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We are presently on the Tennessee River in Alabama. The Tennessee has been the best cruising since we left the North Channel in Mid-August. Our journey has taken us from Kentucky, through Tennessee, through a corner of Mississippi and now into Alabama. This trip not only is a great geography lesson but also is a great history lesson.
From Pacer Point, we went into Pebble Isle Marina in New Johnsonville, TN. The original Johnsonville was abandoned when Kentucky Dam was built in the 1930's. Johnsonville was an important supply center for Union forces during the civil war and was the scene of an interesting battle where a confederate calvary force defeated a Union navel force. We toured the park where this took place. The next day we went to an anchorage at Denson Island where there is nothing but a nice view. It was interesting anchoring in 30 feet of water but we had a nice dinner with Joan and Jim on Christine and a quiet night's sleep.
The following day we went to the Clifton Marina in Clifton, TN. The information we had described it as a new marina and an interesting town. There wasn't much to town but we were able to take the courtesy car and go to Country singer Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch which turned out to be about 50 miles from the marina and we got there too late to see anything but the gift shops. The next day we did some shopping and one thing led to another so we wound up staying the day. The following day was my birthday, so Jean baked a cake and organized a "pot luck" supper and birthday party which was attended by the crews of Chistine, Salty Dawg, Gypsy Time, Time Out and Lovely Lady as well as some of the marina personnel and a few people who kept their boats at the marina. The party lasted well into the evening and a good time was had by all.
The next day, everyone except Christine left and we anchored behind Wolf Island. That afternoon we explored by dinghy, swam off the boats and had a nice happy hour on Lovely Lady.
Wolf Island turned out to be a very good anchorage and we had another quiet nights sleep there.
The next day we were off at 0630 again and had a good trip up the river to the Pickwick Lock which we were able to go right into on arrival. Pickwick is another big lock which took us up about 55 feet. We then went into Grand Harbor Marina where we were disappointed to find the pool closed. The location of Grand Harbor is interesting. The land portion of the marina is in Tennessee but the water the docks are located on is in Mississippi. There is a point near the marina where with some careful work with the GPS one can be in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama at the same time.
We took the courtesy car that afternoon with John and Pat from Gypsy Time and rove up to Savannah, TN where we toured the Tennessee River Museum. The Museum was about the early history of the river, commerce on the river, shellfishing and the battle of Shilo which occurred across the river. When we got back to the boats, it was dinner time and we went to dinner with the crews of Gypsy Time, Time Out, Lovely Lady, Colonel's Lady and Wild Turkey. The ribs were fair but we still had a good time. The next day we took the courtesy car (really a 12 passenger van) to the Shilo Military Park accompanied by the crews of Gypsy Time, Time Out, and Lovely Lady . Visiting the Shilo battlefield was the main reason I had wanted to stay at Grand Haven. The tour starts with a 25 minute movie which depicts what happened during the battle and then we took a 10 mile self-guided tour around the battlefield, visiting some of the places described in the movie. It was interesting. After the war, each state (North and South) whose soldiers had participated was invited to erect monuments on the battlefield. There were over a hundred of these which usually would say something like 31st Illinios regiment. Present for duty XXX, Killed XX Wounded XX, Missing XXX There were also numerous cannon, gravesites and markers describing some of the key events or marking where an important figure (such as General Johnston) had fallen. In all it was an very interesting tour and one would have to spend several days there to see it all. That evening the 8 of us plus Bob and Sharon from Catch Me if you Can went to dinner at the Pickwick Landing State Park Lodge. A good buffet of various chicken dishes at $6.25 a person.
Tuesday was boat maintenance day as I changed the oil and fuel filters for both engines. I've now done this enough that I'm getting more efficient at it but it still turned out to be an all morning project. That afternoon we again took the van and went to Corinth, Mississippi shopping. Tuesday was George's birthday (George is the Captain of Time Out) so the crews of Time Out, Sun Cat, Lovely Lady, Gypsy Time, Catch Me if you Can and Sweet Dreams all went out to celebrate, followed by birthday cake on the dock.
It was time to to move on so the next day we left with Gypsy Time and Sweet Dreams to go to an anchorage a little ways up the Tennessee River. Whetstone Creek turned out to be a great choice. We swam off the boats and toured by dinghy and kayak. After a pot luck aboard Sun Cat, we played Mexican Train Dominos in the salon (sometimes described as the playpen) of Sweet Dreams until quite late in the evening.
The following day, Sweet Dreams left to go south and we continued east on the Tennessee accompanied by John & Pat on Gypsy Time. We went into the marina at Florence, Al took the courtesy van and went shopping. There was a fishing tournament going on in Florence like nothing we had seen before. There were over 400 boats participating with a top prize of $125,000 and a total of $1,500,000 in prizes! It was interesting to see all the boats, many with corporate sponsors. Fortunately they were not keeping their boats at the marina as most of them were on trailers. Tomorrow is tourist day in Florence.
Included with this update are a few more pictures. They show Sun Cat anchored at Sugar Bay and three river scenes including a waterfall. I have over 200 pictures of just the Tennessee River so its hard sorting out a few good ones to send along.
Still having a great time.
Steve & Jean
Aboard M/V Sun Cat
From Pacer Point, we went into Pebble Isle Marina in New Johnsonville, TN. The original Johnsonville was abandoned when Kentucky Dam was built in the 1930's. Johnsonville was an important supply center for Union forces during the civil war and was the scene of an interesting battle where a confederate calvary force defeated a Union navel force. We toured the park where this took place. The next day we went to an anchorage at Denson Island where there is nothing but a nice view. It was interesting anchoring in 30 feet of water but we had a nice dinner with Joan and Jim on Christine and a quiet night's sleep.
The following day we went to the Clifton Marina in Clifton, TN. The information we had described it as a new marina and an interesting town. There wasn't much to town but we were able to take the courtesy car and go to Country singer Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch which turned out to be about 50 miles from the marina and we got there too late to see anything but the gift shops. The next day we did some shopping and one thing led to another so we wound up staying the day. The following day was my birthday, so Jean baked a cake and organized a "pot luck" supper and birthday party which was attended by the crews of Chistine, Salty Dawg, Gypsy Time, Time Out and Lovely Lady as well as some of the marina personnel and a few people who kept their boats at the marina. The party lasted well into the evening and a good time was had by all.
The next day, everyone except Christine left and we anchored behind Wolf Island. That afternoon we explored by dinghy, swam off the boats and had a nice happy hour on Lovely Lady.
Wolf Island turned out to be a very good anchorage and we had another quiet nights sleep there.
The next day we were off at 0630 again and had a good trip up the river to the Pickwick Lock which we were able to go right into on arrival. Pickwick is another big lock which took us up about 55 feet. We then went into Grand Harbor Marina where we were disappointed to find the pool closed. The location of Grand Harbor is interesting. The land portion of the marina is in Tennessee but the water the docks are located on is in Mississippi. There is a point near the marina where with some careful work with the GPS one can be in Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama at the same time.
We took the courtesy car that afternoon with John and Pat from Gypsy Time and rove up to Savannah, TN where we toured the Tennessee River Museum. The Museum was about the early history of the river, commerce on the river, shellfishing and the battle of Shilo which occurred across the river. When we got back to the boats, it was dinner time and we went to dinner with the crews of Gypsy Time, Time Out, Lovely Lady, Colonel's Lady and Wild Turkey. The ribs were fair but we still had a good time. The next day we took the courtesy car (really a 12 passenger van) to the Shilo Military Park accompanied by the crews of Gypsy Time, Time Out, and Lovely Lady . Visiting the Shilo battlefield was the main reason I had wanted to stay at Grand Haven. The tour starts with a 25 minute movie which depicts what happened during the battle and then we took a 10 mile self-guided tour around the battlefield, visiting some of the places described in the movie. It was interesting. After the war, each state (North and South) whose soldiers had participated was invited to erect monuments on the battlefield. There were over a hundred of these which usually would say something like 31st Illinios regiment. Present for duty XXX, Killed XX Wounded XX, Missing XXX There were also numerous cannon, gravesites and markers describing some of the key events or marking where an important figure (such as General Johnston) had fallen. In all it was an very interesting tour and one would have to spend several days there to see it all. That evening the 8 of us plus Bob and Sharon from Catch Me if you Can went to dinner at the Pickwick Landing State Park Lodge. A good buffet of various chicken dishes at $6.25 a person.
Tuesday was boat maintenance day as I changed the oil and fuel filters for both engines. I've now done this enough that I'm getting more efficient at it but it still turned out to be an all morning project. That afternoon we again took the van and went to Corinth, Mississippi shopping. Tuesday was George's birthday (George is the Captain of Time Out) so the crews of Time Out, Sun Cat, Lovely Lady, Gypsy Time, Catch Me if you Can and Sweet Dreams all went out to celebrate, followed by birthday cake on the dock.
It was time to to move on so the next day we left with Gypsy Time and Sweet Dreams to go to an anchorage a little ways up the Tennessee River. Whetstone Creek turned out to be a great choice. We swam off the boats and toured by dinghy and kayak. After a pot luck aboard Sun Cat, we played Mexican Train Dominos in the salon (sometimes described as the playpen) of Sweet Dreams until quite late in the evening.
The following day, Sweet Dreams left to go south and we continued east on the Tennessee accompanied by John & Pat on Gypsy Time. We went into the marina at Florence, Al took the courtesy van and went shopping. There was a fishing tournament going on in Florence like nothing we had seen before. There were over 400 boats participating with a top prize of $125,000 and a total of $1,500,000 in prizes! It was interesting to see all the boats, many with corporate sponsors. Fortunately they were not keeping their boats at the marina as most of them were on trailers. Tomorrow is tourist day in Florence.
Included with this update are a few more pictures. They show Sun Cat anchored at Sugar Bay and three river scenes including a waterfall. I have over 200 pictures of just the Tennessee River so its hard sorting out a few good ones to send along.
Still having a great time.
Steve & Jean
Aboard M/V Sun Cat
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