As we dock at Leatherwood Marina on the TN River, I realize it's time for an update. Friends Jim and Sanci joined us Friday afternoon at Green Turtle Bay where we welcomed them aboard, gave them a quick intro to boating on the SaSea Sally, and then let them settle in. Dinner at the Commonwealth Yacht Club allowed us to get reacquainted. Experiences from Clay and Jim's Westminster days became the primary dinner topic.
 |
| Lots of sailboats on Lake Barkely and KY Lake |
Saturday morning we departed GTB with a hesitant farewell...GTB is a fabulous facility. As the store clerk commented, "What's not to like about it?" She was so right. We took full advantage of the amenities before our departure--morning walk, swim, breakfast and a shower. It was a pretty, warm and sunny day for us all to enjoy. Captain Clay set his sights on Kuttawah Marina for overnight lodging on Lake Barkley and Hu-B's restaurant which offered basket food, a covered slip and a live band. The restaurant/ship's store had the what-we've-come-to-expect offerings (imprint tee shirts, koozies, tote bags, candy bars, misc toiletries and marine parts).
Sunday morning I awakened to a 'meteor shower' of car and trailer red taillights on the shore opposite the dock. Awakening Clay because I was sure this was possibly the highlight of the day, I encouraged him to hop up and take pix of the fishing tourney launch; he has a new high-zoom camera which he might as well use. We left Hu-B's mid-morning, cruised Lake Barkley, then retraced our path to the Crossover near GTB to the TN River. Tonight's mooring was Kenlake Marina in Kenlake State Park. Sanci took a 2-mile round trip walk up the road to the Y where the left turn curves to the State Lodge; her path gave some definition to the walk we would enjoy the next morning.
Jim and Sanci were chefs for the night, and Jim showed off his extremely good culinary talents, grilling ribeyes, asparagus (fabulous!), and sweet potatoes. Yum! And Sanci has been cleaning up, respectful of my oh-such-a-nuisance injured right index finger. I laughingly told them the next morning (today) that my idea of a 'long-term cruise' was having a chef, trainer, and maid aboard. Hmmm, two out of three ain't bad. Space is the defining factor; this is no Holland America. Jim and Sanci set the pace on our morning walks where Clay struggles to keep up. Status quo, though, for him.
 |
| Jim Canella, Sally, and Sanci visiting |
This particular evening I cleaned up while my three boating companions headed out dock hopping. Jim had encountered two boaters docked for the night. During some small talk he discovered that one, John Flake (true name), was a relative by marriage, with Joey's Bar in Muscatine, IA, as the clue and key to a newfound acquaintance. Small world! And, they also chatted with that boat owner, Michael J Riggan, a truckline owner piloting a Boston Whaler with two big Merc's on the back. His trucking company, TanTara Transportation, hauls the Iowa Halwkey's football van. Rhonda from "Help Me Rhonda", a Looper boat which was also at GTB with us joined the dock conversation.
 |
| Colorful roofs on homes lining KY Lake |
As we approached the new US79 bridge a few miles before we docked for the evening we noticed a number of small boats on the water and two Blackhawk helicopters dashing about--also noticed the TN River chart showed a US Coast Guard base at that location. We kept watching and noticed things falling out of the helicopter, then parachutes opening up. The two Blackhawks were dropping sticks of six servicemen into Kentucky Lake, probably a welcome task on a 90+ degree day, while the small boats were picking them up and taking them to shore. The marina operator said it was Army troops from Ft Campbell on a training exercise.
 |
| Airborne exercise-paratroopers and pick-up boats on the TN |
 |
| Airborne paratroopers jumping into the TN River |
Time for me to stoke up the oven and fix dinner for us. I hope you are well and once again entertained by my documenting our trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment