Tenn. River River side trip

We started out  on the Tennessee River side trip on 10/19. The plan was to go to Chattanooga and do some sight seeing. As we progressed up the river we scuttled the Chattanooga plan and just kept going up river. We found that we love cruising the river and anchoring out in the beautiful anchorages so much that the time would be better spent seeing more of the river. The Tennessee River has been dammed up over the years to produce hydro stations and improve navigation. The result is a series of lakes that create an amazing recreational area for boater and outdoors 'people'. We started in Wheeler lake and travelled upstream through Guntersville Lake, Nickajack, Chickamauga and Watts Bar Lakes http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Locations/NavigationLocks/TennesseeRiver/Chickamauga.aspx . Each has a lock and dam of the same name. The trip up river was 265 mile of awesome weather. We turned around at Blue Spring marina, 50 miles from Knoxville. The trip down river for the first two day was not so nice thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Joaquin. Oh well, at least we got to use our foul weather gear.

 

Watts Bar

See that tank with the Tennessee 'T' on it. The top is caved in. Does that remind any old CCNPP guys of the DI storage tank:-)

For all you cat lovers. This was a pretty good looking plant.

Mom and baby out for a morning walk in the water.

 

We were locking up and as we rose I came eye to eye with this buzzard and his many friends siting on the rail. He saw me move for the camera. I got this shot of his first flap!

One night at anchor these guys swarmed us. No biting, no mess, just lots of them. They like the color blue. Check out how the hang on the name and not the surrounding white.

Our friends on Tranquility heading down river as we go up.

Anchor up time.

This is a floating stage that is moored in an old abandoned lock. They tow it to venues around the lakes.

Mornings like this never gets old

Going into Chattanooga, Power Ball anyone!

This was a cool lock above Chattanooga. Initially we didn't understand how we entered. It is the Chickamauga Lock and there is a railroad bridge just before it. Luck would have it there was a train rolling over as we entered. On the way back down river we got the crap scared out of us as the engines of a train came across just as we passed under.

 

Betsy's favorite type of bird.

Sequoya NPP 

 

 Its the people that make the trip. Old class mates from Tyrone Betsy and Tami Wolfe had a chance to catch up when they invited use to there wonderful home on Watts Bar lake. What a good time and a great meal with Tami and Sam.

FRYEDAZE dollar on the wall at the Blue Springs Bar and Restaurant.

OK, not everyday can be dry and sunny.

Some days when your the deck hand and it is wet, cold and rainy, you deserve a warm snuggle nap on the bridge.