Tennessee River Cruising

We left Green Turtle Bay Marina with Eschaton (Jack and Nan plus their dog and 2 cats aboard) and went on a short cruise to anchor for the night.  The shoreline along this stretch is lined with beautiful cliffs, sand beaches and forest. 

There are dozens of embayments that provide quiet isolated anchorages. We turned into Sugar Bay, one of the best, where we had anchored in '09. 

It was like old times as we anchored the boats together, launched the dinghys, and headed to shore for a hike through the woods.  

After weeks of perfect weather, the next day brought cool temps and rain.  When cruising, you have to take the good with the bad, so we drove inside where we could stay warm and dry.  We came upon this homemade raft making its way along with a very small outboard motor.  You have to admire their determination.  

 

Lucy climbs up on top of the frig, under the counter whenever the engine is started.  She doesn't have quite as much spirit of adventure that she had during our first loop.  When we land at a marina or anchorage, she goes out onto the deck, looks around and seems to say "well, this isn't my yard" and then goes back inside.  She came out and joined us for a while during the rainy days. 

We stayed at a couple of new marinas and one of our old favorite marinas as we made our way south on the Tennessee.  With the nighttime temps in the low 30's we appreciated the electricity to run the heat.  The marinas on the Tennessee are so inexpensive (still $1/foot) and so friendly.  They really seem to appreciate your business and go out of their way to make boaters feel welcome.  At Clifton Marina they remembered us from 2 years ago, even though we had only stayed one night.  Clifton is the kind of place where when you go in for a burger, they make you feel like they are cooking dinner just for you.  We also have been surprised and pleased to run into several of the Loopers that we had met during our first loop who, like us, couldn't give up the cruising life and were heading south for the winter. 

After 2 days of rain, the sun came back out, and the daytime temps have improved.  After the Pickwick Lock, there are some spectacular homes on the shore. 

We met this man who lives on this unusual cruising boat.  We didn't get a tour of the inside, but can imagine how comfortable it must be.  It's a Jay Benford design, built of steel in Guatamala. 

Boaters following the Great Loop route follow the Tennessee River for about 200 miles and then turn off onto the TennTom Waterway.  This time we are following the Tennessee for another 300 miles to Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a stop at the AGLCA Rondevouz along the way.  The shoreline in this section of the river reminds me alot of the upper Mississippi, with more houses and more boats, even this late in the year. 

Lots of action in the marina we are in tonight, music in the bar, and a bass fishing contest with 150 boats participating began today.  After a month aboard, we have settled back into the cruising life and are enjoying it immensely.  We're glad to say it's as much fun as it was the first time around, perhaps not quite the excitement, but maybe a bit more relaxed so far this time.