#13 Chattanooga and more

Our trip back down to Rogersville, Alabama with Fred Bill's brother, was uneventful and most pleasant rather than flying.  We were anxious to get on with the Rendezvous -- a gathering of all sorts of boats (55 or so) and 225 folks who are doing the Loop, have done the Loop and those who want to do the Loop.  All kinds of seminars with infromation on the next segments of the trip all the way to Norfolk Virgina. Very informative. The food was great and the camaraderie was outstanding.  Finally on the 17th of October Fred, Pheobe(the cute little dog) Bill and I cast off for Chattanooga up the Tennessee River. We made stops at Riverwalk Marina again, Hit the Hard Dock Cafe and AGAIN, no one around to pay.  It has become Bill's favorite stop.  :)  Hunstville proved to be the highlight for Fred so far and his visit to the Space and Rocket Center. Bill and I ran errands and did a little shopping while there. 

10/22 Our first anchorage, Bull Frog Cove, rather weedy and Fred had a bit of trouble finding a place to get ashore with Phoebe. But accomplish it we did. Phoebe was grateful! and we didn't hear even one Bull Frog!

Here a train is hugging the bluff as it makes it way. We have entered what they call the "Canyons of Tennessee".

After supper conversation

10/23 Hales Bar Marina, next to Abandoned Hydroelectric dam. Eight years, 5000 workers faced consirerable risk. many accidents, injuries and even deaths. Also bloody labor disputes.  Nov. 1913 the world's largest hydroelectric generating plant opened. Only Niagra was larger. There was a great celebration; bands, dancing, speeches and fireworks. Almost from the beginning there were serious leaking problems through the rock strata under the dam. AND the lock was too small for modern navigation needs.  They stripped the machinery, closed her up and replaced it with the NickaJack Dam several miles up river. 

We are in Sequatchit Valley, which is one of two "rifts" in the world. The other is in Africa. A rift is where the earth actually splits apart.  This particular bluff is being quarried.

Pictures cannot, no matter how hard I try, capture the all around beauty of the hills, mountains and vistas. The leaves are just beginning to show a change 

Volley ball net awaiting participants for the weekend at the shallows along the river.

Trucks on Highway as we round the curve into the Chattanooga area.

World Class Tennessee Aquarium. Fresh water on the right, Salt water on the left.

We are docked right in fromt of the Aquariums

Phoebe and friends!

Yep, we had a ringside seat to this spectacle!

OOOPS!

Someone told us we would see all kinds of craft on the Rivers. I love his fenders!

Heading back down from Chattanooga at the Nickajack Lock and dam. All our locks from here on will be drops. It is interesting to realize we are high in the Appalachian Mountains. 634 feet above sea level before we reach Mobile, Alabama.

We are back at Wheeler where Fred will pick up his car and head South to his place in Florida.  We were treated to a Championship Bass Tournament.  140 boats with two people each on board. One Pro and one Co-angler. They congregated at 7am. at 7:30 they were allowed to start one at a time 1 through  140. It didn't take long since they had 250 hp motors.  They all started to arrive back at 3pm for the weigh in.  They will fish Thurs and Fri. the top ten will fish on Saturday. At the moment the heaviest catch 18 lb. 5 oz. Spots 1 through 40 will pay out.  Top No. 1 gets $125,000 and both the Co-angler gets a new boat.

Phoebe's last stroll through Joe Wheeler State Park, Alabama

Brothers. A good time sharing.

10/31 It's Halloween, Fred is on his way home to Florida and we are planning our next few days. Probably a short run today to Florence - about 17 miles. Actually the top ten anglers are going to weigh in their fish at the WalMart store in Florence. (WalMart sponsors this tourney). Sure would like to see the results. We will continue down the Tennessee to Yellow Creek, the beginning of the Tenn-Tom Waterway south. Then 450 miles to Mobile, Alabama.

#12 I can't beleive . . .

I can't believe it has been more than a month since I posted!  We traveled up the Tennessee to Huntersville where we picked up our friends Pam and Bruce Fritz visiting from Michigan.  As you can see below we visited the Space and Rocket center there. Huntsville, Alabama is known as Rocket City since it is the home of the huge complex, Redstone Arsenal and Marshall Space Flight Center where Wernher Von Braun world foremost rocket scientist helped lead the U.S. into the space age. The museum has the largest and finest collection of NASA rockets and army missiles.  There are dozens of hands-on exhibits, flight simulators, 354 foot Saturn V moon Rocket, 98 ton full size model of the Space Shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope - - it goes on and on.  Well worth a trip to Huntsville to visit.

Aldren, Bowman, Fritz, Fritz and Bowman

Life size!  This place is awesome!

Here is Pam and Bruce enjoying some of the Bluffs along the river as we leave Huntsville. It was a joy to share our experiences with these dear Friends.  We traveled on through Guntersville Lock to an anchorage and then headed back to Joe Wheeler State Park after a few days where we accompanied them back to Michigan on the 26th  of September. And yes, we were supposed to fly through Chicago but got caught up on the great shutdown of O'Hare airport there.  Was to leave Huntsville at 9:30 am but didn't get a flight till 5:40 pm to Dallas for a connect to Detroit at 10:30pm  Bill and I finally made it home at 1:30 am the next day.

It doesn't seem possible that we left home this year on June 8th. 3 and 1/2 months ago.  Everything was in order, we scooted up to Detour to winterize the cabin, back down to Kelly's in Traverse City, visited with Wendi, Jeff and kids and Sandi and JR and children.  Did Doctor checkups, Dentist Checkups and then were completely bored and ready to be back on the boat.  But, worth waiting for was Connie's 55th Class Reunion on Sat. Oct. 11th.  What a hoot!  Such fun to see everyone again. Unfortunately, 20% of us are gone, but the 20% that attended had a great time and looking forward to the 60th.

Bill's brother Fred was heading down to his place in Florida and offered to drive us back to Alabama where we left the boat. We invited him to attend the "Loopers" rendezvous with us and then on to Chattanooga for a few days up the Tennessee River. We will drop him off back at the Park where he left his car to head to Florida. We will then head South on the Tenn-Tom waterway toward Mobile, then on to Florida.  I think Fred will beat us there!!

This is some of the folks at the rendezvous getting gathered for a group photo. 225 people and some 55 boats.

some of the boats

Friday morn after the Rendezvous, 20 + boats head out at 8:30 am for a mass transit of the Joe Wheeler Lock and Dam 1 mile South of the marina.  I would have loved to be at the top of the lock  to photo all those boats in the lock at the same time. Yes, the lock is big enough.

Bill, Fred and I left around 1pm for Riverwalk Marina in Decator, Alabama, our favorite marina, Never anyone around, nobody in the office. Free!

We arrived late afternoon and headed for the Cafe, a bit of libation and supper. Decator is across the River.  Friday night at the Hard Dock is a happenin' place! Hard Rock at the Hard Dock til 2pm!!

We are on our way to Huntsville for a few days. Fred will visit the Space and Rocket Center; then off to Chattanooga.  We should be there around the 24th of  October. World Class Aquariums, Fresh and Salt water, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga Choo Choo!  Looking forward to the visit.  It is great to be back on the water. 

#11 Sept. 11 - 16

We left our little anchorage of the 10th and headed up river. Here we are approaching Wilson lock. It is the THIRD largest lift lock in the world.  I know you are getting a little bored with these lock pictures but if you could experience it  --  you would be as awe struck as we are.  These locks and dams are an engineering phenomenon.

That is a 21 ft pleasure craft about to exit as we are going in!!!

Each one of those lines represents 5 foot. Count them.  We were lifted 93 feet!  The holdback of this lock creates Wilson Lake. As the Kentucky dam creates Kentucky Lake, Pickwick Dam creates Pickwick Lake.

Pretty impressive overwhelming sensation inside one of these behemoths, especially when you are alone.  Notice the water roiling behind us as the water rushes in.

This is not a swing gate to let us out.  The picture where I suggested counting the lines? Well, this is that wall and it just slides down into the water, walkway railings and all.  A horn signals us when it is safe to exit.

Again, the view leaving these locks is a totally different look. I think this dam is over 7000 feet from bank to bank.

6 miles up the river/Lake Wilson we encounter Wheeler lock and Dam. We only got a ride up of 57 feet. You can see a highway bridge that was built right over the dam.

Wheeler Lock and dam from 3 miles away. Now are you beginning to see the enormous fete of building these structures. They have created navigable commercial waterways from the interior to the Gulf. If these dams were not here, these great rivers would be only 4 to 10 foot deep!

Here is what our chart plotter showed us.  The dark black line is a "flooded submerged bridge"! and the area is also a "flooded timber" area.  The original riverbed is within the darker lines on the chart.

The next few days, after stopping at Joe Wheeler State Park Marina for fuel and to check on our reservation for leaving the boat for a couple weeks while we fly home;   we just picked nice little anchorages and then ended up in Decatur, Alabama at Riverwalk Marina. Spent two days there just scubbing the water line and washing the boat and other chores.  Carlton and Becky Moore, Gold Loopers (Gold Loopers are those who have completted the loop) came around and befriended us.  Offered to take us to anywhere we wanted to go.  Very gracious and kind and interesting folks.  Another couple to put on our special friendly list.  

16th.  Only went 17 miles today. Found this little river inlet at the town of Triana and tied to the dock at their boat dock ramps. I walked up into town to the library to use internet and get this blog out.  Hate to let too many days go by.
Huntsville is only 20 miles up river where we will meet our friends Pam and Bruce Fritz on the 21st. So we have a few days to just play "Lazy River".  Maybe we'll just hang out here another day.  It is so peaceful!

#10 Sept 5 - Sept 10th

These next few days we anchored in little inlets or behind islands along the river. Here are some scenes we observed along the way.

An abandoned Dock. This dock was busy and accessible before they damned the river.

Cypress trees spreading their roots deep in the ground t o secure their spot when things get a little dicey in the spring and during floods.

This particular anchorage Densons Island MM125 gave us a little trouble the next morning. The River channel is on the left and the anchorage behind the island on the right; but, it was 40 foot deep. we wanted a little shallower due to  current etc. So we positioned ourselves at the end of the island. Next morning we discovered we had hooked a huge dead tree and NOT the bottom. Half an hour of wrestling we escaped. The chain was wrapped around this tree better than Bill could have done if he wanted to drag it home. Of course, I didn't get a picture!

Oh Wow!! Pickwick Lock and Dam! MM206.7 Holding back the Tennessee River some 63 feet; we are a mile away.

 

The chamber is 1000 feet long and we are moored to its side in the middle.  Pretty intimidating!
We will pass through Wilson Dam in the next few days and it has a lift of 93 ft!!!!

We continued up the River to the entrance to Yellow Creek at Tennessee River MileMarker 215 and turned right into the Tenn-Tom waterway which was Tenn-Tom MM450. We went at far as MM457 to an inlet for anchor on the 8th Monday.

Our plan for the 9th and 10th is to tour all the historical sites at Corinth, Shiloh where the first most strategic battles of the Civil War took place. Grand Harbor Marina lent us their car.  

Ice Cream anyone?

We visited Corinth, the site of the Siege and Battle involving "the Crossroads"; rail lines East and West from Memphis to Charleston on the Atlantic and North South from the Ohio River to Mobile Alabama. These rail roads were vital backbone of the Confederate States for supplies and moving troops. The Union forces set out to take control and cut off their supplies.

While we were at the actual crossroads a train went by . . . .

and not two minutes later one went by on the other track.

In 1861 there were two lines of rails each way.  In those days they did not have side or switch tracks.
Battles at Corinth handed occuation back and forth until the Union succeeded/

A bonus at the Corinth Museum was a Coca-Cola museum. One of only 70 independently owned and operated bottling facilities licensed by Coca-Cola. Although they don't bottle anymore, they do service many vending methods.

On the 10th we borrowed the Marina Van again and traveled to Shiloh. I can't begin to explain how impressive the displays and the Battlefield affected us.  It was very interesting and at the same time, very depressing. As many as 200,000 men from different convictions fought violent, bloody battles. At that time there were 34 United States. 11 of those States wanted secession from the Union. Regiments from Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan were heavily involved in the Union advances.

This monument was erected by the State of Michigan. I think you should be able to enlarge it to read the plaque.

Thought my brother Mark would enjoy this picture.  He is very involved in keeping the music and history of Fife and Drum Corps alive and teaching an appreciation of Military Music.

"Catfish Hotel"
We ended our day of History with a supper of Catfish (our second, and it was better than the first) before doing a little shopping and heading back to the Marina.

We will return to the Tennessee River tomorrow and travel upstream to eventually meet up with friends in Huntsville, and then to Joe Wheeler State Park where we will leave the boat and fly home for a few weeks.

#9 Sept 1 through 4

Another beautiful day. and very warm.  Labor day and everyone is out on the river; tubing, skiing, boarding, anchored soaking up the sun; speeding up and down, Sometimes it appears they are anchored right in the fairway. Our first stop this day was the Riverside Restaurant for their famous Catfish!! We tied to their courtesy dock and enjoyed our first!
Not bad, we will order it again.
We traveled about 50 miles today.  We like to plan just 40. moving along at about 8 mph. We can have a leisurely start and be settled at Marina or anchorage by middle of afternoon. Care must be taken to stay between the buoys; the river twists and turns and although the waters reach far and wide and appears to be a lake - it is not! The areas beyond the buoys are basically flooded bottom land fraught with stumps, trees and other such stuff. Only the locals have been seen traversing across the waters and their boats are very flat bottom, shallow draft craft.

On the way we passed this barge building establishment. When we passed on our way to Nashville we saw them working on the one behind . The barge in the foreground had been rolled out of the big blue paint shed and is ready for launch and delivery.  Sure would like to see that behemoth hit the water!

Clarksville City Dock for the night.  Strange, nobody, no boaters around.  Bill walked up and got us a Fried Chicken Dinner.  Even though right on the river it was pretty peaceful.  Bill mentioned that there were tows going by all night and created a little swell. I didn't  feel or hear a thing.

All along the river there are establishments for loading the barges. This particular one is picking the gravel or sand from the barge and putting it in the hopper where it is conveyed to various piles on shore. One has to wonder if another set of barges come along and they load those piles in them??

Our anchorage for the evening on the 2nd was up Hickman Creek.  And yes, that is Bill preparing to grill pork chops for supper.  My little screen invention has worked great.  We can sit on the back deck and watch the sunset and watch the little critters trying to get in!

This is our anchorage on the 3rd after a very peaceful run down the river.  I think we had cheese, crackers and beer for supper this night!  Ha!

By and large, this is the view from the Pilot House as we cruise this river.  We will be in Green Turtle Marina this evening; near Barkley Lock and Dam on Barkley Lake.
When we arrived there were three other Loopers here.  One, started in May from Lake Mary Florida!!! Get that? Florida. They are heading home and will complete their Loop pretty soon.  They have twin 300 outboards on their sport fish boat; travel at speeds of 30mph and up!!! Guess we can't buddy boat  with them. The second couple from Ontario,Canada is heading up the Cumberland to Nashville and will leave their boat  till next season. The third couple are from Washington State. Trailered their boat to Peoria 2 years ago, completed their Loop this year and are going around again to catch the Bahamas and all the other places they missed.
There is such a varied mix of folks doing their thing!  What fun to meet them and there is not one we haven't enjoyed.

Our next venture will be to leave here and take the Barkley Cut from the Cumberland River to the Tennessee River. heading South to Pickwick Lock and Dam. We will be in an area where they say we can go to the top of a hill and see the States of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Also the countryside is where many Civil War Battles were fought and won or lost, depending on which side you were on. We hope to spend a few days exploring the History of the area that played a great part in our countries growth. History is soooo much more fun this way!