Barkley Dam
Waiting with several other boats to go through Barkley Lock
Tuesday we crossed a small canal that connects Lake Barkley to Kentucky Lake and cruised south on Kentucky Lake. This lake was formed in 1944 when the Tennessee Valley Authority constructed the Kentucky Dam impounding the Tennessee River. It is the largest man made lake east of the Mississippi. There are 2,064 miles of shoreline along Kentucky Lake. We are still seeing many eagles, sometimes 2 at a time.
Kentucky Lake Eagles
The 72 mile ride from the Green Turtle Marina south on Kentucky Lake was easy but somewhat long as we left at just before 8:00 AM and did not get into the marina until 4:00 PM. Skies were cloudy, there was occasional drizzle, and it was chilly which did not help. We spent Tuesday night at Pebble Isle Marina in New Johnsonville, TN. Wednesday morning we had a fog delay but it cleared up enough for us to get going by about 9:00 AM and we had a nice sunny day to cruise.
Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River are much prettier to me than the Illinois and Mississippi River. The water is not so muddy and there is little debris. The shoreline is more scenic as well. There are still tows with barges and some industry, but it is much less.
Our stop Wednesday night was Clifton Marina which is still in Tennessee. We needed to take on diesel fuel as we were almost empty. This small marina did have enough fuel to give us the 1,000 gallons we needed, however their fuel pump was slow. It took just over two hours to fuel Southern Style. By the time we were done fueling, we grabbed a quick burger at the marina grill with a few other "Loopers" and called it a night.
Thursday morning at sunrise (7:00 AM) we were off the dock and continuing up the Tennessee River to the Pickwick Lock and Dam.
After coming through the Pickwick Lock we were in Lake Pickwick on the Tennessee River. About 8 miles up the lake we turned off the lake into the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (the Ten-Tom). If we had continued upstream on the Tennessee River we could go roughly another 430 miles to Knoxville, TN. However, that was not on our agenda. Aqua Yacht Harbor is located just as we turned onto the Tenn-Tom in Iuka, Mississippi. This is where Southern Style had a reservation to be pulled out of the water and have her props tuned up. After bumping several times in the Trent-Severn Waterway and then hitting something pretty hard coming into Heritage Marina on the Illinois River, it was time for some TLC for our propellers.
The guys in the service department were great. They got Southern Style out of the water, the props off and the boat back in the water along the service dock so we had power and water; all in just 2 hours. Believe me with a boat like Southern Style and her props which weigh in at 250 lbs each, it is not a small task. Kudos to them all.
Fog in the marina Wednesday Morning (Have I mentioned how much I hate fog?)
Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River are much prettier to me than the Illinois and Mississippi River. The water is not so muddy and there is little debris. The shoreline is more scenic as well. There are still tows with barges and some industry, but it is much less.
Industrial site on the Kentucky Lake
Railroad Lift Bridge
Prettier sites on Kentucky Lake and Tennessee River
Coastguard Boat replacing Navigational Aids
Our stop Wednesday night was Clifton Marina which is still in Tennessee. We needed to take on diesel fuel as we were almost empty. This small marina did have enough fuel to give us the 1,000 gallons we needed, however their fuel pump was slow. It took just over two hours to fuel Southern Style. By the time we were done fueling, we grabbed a quick burger at the marina grill with a few other "Loopers" and called it a night.
Thursday morning at sunrise (7:00 AM) we were off the dock and continuing up the Tennessee River to the Pickwick Lock and Dam.
Sunrise Thursday Morning
Fellow "Looper" boat The Barb-B following us out Thursday morning
Tow pushing several barges out of Pickwick Lock. We are next to go in.
After coming through the Pickwick Lock we were in Lake Pickwick on the Tennessee River. About 8 miles up the lake we turned off the lake into the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (the Ten-Tom). If we had continued upstream on the Tennessee River we could go roughly another 430 miles to Knoxville, TN. However, that was not on our agenda. Aqua Yacht Harbor is located just as we turned onto the Tenn-Tom in Iuka, Mississippi. This is where Southern Style had a reservation to be pulled out of the water and have her props tuned up. After bumping several times in the Trent-Severn Waterway and then hitting something pretty hard coming into Heritage Marina on the Illinois River, it was time for some TLC for our propellers.
Heading into the Slings
Southern Style out of the water in the slings
Our Propellers in the propeller ambulance ready to go to the doctor for a tune-up
The guys in the service department were great. They got Southern Style out of the water, the props off and the boat back in the water along the service dock so we had power and water; all in just 2 hours. Believe me with a boat like Southern Style and her props which weigh in at 250 lbs each, it is not a small task. Kudos to them all.
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