The Beautiful Tennessee River

September 24, 2010 - October 3, 2010

 We followed the Tennessee River to the Yellow Creek where the Tenn-Tom Riverway begins.  We stayed at Grand Harbor Marina who has a courtesy van, enabling Laura and Bill (Monkey Girl) and Heidi and Kelly (Prime Time) and us to visit Shiloh National Military Park.  The driving tour showed us the many monuments, cannons  and historic tablets that detailed the Civil War's first major battle in the western theater.  This two day battle caused 23,000+ men to lose their lives in horrific battles.  We were all quieter on the way back, realizing the grim realities of this ghastly war.

This Tennessee River is quite interesting.  Its originates in Knoxville, TN, flows southwest to northeast Alabama and Mississippi where it turns westward to Pickwick Dam and then turns north up to Paducah, KY.  In 1933 the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) was created to provide cheap electricity  and jobs to the very poor residents of this area.  To do this, nine dams with locks were built that prevented disastrous floods, generating tremendous amounts of hydroelectric power and providing a deep navigation channel for the 652 mile river.  A bonus was the beautiful lakes that  are attached to the dams and locks.  They are awesome-not too populated but well used by boaters.
 Each lock and dam produces a beautiful lake named after the lock and dam.  Our favorite was Wilson Lake-I wonder why...

Wilson Lock with a  93' lift-WOW!

 It delivers you into Wilson Lake and its beauty...

Typical Lake Wilson house

Rails down to their boathouse

Floating down the river, you see many unique sights.

Collapsed building still attached to bank

Cliffs outside of Huntsville

What is this?  Background for a Stephen King novel?

I wonder what the inside looks like...

Indian artifacts and spirits at the Riverwalk Marina in Decatur, Al

They take their Indian heritage very seriously.

Decatur, Alabama's claim to fame

20,000-45,000 gray bats live here until September when they migrate to cooler caves in the hills north of the river

Carol Wicks and cousin Karen visited Saturday.  We had a lovely visit as we motored from Decatur to Guntersville, AL (pronounced Gunnersville).  Carol brought a yummy lunch and Karen brought her carrot cake which has given her numerous marriage proposals (I think Pete was one!) Sorry, Geri, I think this is better than your recipe which is over the top!  Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of them-could kick myself!  They'll just have to come back!

In Ditto Landing Marina, Huntsville, AL, we were neighbors with the Nina and Pinta traveling boat replicas that a gazillion kids came to see...most enjoyed it but some were looking for the Gift Shop...some things never change...sorry , kids, no gift shop in the marina!

Pete changing the oil

Bill from Monkey Girl waving goodbye after traveling with us for a week

Right now we're in Goose Pond Colony Marina in Scottsboro, Al, run by the city.  There's a championship golf course, amphitheater, restaurant, bait shop, pool and plenty of space for Buddy to run. The people (other boaters) have been very friendly and we'll have cocktails and dinner with them tonight.

Do they fry up the left over bait for chips?

Public docks at Goose Pond



Right now we're enjoying a gorgeous sunny day of 65 degree weather.  Combine that with being on the water and what could be better than that!  We do miss the New England Fall Foliage so you all enjoy that cause there's nothing prettier than those colors!