Kentucky Lake

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake are joined by a narrow canal. It’s a beautiful area. Lake Barkley is shallower and it is critical to stay on the sailing line marked on the GPS. Kentucky Lake has more leeway. The Tennessee River runs through it. Basically the lake areas are the flood plain created by the dams. We were told that small towns and even (exhumed) cemeteries are below the surface and make interesting dives. These were marked on our chart along with old roads and even bridges. All well below the surface. It’s an interesting but tranquil ride. There are many nice anchorages but it was too early to stop. Smith, Duncan, Sugar, Higgins and Vickers Bays were recommended.

 

 

 





 

The Irish Attitude caught up with friends at Paris Landing Marina, 50 miles upriver on the Tennessee. This marina is part of the Kentucky Parks system. Across the road there was a camp ground, hotel w/pool, golf course and restaurant.  This is not the first park with these amenities that we have come across has we headed south. It’s a one stop, guaranteed to please all park. Karma invited us over for dinner that night. What a special treat. Thank you Ivy and Bob! Jet Stream returned from a day on the links and Sea Biscuit pulling in later.


Top of Dam - Summer Pool (Water level)



Entering Paris Landing State Park Marina

Fog Lifting

 

 Friday, October 12, 2012

A Bridge to No Where!
 

Result of Controlled Flooding on Kentucky Lake

 
 The rock formations are as colorful as the changing leaves.

'Janie' waits for us atop the covered slips at Pebble Isle

Our next stop is Pebble Isle Marina near New Johnsonville, TN. This quiet marina is nestled in a cove off the TN River. The owner welcomed us at the fuel dock. It is hard to say which place we stayed was more welcoming as they all have greeted warmly and enthusiastically. Pebble Isle is special because of the free warm cinnamon rolls served in the morning. We left later than planned just to get a taste. It was worth it!! Here we caught up with Limelight and met a new boat shipping in from Washington state to Illinois, Sunshine - Lois and Dominic. A trip to town was made in the courtesy car to get supplies. We celebrated Bob’s (Karma) birthday at dinner that night.

Saturday, October 13 & Sunday October 14, 2012

Homes along Kentucky Lake/
Tennessee River

 

On today trip we found the Tennessee  River narrowing. No more white caps like we experienced the first day. The next stop ended up being Clifton Marina m 159.3 in TN. We had planned to anchor out behind Double Islands but the weather forecast for tomorrow looked threatening and so we moved on the remaining 10 miles.  By now we had caught up with most of the boats from Green Turtle Bay. In fact, we took 4 carloads of loopers to a nearby Cajun restaurant for dinner. One September, Sarianna, Good Karma, Seaquel, Took the Plunge, Jim’s Joy, Catmandu, Limelight and Irish Attitude. It was a fun night and we all arrived safely back to the marina. The next morning, the sailing craft Whish came in with another sailor we had been hearing about. Hinnerk sailed his 30 ft. boat over the Atlantic from Europe to the Bahamas. It makes our adventure seem rather tame! The winds howled and the rains came but they did not spoil our whole day. A large group gathered for docktails that evening.  The sail boaters including Truant and Tango, joined the group from the previous night. It was a good night, one of my favorite, filled with eclectic personalities.  That is twice now, that we laughed and joked with our sailing friends.

Edie and Joe from Seaquel 
compare stories with Hilary
(Took the Plunge) and Hinnerk.

Mark and Jo from Truant
and Kathrine and Kermit from
Good Karma

Bruce (Tango) is showing the video of his ride on the 'The Big Chute' in the Trent-Severn waterway in Canada. Boats are cradled in a sling and traverse up an over on rails.
Jeff, Donna (Whish) and Anita watch on.
Is it to late to turn around?

 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Houses vary from the practical to grand.



Most everyone was leaving the marina now that the weather had cleared. Tonight might be a better opportunity to anchor out but ‘The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.’ Our plan was to anchor in behind Diamond Island at m 196. We heard Miah on the radio say they were unable to get their anchor to bite on the rocky bottom and had abandoned this anchorage. Karma and Limelight were ahead of us and their anchors hooked. Mike tried valiantly but every time we just floated backwards with the current (and it was strong!). We almost hooked once but I said I would never sleep comfortably tonight in this spot in fear that we might break loose and drift rapidly downstream. Plan abandoned.

We moved toward Pickwick Dam another 10 miles downstream. Mike contacted the lockmaster and he said if we could get there in the next 15 minutes he could lock us up with 2 other boats. Up on plane we went! There are advantages to our style of boat. Speed it when you need it! There were only 3 bollards on this lock and another boat had made it to the lock before us. No problem… the lockmaster said we could raft off another boats if none of the others objected. Luckily Bill and Chris on Catmandu agreed and we rafted to them and no one objected. The current outside the dam was extremely strong. Once through, it was only a mile into Pickwick Lake when we spotted a pleasant anchorage, Lower Anderson Br. Catmandu went in first and we rafted to them putting out our stern anchor.

A jet skier idled by and said he was from Petoskey and was down here visiting friends. We were both surprised to find another Michigander. Chris had a (delicious!) pork roast marinating all day and invited us for dinner. I brought over h’orderves to share while the roast cooked on the grill. It was a relaxing night in a tranquil spot shared with friends Aaahhhh....
 

Lower Anderson Branch