Suncat Trader Cruises: update 10/28/07

The Tennessee River

Its been a busy last two weeks or so. We spent a couple of days in Florence, Alabama where we played tourist, did some shopping and worked on the boat some. When we left Florence, we then proceeded further upriver and went through the Wilson Lock and Dam. This lock had the biggest lift we have seen (and will have) on the entire trip as it raises one 95 feet in one lock. Driving into it is like driving into a cave.

After another lock at the Joe Wheeler Dam, we then spent a week at the Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, Al where we attended another rendezvous of the American Great Loop Cruisers Association. The docks were full but Larry and Sue on SueSeaQ 4 allowed us to raft to them and Gypsy Time then rafted to us. This allowed us dock access and access to power all week which made going to the sessions easier than anchoring out. The sessions were great as they covered the Upper part of the Tennessee, the Tenn-Tom Waterway and the Gulf coasts of Florida, all places we hadn't been but were planning to go. We also got a chance to meet up again with many of the people we have seen off and on throughout the trip. In addition our new air conditioner was waiting for us and I was able to get it installed with some help from John on Gypsy Time and Larry on SueseaQ 4. Of course its now turned colder and we've used the heat function as much as the air conditioning function!

After the rendezvous we proceeded upriver to Chattanooga accompanied by Gypsy Time and Lamb Chop. It was a good run through some beautiful scenery. The Tennessee River in this area runs through the mountains and has steep banks rising up one or both sides of the river. We found several neat anchorages along the way. We also had a little excitement. After we left Wheeler, the boat seemed to take on more and more of a list to port and the fuel tank readings became unusual as we seemed to be increasing fuel in the port tank and not using any on starboard. I didn't find the cause until we ran both engines out of fuel and had to anchor on the side of the river. It turned out that there were two valves closed that had the effect of keeping fuel from flowing from the port tank and keeping the sight gauge from changing on the starboard tank. I must have closed one accidentally while working on the air conditioner and have no idea how the other got closed except that we had probably done 4000 miles with it closed! Once I found that and opened the valves again, everything was fine. However by that time darkness had set in and so the three of us spent the night anchored on the side of the river but well out of the channel.

The next day we went into Chattanooga in a light rain that naturally became heavy as we started to dock. We consoled ourselves by finding the brew pub after a trip to the visitor’s center to get more information as to what to do. We also took the (free) trolley up to the Chattanooga Choo Choo. The Choo Choo is the old railroad station. The station, which has been restored inside and has a magnificent domed roof, is now the lobby of a hotel. The train cars have been converted into hotel rooms and there is also a dining car restaurant as well as nice gardens and a vintage locomotive.

Chattanooga was a great stop. The city has done a wonderful job of redoing the waterfront and it is very pleasure boat and pedestrian friendly with lot to see and do within walking distance of the docks. We spent a day at the aquarium which has both a fresh water and an ocean section and saw an IMAX movie on various aspects of life under the sea (fish, shellfish, coral etc). The feeling was it was better than the aquarium in Chicago which we had all visited almost 2 months ago. In addition, we went to the regional history museum, did some shopping and worked on the boats.

On Friday, our last day there, we went to Lookout Mountain which is a mile or so outside of town and was the scene of a Civil War battle. We started by taking a city bus out to the Incline. The Incline is a car similar to a railroad car which goes to the top of the mountain-nearly straight up the mountain as it rises at and angle of about 70 degrees. At the top we were treated to a view of the city and the valley below and then we walked through Point Park where the Civil War battle took place. It was a nice park and also had sweeping vistas of the valley below. From there, we took a cab across the mountain into Georgia to a tourist attraction called Rock City. Rock City can best be described as a huge rock garden where one walks through gardens, huge boulders and small passages including those with names like "Fat Man's Squeeze" There was also a nice waterfall and an outlook where one could supposedly see seven states. Maybe on a real clear day but it was a nice view in any event. The highlight of Rock City, however was a building built like a cave in which they had constructed a fairy tale village with all of the familiar characters such as Mother Goose, Snow White, Jack and Jill, etc. It was really well done!

After Rock City we took another cab back into Tennessee to another attraction called Ruby Falls. At Ruby falls, one takes a guided tour (with 25 or so of your closest friends) down an elevator 250 feet into the mountain. From there you walk about 2000 feet through the cave to an underground waterfall that is spectacular. It was an interesting trip although I did feel a bit claustrophobic at times. We were a bit tired after such a busy day so we spent the evening doing a pub crawl through downtown Chattanooga. The consensus was that Sticky Fingers had the best wings.

Yesterday we started our trip back down the river accompanied by Gypsy Time. This time we had a clear day and the scenery was spectacular, made even more so by the fall foliage which is starting to turn. We passed through the Nickajack lock and anchored for the night behind an island. Today we are continuing down the river and have passed back into Alabama and the central time zone.

Above is a picture which gives one an idea of what the this section of the Tennessee is like. Below are some pictures from our stay in Chattanooga.

Happy Halloween to all!

Steve & Jean
Aboard M/V Sun Cat