Pebble Isle to Grand Harbor

Pebble Isle Marina, haven with free cinnamon rolls

Saturday, October 8

While here at Pebble Isle Marina, we took the courtesy car into the local 'big town' to get provisions.  We went with the Morgans and found a Walmart, which lead to a little bit of the spending frenzy...Kerm bought a new radio

 Now we can listen to Country and Western Music as we cruise along...it has an IPod connection so I get to hear my play lists also

and the Morgan tried to find Schweppes's tonic water...which if their favorite (and not readily available on the "Loop").  No Scheppervencence to be found.

We left Pebble Isle at 8:40 after filling with fuel and getting pumped out.

At 2:45 Passport and Southern Belle aborted attempts to anchor at a place called Denson Creek which the books said was a pretty good anchorage.  With the wind, the current and depths over 30 feet it has just not a good place for us to anchor overnight.

Our next potential anchorage was called Lick Creek...which I found delightful...it was a tight little channel getting in and then it opened up to a beautiful spot..

Plucky little tree standing firm against all odds

Skinny entrance...is there really somewhere to anchor down here???

cool rock formations

you all know I love rocks

Curvy entrance to the Lick Creek Anchorage 

Autumn colors are starting to show

 Passport ventured in and Southern Bell followed like a faithful little puppy.  We were rewarded with a beautiful place to stay overnight.  It was a little shallow getting in but turned out well.  Traveled 34.6 miles today

 

Good night from Lick Creek

Sunday, October 9

Foggy when we woke up but cleared by 9:30am when we broke raft with Passport.

We threw out a little tiny Danforth anchor last night to assist Passport's main anchor and woke up to find that the wind had changed and the little danforth was holding both of us safely.  Don't tell Dan, who believes we are pretty inept when it comes to ground tackle...he may be right!! 

The Little Anchor That Could

Hey, Linda...

The sandals are working out GREAT

More pictures of Lick Creek as we departed...

Our Trusty Boat Buddy, Passport

Wonderful day cruising the River. Sunny and warm.   At 11:45 we passed Mermaid Marina with their not-to-be-forgotten sign.

The water was too shallow here or we would have stopped

We reached the next anchorage at Double Island around 1:25 after a short day of 22.3 miles.  We rafted with Passport.  Later NautiNell and Sweet Pea came into the anchorage as well.  There was quite a bit of current so we let them raft up to us and they both put out hefty anchors.

John puttering about in his dinghy

It was a special night for Dale and Jim on Sweet Pea, this was the anniversary of their departure from Massachusetts.  They have been on the water for one year.  After dinner with John and Mary, we went ashore and enjoyed a big celebration bonfire.

Right before nightfall another boat came into Double Island.  Called "Annie", it was a home built riverboat complete with working calliope.  Benford-designed, it took the owners (Ron and Carol) 16 years to build and now they are enjoying it on the rivers here in the South.

'Annie'

Monday, October 10

Grey and cloudy morning but no wind and no fog.  We are in no big rush to leave because we only plan to go 10 miles, along to Clifton Marina, and stay there for the night.  When "Annie" left she gave us all a little serenade...

Click on the arrow to listen

 We left the anchorage at 10:35 with Passport and arrived at Clifton Marina 2 hours later.

Clifton Marina's little entrance

 Mary Morgan offered to cut Kerm's hair...she has all the equipment and the skill.  Still, Kerm needed a Bud Light to withstand the tension.  It looked really good and the price was definitely right.

Mary's Barber Shop on the Dock

In this little tiny marina there were a whole load of Loopers and we got together for a cocktail hour by the office deck.  Afterwards, Mary and John joined us for dinner on the Belle.  The steak was awful the company was great.

Good Looking Buddy Boats

Captain Kerm

One of Clifton Marina's claims to fame is that Alan Jackson stopped here one night with one of this big boats.  He apparently didn't come ashore but his crew did and Alan sent out a autographed picture that the Marina has on the wall.  Also, NASCAR driver, Sterling Marlin has a boat here and is often around.

I got laundry done here and the dryer was super...75 cents for enough time to shrink every item in your dirty clothes sack.



Tuesday, October 11

Departed Clifton Marina at 8:56 heading for Wolf Island Anchorage.

Passport

This is Bob on River Wanderer...17 foot boat and he's out here doing the rivers, we love it

Some river cabins

 Traveled 32.8 miles today and anchored in a great spot.  Not rafted with Passport but in the same bay...we are trying to get more comfortable with our own anchoring skills. Just as we were heading for bed a smaller Looper boat we had met at Clifton called to ask if they could anchor here, too.  Passport offered to have Resolute raft with them because it was getting dark and they are new Loopers.  The offer was gratefully received.  We joked with Mary and John that they were dumping us for 'the new kid in town' .

Good night from Wolf Island

Wednesday, October 12

We departed Wolf Anchorage at 7:45am after calling the Lockmaster at Pickwick Lock to see if there was any significant barge traffic that would delay us.  He said if we hustled we could make an opening before a large tow.  Based on this information we cruised on down the river and had pb&js for our breakfast. 

At 8:45 we passed Shiloh Battlefield and by 10:10 we were secured to the lock wall.

Warning sign before Pickwick Lock

Passport entering the lock chamber

"Resolute"  First time locking through

We were fortunate to make it through the lock so quickly.  Pleasure craft have the lowest priority and the TVA locks are notorious for long wait times. Once through the lock we entered Pickwick Lake which is said to have some the prettiest anchorages since the North Channel up in Canada.  We are heading for one of those anchorages for the night.  It is called Dry Creek.  Arrived at 12:07 and plunked our anchor down.  Traveled 20.6 miles today

Good night from Dry Creek

Thursday, October 13 - Sunday, October 16

It was a rough night on the hook, we swung all over the place but it held!!

We are heading for  Grand Harbor Marina for several days of relaxation and regrouping.  Mary and I have appointments for haircuts at the resort's spa. We plan to go to tour Shiloh and there is some maintenance that the Belle needs to have done. We also need to decide if we are going to Chattanooga or not.

Left Dry Creek at 11:22.

Capt

It was windy and I left the cabin doors open while I went up on the fly bridge result = paper towel explosion

Grand Harbor Marina and Condominiums

Ship's Store and Office

We arrived at 12:51, docking at a very windy spot. Only traveled 6.4 miles today.

List of activities enjoyed/undertaken over the next couple of days-

•  Haircut and massage for me..hooray!!!
• Shopping in Counce, TN for supplies
• Shopping in Savannah, TN for Liquor and other necessities...still no Schweppes for the Morgons
• Talked with many of the Loopers here
• Kerm replaced the house water pump
• Kerm worked on lots of boat things
• Went out to dinner with Passport and Resolute friends
• Toured Shiloh Battlefield and National Cemetery
• Bought a boat mop like Mary Morgan's.  Now my boat should be as clean as hers...yeah, right!!

Mop's name is Janice, she was Animal's girlfriend in the Muppets and the mop looks just like her

 
Monday, October 17

Sunny, beautiful morning. Departed Grand Harbor Marina heading for Panther Creek to anchor out.  Passport is still with us.  Left at 9:54 and we were excited by the wonderful scenery on Pickwick Lake.  My favorite is this little cove with a waterfall.  There is only room for one or two boats to anchor.  It's Brilliant, as the English would say.

Across the Lake from the Waterfall is Panther Creek, which we entered at 11:06.  Gorgeous spot with fish jumping, a bald eagle in a pine tree and the leaves changing color.

We took the dinghy down and rowed over to Passport for a cocktail. We have decided to forgo the side trip to Chattanooga and will stay around Pickwick Lake until we head down the Tenn-Tom Waterway to Mobile Bay.  This means it's time to say goodbye to Mary and John. 

 So after a nice drink and farewells we rowed home.  Since a wind shift was predicted, Kerm wanted to reset the anchor.  I got it out fine but we could not get it to grab.  Finally, I pulled it up and the anchor had snagged a huge stump.  That's why it was skipping along the bottom.  By this time it was getting dark, so we rafted up with Passport.  They can't get rid of us so fast!!  After dark we all spent some time star gazing and then the wolves started to howl and yap.  Eerie sound echoing across the Lake.

Good night from Panther Creek

  
Tuesday, October 18
Now it really is time to say goodbye.  We need a part for our head from Aqua Yacht Harbor and Passport is going to Florence and points East.  Mary and John, thanks for being great boat buddies and turning into good friends.  We'll miss you but will see you again soon, I'm sure.

John cleaning the boat, surprise, surprise!

John and Mary Morgan

Leaving Panther Creek

We weighed anchor and left the creek at 8:03am.  When we went past the waterfall two boat were anchored inside.  My turn will come!
Docked at Aqua Yacht Harbor at 9:47am.

Kerm replaced the joker valve on the toilet and I spent all day scrubbing the Belle.  Of course it began to rain right after I had finished.  Kerm said it was a nice soft water rinse.  The weather is supposed to be a little colder for the next couple of days so we will have to break out the jeans and fleeces.

That's it for now...I'm up to date, hooray.


Love to all,
Christie

Investigating Barkley and Kentucky Lakes

October 2, Sunday

Left the slip and went to the fuel dock to take on diesel and get a pump out.  Weather is sunny and clear and by 11:00am we are ready for boating again after a week tied up at Green Turtle Bay Marina.
Passport is traveling with us and we plan to investigate Lake Barkley for a couple of days before going through the Barkley Canal that joins Barkley and Kentucky Lakes and heading south again.

As we begin this day's travel we reach a special mile mark...Southern Belle has traveled 4,000 statute miles since March 13 when we left Hudson, Florida.  Kerm and I shared a well deserved high five.

The Big House

This pretty building overlooking the Lake is the Kentucky State Penitentiary.  Why do cons always get the good views???


We traveled 20 miles today and rafted up with Passport in Dryden Creek.  Mary Morgan and Kerm are both anxious about anchoring so it is good that they have each other to kid.  We let Passport set their anchor and then just rafted off them like a little parasite.  We had cocktails with John and Mary as the sun when down...

Passport's dinghy in Dryden Creek Anchorage

Cocktail Hour on Passport

Warren and John Morgan goofing off

It was a good day and the anchorage was nice and protected.

Good night from Dryden Creek

Monday, October 3

When we woke up it was too foggy to go anywhere and it was a little cold for Kerm...

fogged in

 

Kerm freezing

Fog clearing

We left the creek at 10:40 and only went 11 miles today.  Stopped at the Barkley Lake State Park Marina after a nice short day.

We had a little trouble finding the right slips...marina lady was a little inept...oh well

Undercover at Barkley...it was 'Spider City'

First Autumn colors in the State Park

We went to dinner at 'The Lodge' with the Morgans and pigged out on a Tennessee specialty called "Hot Brown"  which is a hot dish made with Toast Triangles layered with ham, turkey and cheese; then cheese sauce is added and the whole gooey wonderful mess is sprinkled with bacon bits and slices of tomato.  Remember to take your Lipitor when eating this decadent, rich, comfort food gem.
Went to bed with a nice full belly!



Tuesday, October 4


Fog delayed our departure again this morning.  We have slowed our pace down a great deal so these delays are not bothering us at all.  Left Barkley State Park at 9am.  Today we will go through the Barkley Canal that joins the two big lakes together and then stay at another state park, this one is called KenLake Marina.

Along this stretch there are some pretty houses and scenery.

\

At lunchtime we went through the canal and by 4:20 we were happy to see the marina.  Small and few services but okay for a place to lay our heads down for the night. We traveled 47.8 miles today.

View from our slip at KenLake

 Wednesday October 5

Had a nice breakfast with the Morgans.  When we left the marina, I drove the Belle. I drive a lot during the day regularly, but Kerm typically does all the landing and docking.  It was fun and I'd like to do more maneuvering in tight spots as we go along.  Short day today and we got to our chosen anchorage spot by 1:30 after traveling 21 miles.

Fort Heiman Anchorage

Passport and Southern Belle

Kerm put on a wet suit and cleaned off the transducer for our depth meter.  The water was cold.  Very pretty place to anchor out.

Good night from Fort Heiman Anchorage

  
Thursday, October 6

Weighed anchor at 8:55 after a good night's sleep.  Heading for Pebble Isle Marina.  They have the cheapest diesel fuel prices on the Lake, so Passport and the Belle are going to take on fuel. 

Lots of other Loopers here

How is this for a little boat story...

This boat was dreamed up, designed and built by a local man at this marina.  When he died his wife abandoned the boat.  The marina decided to put it out in front of their entrance as a tribute to him.  They say they are going to paint it yellow some day since it looks like a submarine.

Pebble Isle Marina is well known amongst the Loopers not only for cheap fuel but they serve great hot cinnamon rolls every weekday morning... FREE.  Super place and we are staying for two nights.

 Signing off for now
Christie

One week of Luxury

Monday, September 25- Saturday,October 1

We decided to stay at Green Turtle Bay Marina for one week. They have a good deal for Loopers.  The Marina is very splendid, including a spa, condos, yacht club/restaurant, full ship's store, a very cute town within walking distance and courtesy cars for a quick ride into Paducah.

There are lots of Loopers here, some we have met before and some new ones.  All told there must be 20-25 of us.

Loopers Galore

and two special Loopers, Passport and Southern Belle

Lots of sailboats as well as power boats and there was a regatta while we were there but we didn't get the chance to be involved

Free coffee every morning

Warren chatting up the locals

 

I fell in love with this guy at first glance...

Tobias- marina dog extrordinaire

Six month old mutt, looked like a miniature hyena, about a foot tall but a golden personality.  So cute you couldn't help but love him.  Every day, when I went into the office to get free coffee, he would be there to greet me.  I'd tell him in a stage whisper that he would be leaving on the Southern Belle with me soon.  The girls in the office thought it was a hoot and said Bill, the marina manager, might just want to get rid of him...I thought about it...but it's not the right time.  Oh the agony of a love that cannot be!!!   I got to baby-sit him the night before we left and he scampered around the Belle looking darling.

The one that got away!!

They don't call this place green Turtle Bay for nothing

The big one underneath is the size of a turkey platter

 

 

 

 

 

During our week here:

• I pampered myself at the spa, enjoying a massage one day and a good sauna another. 
• We went to dinner with a long lost friend, Bob Shapiro from Dream Quest.  We lost track of Bob somewhere by Oneida Lake in New York.  Bob lives in Paducah so he finished his Loop which, by the way, is called 'crossing your wake'.  It was good to see him and have a chance to meet his lovely daughter, Lily.
• Drove to Paducah with Mary and John Morgan (Passport) to re-provision.  Especially, beer and liquor, since we are in the land of' 'dry counties'.
• Caught up on laundry.
• Got a new phone because my trusty old Motorola Razor bit the dust after years of faithful service.
• Walked to Grand Rivers several times to enjoy the little shops, Patti's Settlement (tourist trap/restaurant) and the IGA grocery store.
• Socialized with lots of Loopers and other marina people who are interested in our travels.
• Finally, and most importantly, Kerm did a lot of boat maintenance. 

We added it up and so far we have traveled 3999.3 statute miles.  Not bad!! 

Take care all, and I'll catch up with the blog soon.
Christie