We are awaiting the arrival of our first guests aboard, anticipating about 4
days of cruising with Clay's frat buddy Jim and wife Sanci. We are docked at
Green Turtle Bay Marina on Lake Barkley and have been here since locking
through Lake Barkley Dam on Wednesday. We have rejoined our Looper friends
and have become acquainted with a few other couples who are also doing the
Loop.
Backing
up to Tuesday morning, Clay and I were the last of the 3 rafted boats to
depart. Their intent was to make Green Turtle Bay before nightfall. We opted
for a stopover in Paducah for a late lunch, a walk and a bit of browsing,
then anchor out at Cumberland Towhead overnight, destined to make Green
Turtle Bay on Wednesday. Soon after pulling up anchor, we rounded the bend and
onto the Ohio River. Tying up at the Paducah riverfront some 4+ hours later,
we found a great little deli downtown Paducah called Kirchhoff's which had a
companion coffee klatsch/boutique and a bakery. I walked out Broadway 15
minutes and back while Clay scouted out the downtown offerings, zeroing in on
Hooper's Outdoor where he found a sale rack for me. Two on-sale North Face
dresses and one pair of on-sale Padagonia casual tie shorts later, we were
off towards the boat and riverfront area where the Queen of the Mississippi
was also docked.
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| Cumberland Tow head at the junction of the Cumberland and Ohio River--one of the best anchorages on the inland rivers. |
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| Sally trying on her Nordic Track on the Cumberland River |
Upriver
we went, anchoring overnight at the Cumberland Towhead. We're on a roll with
pulling up anchor by now, 2 of 3! Clay decided I should christen the Nordic
Track Wednesday morning as it was to be slow going for a while. Smooth glide
on the back deck on the skis of the track, I was able to adjust to minor
wave, and thus balance issues, while putting in my half hour on the track.
We saw some interesting sights on the Cumberland River!
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| Tow boat crew change on the Cumberland River |
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| The first Osprey nest we spotted |
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| Bare root trees! |
We
took the Cumberland River route to Lake Barkley Dam as the Tennessee River
leading to the KY Lake Dam was closed to barge traffic; KY Lake Dam was under
construction/renovation. We had a close-to-2-hr wait for barge traffic at the
Lock, noting numerous fishing boats and many dead fish that couldn't
withstand the turbulence of the dam. Once in the chamber, we experienced the
pool fill in record time; I clocked 59' rise in 11 minutes. Wow! Many of
these locks have floating bollards which make my job as first mate easy; I
only have to tie off once at the lock wall rather than readjusting repeatedly
as the water rises or falls as the case may be.
 
Green
Turtle Bay Marina was immediately on our right within a mile of the lock...a
welcome sight. We were greeted by a friendly staff, mucho diesel refueling, a
pump out, a home berth for the next 3 nights plus a number of
amenities...indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, restaurant for
breakfast and lunch called Dockers, an evening Commonwealth Yacht Club for
dinner, plus the town of Grand Rivers in close proximity. And we met up with
our fellow boaters of the past few nights. We joined forces with Dave, Carol,
Ed and Sue and toted our beer and wine with us to the Commonwealth Club for
dinner, being in a dry county now.
Thursday
was a land day, starting with the 3 gals attending my first-ever aqua zumba
class at the indoor pool. A nippy 81 degree water temp coupled with my feet
constantly sliding out from under me made zumba dancing in waist-deep water
less than a "sweep me off my feet" experience, but I stuck it out
and did kinda enjoy it. Two laundry loads and lunch down, we 3 gals borrowed
the courtesy car and headed to Paducah WMT for re-stocking. Paducah was an
easy half-hour drive, but stop-and-go traffic on the Interstate (road
construction) lengthened our driving time.
Clay
got a late start the next morning (Friday) washing the boat which desperately
needed it, but he got it done. I organized, swam the outdoor pool, and ran a
small laundry load in the boat's combo washer-dryer to refresh my memory of
its operation. Jim and Sanci have arrived (5:30 pm)! Our plans are to overnight here and motor up the Cumberland River tomorrow (Saturday).
I
hope you are enjoying the tales of our travel.
Clay
and Sally Logan
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