Kentucky Lake

10/1/07

Today we moved over to Kentucky Lake. We just needed to go south about a mile and through a small channel that connects the two lakes on the north side of them. We will be in Kentucky Lake for a while. It is a wide spot on the Tennessee River (very wide) and will continue to go south into Tennessee. It is a beautiful lake. The water here is deep enough and wide enough that they have a lot of sailboats at the marina’s here. Their sizes range from 30 to 45 feet. One guy said they go out sailing in the summer. If there is a breeze they sail, and if not they anchor in a cove and go swimming. Sounds great since the weather is usually about 90 + in summer. They also have hundreds of these houseboats. That also looks like a lot of fun. The Marina has them for rent by the day or week.  We are in the Kentucky Dam Marina in the Kentucky Dam Village State Park. We are a little confused as to what is private and what is public but it is different than we are used to. The park is beautiful woodland, but they have no hiking or biking trails. What they do have are marinas, condos, hotels, and convention centers. The buildings are all very pretty and well maintained. Not rustic at all. We went to the restaurant at the hotel with the dinghy. It sort of felt like a generic convention center. I felt like I should put my nursey clothes on and sit down to learn the newest phototherapy guidelines.

10/4/07

We went to our first anchorage on Kentucky Lake. It is called Sugar Bay and came highly recommended. It is a beautiful spot.

We watch the fisherman go by and last night watched all the stars come out. There is a boat launch ramp nearby so we decide to take a hike. Got the bug spray and such and headed off into the woods. After a couple of campsites there was a walking trail in the woods. One campsite had a couple of guys sitting around practicing guitars (luckily, no banjos). We are happily walking down the trail and I just happen to see this big black snake zipping across the path. It was about five feet long and moving fast. Needless to say we decided to finish our walk on the road. I need to look up the definition of high-tailed. Maybe that’s why they don’t have a lot of hiking or biking trails in the woods. Rolf said I should put down that it was twelve feet long and chewing on my foot. Anyway our first thought was for Jere. As we said he would have ____ his ____!

10/05/07

Last evening Rolf noticed that the starting battery was not holding a charge. So we needed to go back to Green Turtle Bay to replace it. We decided to get an early start because it would be about two hours back north and another two hours just to get back to here. We had noticed that the boat was not riding on the anchor normally but didn’t think too much of it. We just thought it was because there was no wind. However, when we started to pull it up, it wouldn’t come. We think it might have wound around a snag (tree stump) or something. Anyway we finally worked it loose using the trip line. Happily neither of us had to go swimming to retrieve the anchor.

We will continue to rig a trip line for the rest of the loop. At 180 miles long, Kentucky Lake is a river valley that was flooded in the 1940s with all sorts of stuff remaining on the bottom. Tree stumps, roads, houses and even entire towns. You can see underwater city streets on the charts. Not like anchoring in Wisconsin.

After we stowed the anchor we headed north for the replacement battery. By noon we were on our way back south and stopped in at Kenlake Park Marina. That picture of this beautiful anchorage at Sugar Bay looks very idyllic but we sure had our share of adventure there.

10/08/07

In the last few days we have stayed at Kenlake Marina, then on Sunday night to a nice anchorage at Heiman Bay. This lake continues to have very scenic anchorages and nice Marinas. Today, Monday we headed to Paris Landing State Park. We are now in Tennessee. So far it looks pretty much the same as Kentucky. Starting to eat more catfish and hushpuppies.

10/12/07

Erik, Deanna and kids, Will and Jonah joined us for a few days. We had some fun times and left Paris Landing on the 10^th and went to Pebble Isle Marina. The kids enjoyed the journey. It was sunny and easy going compared to what we usually put them through crossing the lake. It is near Erik’s and Jonah’s birthdays so we had a little celebration on the boat, birthday brownies and presents. On Thursday we took the truck to Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park across the river. The boys got to see snakes and turtles at the park offices. We also went on a little hike and threw stones in the water. That is always a big event for that age group.

We are including a picture of the vista from that park. Looking across the lake to our marina is a pretty sight. We also moved the boat from one side of the dock to the other to be more comfortable. I just have to say thanks to Will for throwing that bow line so well for me. We wanted to go out for pizza one night. All the locals recommended the pizza at the bowling alley so off we went. Well, if any of you remember the TV show Ed you will know what it looked like. We walked in and both Rolf and I said “This is the Stuckeyville Bowling Alley!” It was as close as it can get. To top it off the pizza was homemade and great. Always listen to the locals. Erik and family left Friday morning and now we will continue to head south again. We have had a lot of BBQ so will not stay for the pig roast today even though it sounds good. They do BBQ like we do brat fry’s.

Also thanks to all who are sending emails. It is fun to hear what is going on at home.

10/13/07

Today we went to Cuba Landing Marina still in Tennessee. It feels very southern. This is the first time because it is sort of stereotypically southern. The other marinas were more state parks. So, what is the difference you ask?  Other than the accents which have been getting thicker and thicker, I made a list of things that I noticed right away.

• A confederate flag on the next boat in the marina.
• Several yellow dogs
• Two bass tournaments going on today
• Mostly catfish and hushpuppies on the menu (deep fried only)
• Red ants
• Many encouragements to go see the local civil war monuments
• Snakes and turtles in the water
• Large flocks of buzzards
• Y’all at the end of most sentences
• Names of places beginning with Bubba
• Right now we are between Ulcer Hollow and Roach Creek

I’m not saying we don’t have anything country but this stuff is southern enough that I feel like a Yankee when I talk. The other day someone asked if I was French Canadian. So, yea, a little different feeling, but not in a bad way. Also I have to say I am jealous of their weather. It is still a minimum of 75 most days and some above that.

10/14/07

Nice anchorage at Swallow Bluff Island. Just off the Tennessee River with two other boats – Summertime (a couple from Old Saybrook CT) and an African Queen looking boat called First Light.

10/15/07

Today we left our anchorage to go the last 45 miles of Kentucky Lake (also Tennessee River). The opposing current was the strongest we have encountered being 4 knots. Kentucky Lake ends at Pickwick Lock and Dam. We went through the lock in the afternoon and into Pickwick Lake and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Pickwick Lake is impressive. We are seeing big mansions on the hills above the lake. We were told they are summer homes from people in Nashville. Otherwise all you see on the river are mostly RV parks and small mobile homes. Also there is a smattering of small homes on stilts. I have decided that there is no middle class on the river. You are either on the cliff, in style, or down at the bank on wheels ready to move if need be.