched the dinghy and went exploring the many coves located near the marina. There are plenty of coves used by many for afternoon anchorages with friends or by yourself with solitude. Kenlake Marina is located in Kenlake State Park, 1600 acres of rolling hills, a golf course, a lodge, lake cottages all overlooking the lake, (2) resturarants, meeting rooms and groomed perfectly. Nice employees and very accommodating. Kenlake was the first State Park on the Lake and the history of the park is very interesting and a fun read. Located 40 miles S.W. of Paducah, KY. We had the lodge pick us up at the marina and went to a very nice dining room at the lodge overlooking Kentucky Lake and had dinner. After dinner they brought us back to the marina in a Park vehicle. Life is good.

Enjoying a quiet evening on the boat, Diann is watching a movie, I am blogging and using the marina WIFI..

Tomorrow breakfast at the Marina restaurant, opens at 7:00, then take off for Pebble Isle Marina 50 miles up the lake in Johnsonville, TN. Just another State to visit.
Travelling the Kentucky Lakes has been a very pleasant and beautiful experience. The lake is spacious, deep, and clean. A very nice part of the journey.

Images:
* Diann at Kenlake Marina with Kentucky Lake in the background
* Transient docks at Green Turtle Bay
* Transient docks at Green Turtle Bay with our boat in image
* What can happen driving in the dark. Saw this, this morning on our way out of GTB on our way to Kenlake Marina.

Cumberland River

Our goal today was to depart at 7:00 am after an off the channel anchorage at Metropolis IL located on the flooded Ohio River. However we were fogged in so the departure was delayed until 9:00 AM. We traveled a treacherous 19 miles fighting the Ohio River with 2 locks where the water was so high we didn’t lock through but drove over the top wicket dams (65’ deep). The current was the same for 31 miles on the Cumberland River and the 57’ lift at the Barkley lock. The Cumberland River is truly a beautiful river with very little development or industrial anywhere on its shoreline. Today was a gorgeous day and a beautiful ride up the twisting turning river carved out of the wilderness of Kentucky. Great journey today.

Tonight we are safely at the marina Green Turtle Bay (GTB) located in Grand Rivers, Kentucky located on the Barkley Lake. Nice large facility, with lots of local mariners and a very popular stop for north to south travelers. A quick storm blew through about 6:00 PM, but did not alter our wonderful evening at the Marina private club restaurant with new looper friends Dave & Pam Feltner from Akron Ohio. Very enjoyable evening sharing information with fellow loopers.

It is amazing how the auto-pilot fights the fast river flood currents. Often the current is so strong that the autopilot cannot react quick enough to stay on course. Sometimes it is better not to use it. We both must stay alert for floating logs which could create a catastrophic disaster.

Tomorrow, take it a little easier or like the name of the vessel reflects, “Noah Genda”. We are planning a slower pace cruising through the Kentucky Lake region stopping at several marinas along the way.
Images are of the Ohio River.

Ohio River

We left at 7:00 am and piloted 49 miles down the Mississippi to mile 0 at the Ohio River. Very remote area, lots of current, water boils and whirlpools. With the 5 MPH current going down river on the Mississippi we were going 12 MPH at a very low RPM. Once we headed up the flooded Ohio it changed to 6 MPH and had to pick up the RPM. The water is so high that the wickets are down on the dams and we just drove over them. Weird feeling, very turbulent and the Ohio current pick up to 7 MPH over the dams. Fuel economy has been great at about 3 MPG, much better than we expected. Also on the Ohio it was barges galore! We’re anchored now and it’s time for a glass of wine.
Tomorrow we hope to make Green Turtle Bay on the Kentucky Lakes for a couple days of relaxation.
Jim, we have pictures of the Mississippi and Ohio but they don’t want to download. Computers are very frustrating when traveling, at least in this area!

Hoppies & Diversion Channel ( MM 48) 9/24

We are out of air/card or WIFI range quite often so if the blog isn’t updated, it’s not that I’m falling down on the job!
I forgot to mention we met a couple who had their 45 foot boat, manufactured by Broom, shipped here from the United Kingdom just to do the loop! We haven’t had a chance to talk to them much but did learn this is her first time in America.
This is definitely an industrial river area as you can see from the picture of all the tugs. The St Louis arch is pretty no matter what the weather. It rained all day so we traveled 110 miles from Hoppies in Kimmswick, MO to the Diversion Channel, 5 miles below Cape Girardeau. Hoppies is your last chance for fuel and fresh water for 275 mile. Fern Hopkins, the owner, holds a navigational meeting at 4:00 PM on the dock that is a must attend for safe passage to the Kentucky Lakes. She is a very knowledgeable lady.
Additionally there was a special assignment journalist from the “New York Times” newspaper on site writing and photographing Fern Hopkins and looopers for an article to be published in a Sunday edition sometime around the middle of October.
3 other boats are anchored near us in the Diversion Channel tonight. One couple with an 43 Ocean Alexander visited us by dinghy and brought us dessert. I’m going to maintain friendship with them!

On our way again

Arrived at Port Charles 9am on Wed. Had props off and sent out with a promise of return on Monday by noon. They arrived at 1:30 and were back on in half an hour. After a test run, they discovered the packing in the shaft was getting hot. So hot in fact that Paul (the marina owner) got blisters on his hand when he touched it. Tried other sizes and felt it was fixed so we started for Alton around 5:15pm. After half hour it was hot again so we turned around and went back and stayed on the gas dock. Within the hour we had terrible winds and downpour. I was glad we were there as I don’t think we would have made it to Alton before the storm. Paul was right there Tuesday morning to lift us out, tried other size packing and did a test run and headed out again. Headed back downstream to Alton at 11:15; 11:45 turned around because it was hot again. Finally got on our way after another size packing installation at 2:15 and everything has been okay. On our way to Alton we saw Asian crap jumping high out of the water. Glad they can’t reach us.

Alton Marina is a very first class operation, kinda wish we could stay a couple of days, however we should head south to make up lost time from prop repair. We will decide in the morning depending on weather.

There are 3 other Loopers staying here. One from Minnesota, one from Connecticut and the other we haven’t met yet.

Pirate Ship

Interesting day at Port Charles Harbor. Local area artist TIm Woodson, campanion Martha Ifland and very talented dock friends Jim & Bill have been busy converting a 28' 1977 Carver Mariner to a pirate ship named Gypsy Rose. Today was launch date and a trip to Grafton for an event called "Pirate Days". Unique, talented and quite interesting individuals. Fun was had by all.

Rainy day today, bottom paint is complete, looks great. All new bearings are installed, just waiting for props to be returned, hopefully tomorrow. We are having fun enjoying local interests. Last night went to the St Charles local airport for a display of world war II vintage airplanes, food and a dance. Very interesting, guests dressed in period uniforms and civilain clothing. Good time.

Port St Charles & the rest of the story

Our 1st morning out, when we pulled anchor and hit the rock pile, we could not get off . Tom tried pulling us with the dinghy but it wouldn’t budge. The only boat around were 2 guys fishing in a flat bottom. Tom set off in the dinghy to ask for help but half way there the motor quit running. He rowed back to the boat and although he didn’t think he was out of fuel, we did add more. Off he went only to have it quit again but this time he couldn’t get back to the boat before the current was swiftly taking him down river. The fishermen were moving to another spot so we flagged them down. He towed Tom back and then tried to pull us off but his 50 HP Honda couldn’t budge it either. Our only option was to power off. I hope I never hear that sound again. It was much much worse than nails on a chalkboard! Tom was too upset yesterday to talk about what might be wrong with the boat. He envisioned not only new props but also bent rudder and who knows what else. Today we pulled into Port Charles (not Polestar as I said earlier) and were pleasantly surprised with only having to repair the props. While it is out of the water, Tom decided to have a few other items serviced!

We have extremely high accolades for the fast, courteous professional service offered by Port Charles Harbor (Paul Hopkins, owner). 9:00 A.M. drove right into the slings and the props were off in 30 minutes. Props are in a local prop scan shop due back here by Friday night and installed Saturday A.M.

Diann & Tom

What rocks? Sept 14 1st nite out

Monday. We had a very enjoyable anchorage below lock 18 last night. As we were leaving this morning, I was at the helm and hit something that has given us a vibration. We're going to have it looked at in Polestar in St Charles, MO.
Tom still has enough trust in me to let me get behind the wheel again today.

The weather has been fabulous. Nothing else to report.

Diann

What a send off!

Thank you to our friends and neighbors who saw us off from Safe Harbor on Saturday. A special thanks to our daughter Dawn, Kevin, Sydney, Riley and Jensen who drove from Cedar Rapids and who saved us after we neglected to close the garage and lock the house. Too much excitement! It was Toms fault of course.

We appreciated everyone showing up at LPYC and having dinner with friends and son Gary, Cindy and Connor. We missed you Tyler but thanks for the calls from you and Blake.

Jim and Brenda Hampton went above and beyond with serving Bloody Marys and Mimosas Sunday morning. He even christened the boat with champagne. We love the engraved picture frame of our boat.

After we were under way, we had cookies for breakfast. THANKS Ann
We will try to edit this post with digital images at anchor tonight

Safeharbor Bon Voyage Party

We just arrived home tonight from the most wonderful Safeharbor Bon Voyage Party hosted in the home of our dear friends Don & Suzie and Bob & Diane Corwell. One of the most difficult part of the journey is leaving our wonderful friends at Safeharbor. Thank you Don & Suzie, Bob & Diane for a wonderful enjoyable evening, sharing your beautiful homes with all of our Safeharbor boating friends. Diann & I would like to thank everyone for attending, we will truly miss everyone of you.

Final preparation

Still working on bringing the to-do list to closure. The condo hot water heater was replaced today so now we can continue with laundry to finalize what clothes to take on the boat. Shoe selection is another chapter. The 2-year old fresh water pump on the boat went south and Tom found one in stock at Adventure Campers on Brady Street and replaced the water pump today. It is always something and I'm sure we will have many of those.

Went to the post office today, finalized mail forwarding, thank you Andrea & Jeff Lanum


3-days to departure, ready or not