Tennessee River - Part I

 TRAVEL DAY 133 - Grand Rivers to Paris Landing, TN

October 30, 2023

5.63 Hours/ 44 Miles

    Tennessee, our 16th state. The morning started cold and rainy. What had been temperatures in the 70's now included a forecast of frost warnings. Time to move south. I returned the rental car to Paducah by 8 am and the car company got me back to the boat by 8:35. Let's roll River Rats!

 

Prepping for the cold day on the lake

    I moved the Troll out of the marina basin and into Lake Barkley. Steam hovered over the warm water and the wind picked up bringing a surprising set of waves. We moved a little down the lake and west through the canal that joins Lake Barkley with Kentucky Lake. Turning south on Kentucky Lake and the waves picked up again as they were pushed by the north wind.  

 

Rough lake conditions

    Most of the day was spent with a freshwater following sea. Piloting inside the boat instead of the flybridge with the generator humming and the heat on made for a comfortable day. 44 miles down the lake we turned into Paris Landing, TN. We had been here by car a year ago when we attended the AGLCA Fall Rendezvous, thinking that in a year we would be navigating this same lake and here we were some 4300 miles later.

 

Inside the warm lower station

    I called the marina and one by one our boats went to the fuel dock for a much needed pump out and diesel fuel. The fuel price was good here and this was our first refueling since the long trek down the Mississippi and up the Ohio and Cumberland. This was the longest stretch of The Loop without fuel opportunities (except for Hoppies which we chose not to refuel, knowing we had the capability). We were very low having added our reserve 10 gallons I keep in the Lazarette, but still had some 25 gallons plus.

 

Paris Landing Lodge

       

    Tied up, we all took the courtesy shuttle to the Paris Landing Lodge for dinner. There we ran into other Loopers & the crew of Wilma May. A nice dinner and back to the boat.

Grand River to Paris Landing

            

TRAVEL DAY 134 - Paris Landing to Camden

October 31, 2023

5.9 Hours/ 39.7 Miles

    In the morning it was 30 degrees and there was frost on the dock and the boat. It was however a beautiful day and we were greeted by a fantastic sunrise over Kentucky Lake (Tennessee River). We motored out at first light toward our next stop, Birdsong Resort in Camden, Tennessee.

 

Kentucky Lake Sunrise

    Out of the marked channel and a turn to starboard, we made our way under the bridge into a lake that this morning was calm. Soon into the trip I noticed a flock of Great White Pelicans. I had no idea they were this far north. The amount of wildlife we have seen on the rivers has been amazing, hardly a day goes by when we don't see Bald Eagles, Cormorants or other water birds, coyotes, deer, the list goes on.

  

Fisherman on the Tennessee River

    Once down the river, we were instructed to contact the owner of Birdsong Resort so he could give us detailed, and I mean detailed instructions on how to get to the marina. Bob is a talker and the explanation was lengthy, including the fact that we would see an Egret at the 3rd turn sitting on the bank. Being the most shallow draft boat and somehow still the leader of this flotilla of River Rats, I proceeded in slow and deliberate, following Bob's advice.

 

Birsong Resort & Marina

    We decided we needed a rest and this was a very affordable option for a 2 night stay. A little campy and in need of some clean up and repairs but quiet and offered free laundry as well as a free tour of the Pearl Museum and Farm. Birdsong Resort and Marina boasts the only Freshwater Pearl Farm in North America.  I missed the pearl tour while Side Trip and I used the free courtesy car to go into Camden and mail a package. Seems we had inadvertently picked up two pairs of Aunt Jan's pants when we were in Evansville doing laundry. Aunt Jan was excited to learn her pants traveled two days on The Great Loop. I can report that the denims made it home safe.

  

Bob explains the history of the freshwater Pearl

    The following day, the River Rats planned a group brunch on Runaway, complete with Bloody Marys. It was a great time sharing food and drinks and watching funny boat fails on YouTube.

 

Fun Brunch

Paris Landing to Camden

TRAVEL DAY 135 - Camden to Clifton

November 2, 2023

7.71 Hours/ 56.8 Miles

The first thing I noticed at dawn was the fog. It settled heavy in the cove at Birdsong and judging by the visibility, we would need to wait a little after sunrise at least to move. 1 1/2 hours later and we made the decision to leave the dock and motor out to the river. Using our "breadcrumbs" from our track in and the radar, I led the group slowly through the maze of red and green markers. Once at the opening and the river, I  could see the fog had pushed into the cove but was very light on the main river. 

  

Foggy Start

    Once the last boat exited the channel, I throttled up to 2200 rpm to maintain 8 mph against the Tennessee River current. Next Stop Clifton, TN. Once the fog lifted, we were running down a flat calm river. Still a little chilly but a glorious day.

  

Perfect Conditions

    To our starboard were high stone cliffs covered with fall foliage while to our port a lower, flatter landscape. Along both sides, homes elevated to avoid the impending high water that comes in the spring after heavy rains and northern snow melts. For now the river level remains low and many of the docks lie on the sand, high and dry.

  

Tennessee River Landscape

    The day was so awesome, I put the deck crew in charge of the helm and got the drone out to capture some water travel video of the 3 remaining River Rats.

 

Camden to Clifton

TRAVEL DAY 135 - Clifton to Iuka, MS

November 3, 2023

7.62 Hours/ 57 Miles

    Another day of fog on the Tennessee River. The marina basin had a light fog inside so the 3 remaining River Rats pulled power and lines and headed out to the river. As soon as we got out of the inlet, we were surrounded by thick fog. With the other 2 boats coming out of the narrow entrance behind us, I moved out father into the river to avoid a collision. It was an eerie blindness and still water. Even though I had the radar and AIS positioning going, my only thought was "a boat or tow could come up on us and we couldn't see them until it was too late". I radioed back to the group that the visibility was no good and we needed to go back to the harbor. We had to maintain position in the fog while each boat in turn made their way back thru the rock opening to the marina.

  

Another Foggy Morning

    An hour later the fog had lifted enough and the river cleared. Our group once again left the dock and onto the Tennessee River. Our flotilla still had to go slow to the next bend as we could see the fogbank ahead. A tow was pushed up against the bank and partially across the river also waiting for the fog to lift.

    

Time to Turn Back

    At Pickwick we radioed the lockmaster and he relayed that the doors were open and to "come on in". 15 vessels strong now and we moved into the enormous chamber for a 55' lift. Once the doors opened we had another 10 miles to Iuka, MS. Mississippi would be our 17th state! We turned off the river into Pickwick Lake. Absolutely beautiful. We passed Grand Haven Resort and Marina and traveled about 2 miles to Aqua Yacht Marina.

 

Our Flotilla is Growing

    This was the end of the line for the crew of Side Trip. For now anyway, they hit the pause button. With the holidays coming, boat maintenance and some personal matters, the crew of Side Trip stored their boat at Iuka. They would start back up January, 6 and we were hopeful that they would stop to see us in Crystal River. The River Rats are down to 2. 

 

Pickwick Lock

    We celebrated one last time together for awhile, planning another early departure in the morning.

 

Clifton to Iuka, MS