Day 20 -- Florence, Alabama

We departed Grand Harbor this morning for a gorgeous cruise up the Tennessee River/Pickwick Lake. The opposing current raises it head every time we approach a lock and dam. Today as we approached the Wilson lock MPH dropped off a couple of miles per hour, sometimes three. But we will recover this hardship on the way back down the Tennessee before reaching the Tenn/Tom waterway heading to Mobile. Again, there isn’t much for population or industry along the way. Although we did see hundreds of bass fisherman and being smarter than we look, we determined there must be a bass tournament. Little did we know it was a big ABA tournament, this being the last day of three, with weigh in at 3:00 PM. We are in Florence, Alabama (Florence Marina on the Tennessee River) where the bass tournament is coming to closure. As you can see from the pictures, it looks like a disaster waiting to happen. We stopped around 1:30 which is our earliest day yet and that made for a very relaxing afternoon. They take this tournament very seriously.

Here is a recap so far, (just to see if you’re paying attention).
500 miles on the Mississippi, 60 miles on the Ohio, 31 miles on the Cumberland and 225 on the Tennessee. We have gone through 14 locks and the states of Iowa, IL, MO, Ohio, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, and now Alabama.

We were going to prepare dinner on board, however the marina restaurant looked like a better opportunity. Met a very nice local couple that offered local knowledge, insight of a very friendly community. After sandwiches and desert, (thinking weight watchers again) we retired to the boat, watched a little TV and called it a night. Up early and head easterly on the Tennessee River. the loop.

Pickwick Lake on the "Tennesee River"

Grand Harbor condos at Marina
Pickwick Lock
Looper friends at Freddy T's
Noah Genda in the fog @ Clifton Marina.





Wed 9/30/09 night we had a quiet night at Clifton Marina in Tennessee. We had fog again in the am, so I fixed a low cal breakfast of biscuits and gravy. We departed about 9:00 am and fought the heavy 5 -6 MPH current from the flooded river for 50 miles. Our guide book said some bollards were missing from the 57’ Pickwick lock wall however we thought surely by now they were replaced. Not so. I think there were only two on our left side and it was impossible to determine if the pin was there or not until you were next to them. The current was much better after the lock. We planned to stay at Pickwick Marina but it is closed for upgrades so we went on to Grand Harbor, 5 additional miles up river on the Tenn-Tom. What a classy place as you can see from the condo picture.

We met up with couples that we had met earlier and had dinner at “Freddy T’s”. Fun time and good food. Today I went with them to a place called Shiloh which is a National Military Park in TN. The civil war was fought here for 2 days. They had a very educational film and then a driving tour around the park. Tom stayed at the boat and cleaned.
Later we used the marina courtesy car (new Nissan 4-door Pick-up) went for groceries, did laundry and went for a dinghy boat ride on Yellow Creek and went over to Aqua Marine and looked at the large harbor and hundreds of boats. Also there are some extremely beautiful high end homes surrounding Yellow Creek/Aqua Marine Harbor, as well as very large expensive homes on Pickwick Lake.
After a 2-day lay-over at Grand Harbor, we think we will continue up the Tennessee River towards Chattanooga and back to Joe Wheeler State Park for the Rendezvous the end of October.

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!