Tennessee, continued
… and completed!
Before leaving Lenoir City on Sat., Oct. 12, we were able to say goodbye to Dennis’s Mom and sister who visited us that morning at the marina.
Like the muddy water we went through in the inflatable when out earlier surveying flood effects …
… the muddy water was still there when we left with the cruiser.
Traversing the Ft. Loudon Lock after leaving that morning was quite an experience, as it was full of debris outside and inside the lock. We had to use the boat hook to clear debris as best we could out of the way when moving in the lock. Fortunately, even large trees and boards will float when you push them (below right)!
Below left shows a crew member of “Til You Can’t” clearing a path.
After leaving the lock, there was an additional challenge of negotiating turbulent water from the larger than normal spill from the dam.
Smoother sailing after that. We went under the I-75 bridge near Knoxville. When making our way to and from Florida in the past, we’ve always looked down from that bridge and remarked that one day we’ll be doing the Loop and will be looking up. One day is now!
After anchoring out that evening, we continued down the Tennessee the next morning (Sun., Oct. 13), taking a short cut that required us to wind our way through a very narrow channel. It reminded us of some of the narrow, ninety-degree turns of the channels in Canada’s Georgian Bay.
It was a windy day, and Ivy did what she could to ignore it.
The next lock, Watts Bar Lock, was strangely free of debris. More smooth sailing to little Shady Grove marina where we spent the night.
On Monday, Oct. 14, we traversed Chickamauga Lock and arrived at Chattanooga, TN, in time to visit the aquarium.
Below is a picture of Exodus (middle boat) from one of the bridges spanning the Tennessee in Chattanooga.
In addition to the large tour boat pictured under the bridge (above), there were several “duck” tour boats that passed our boat. They were looking at us, and we were looking at them! You can hear the guide talking about Loopers.
The walk up to Chattanooga from the dock passes a waterfall which tumbles down concrete steps. When we came upriver in September, we could see many children cooling off in the waterfall. Only one brave child (below left) was here today in this much cooler weather.
Stayed at the free dock at Shell Mound the evening of Tues., Oct. 15 and woke up at 2:30 am to a boat docking next to us. It was a mom and dad (and two children sleeping) who were on their way to Knoxville in anticipation of the Tenn. vs. Alabama football game this coming weekend. That’s dedication! We’ve learned that such boaters are called the “Vol Navy” (University of Tennessee mascot = Volunteers) and that they “tailgate” with boats.
We also woke up to 37 degrees on Wed. morning! Time to point this boat south. Winter coat required on board that morning.
Headed to Goose Pond Marina for Wed. night where we had dinner with Kim and Chuck (“Til You Can’t”) and Louise and Dick (“Nine Lives”) at the marina restaurant. Louise and Dick are doing a presentation on locking at the American Great Loop Cruiser Association’s (AGLCA) Fall Rendezvous at Joe Wheeler State Park.
On our way Thurs. Oct. 17, past the Huntersville, AL, area, we spotted a military Osprey overhead. Did a little research on this unique looking aircraft and learned it is a multi-use, tiltrotor transport and cargo aircraft that combines a helicopter’s vertical lift capability with a fixed-wing aircraft’s short takeoff and landing capability. Because we anchored that night near the Redstone Army Post/Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, we also heard two stationary rocket tests (loud, sustained booms) and saw a great deal of smoke billowing into the air.
Most mornings now we’re experiencing significant fog (below), and our anchorage on the morning of Friday, Oct. 18, provided a great example.
Though we are not attending the AGLCA’s Fall Rendezvous, we did stop at Joe Wheeler State Park Marina for an overnight where we were able to catch up with Tony and Katie (“Katie B”) who were there early in anticipation of the rendezvous. Tony reported that it took them four days of waiting to finally gain access to Wilson Lock. On Saturday, Oct. 19, we made it through both the Wheeler and Wilson Locks smoothly and quickly, nothing short of a miracle. Wilson Lock has gained quite a reputation for being difficult to access for all of the following reasons:
(1) the lock’s phones are out;
(2) the main chamber is not operational;
(3) locking through the auxiliary chamber takes longer because it is a step lock (two parts);
(4) it is extremely busy with commercial traffic (tows/barges are staged outside days in advance);
(5) it is unsafe for boats to tie up to one part of the wall of the step lock given the “waterfall” (below left side of picture) flowing from a pipe which could quickly fill up your boat; and,
(6) all Loopers attending the rendezvous must go through this lock before Monday, Oct. 21.
Stayed at Florence Marina Oct. 19, where we saw an American Cruise Line ship tied to trees, not a dock!
Here is Nelson waiting to go on a walk.
We left with Kim and Chuck (“Til You Can’t”) on Sunday, Oct. 20, for an anchorage near Indian Creek. We took an inflatable ride …
… then later all jumped in one inflatable for a journey to see Yellow Creek Falls.
Below is an example of us (senior citizens) trying to take a selfie.
The following morning (Oct. 21), we were completely fogged in.
Though we had to delay departure, we left for Aqua Marina later that morning. Once at Aqua Marina, we will be on the Tenn-Tom River and, later, the Tombigbee River which will take us all the way to Mobile Bay. Details of those adventures to follow!
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