Green Turtle Bay Marina TN – Clifton Marina TN

 Nashville to Florida  No Responses »
Dec 282016
 

We decided to take the courtesy van to the “downtown” of Grand River to visit the Christmas display put on by Patti’s Restaurant.  A million light display set out by a local that has had business here since 1880.  Beautiful lights in the 40 degree weather.

As we stopped at the grocery store to stock up the temp dropped.  The night was a chilly 32 F.  Setting up the heaters as well as the onboard air/heat which were set to full tilt kept us warm for the night.  Anyone traveling these parts needs portable heaters, toques, scarves and long johns.  It gets chilly even during the first part of the day.

We woke to 32 with frost on the entire boat, ropes and slippery decks everywhere.  We shoved off from GTB at 7:-00 AM with our sites set on Clifton Marina some 133 miles away.  Great mild winds and no locks made that trip easy.  Beautiful rock cliffs and houses on stilts set very high were interesting sites. We passed a few tow and barges but the river is so very wide that it too is easy.  The sun was shining as we ran the gen to stay warm with our extra layers of clothing.  Even with the sun the morning was cold.  The day warmed up to about 50 degrees but we didn’t notice it much until we stopped.

Clifton Marina has everything we need.  A courtesy car is available to head into town.  The main street is lit up with Christmas lights.  Restaurant, restrooms, and friendly folks who also offered covered slips for the rain coming tonight.  As we sit on the transient dock we decide to have dinner and make it a movie night.  Aiden has homework to do and he really wants to get the overwith while he has wifi.

 Posted by at 11:04 PM

Clarksville Marina TN – Green Turtle Bay Marina KY

 Nashville to Florida  No Responses »
Dec 282016
 

Leaving the amazing Clarksville Marina early this morning wasn’t too bad with the sun shining and temps in the 40’s. Every book will say that there is no marina at Clarksville. It is so new and offers the transient boater lots of amenities. Don’t miss this beautiful city as you make your way to Nashville.

We passed several barges on the sides of the river receiving their bounty. From sand, grain, coal, scrap metal and the odd combustible barges were being filled on the shores. We passed a ferry that catered to the motorist wanting to pass over The Cumberland. Fort Donelson with its canons facing west at the ready for The Union and Confederate battle that took place at the civil war are seen easily by any passing boat. The migrating egrets that were stationed on sandbars by the thousands were a gorgeous site on a sunny day.

On the shore is the maximum security state penitentiary that houses Kentucky’s worst criminals. It still uses the electric chair. The prison was constructed in the 1800’s and looks more like a castle than it does a prison.

Cruising along the river we eventually get to Barkley Lake where it widens into open spaces with several spots to anchor. We are headed to Green Turtle Bay Marina but not before we pass several fisherman in their camo boats and decoys by the hundreds. This is serious duck hunting grounds. The odd tree stands at full attention on a sand bar in the middle of no where.

Upon reaching GTB Marina we diesel up and find our slip in #5. I start laundry and the boys head off for a hike. Domestic chores have to be done so vacuuming is a must too. The boys come back excited about seeing 7 deer or reindeer. They had long tails. There is a feeder that sprays feed at exactly 7:00 AM so the deer come around at various times just to find the odd dropping from the mornings feast.

We do take a swim in the indoor pool area where Aiden tries out his new face mask, snorkel and fins. Perfect fit. Thanks Aunt Heather and Uncle Joe. we have keys to the courtesy jeep and need a few groceries. Also we’re off to see the city of Grand River and its Christmas Lights at Patti’s Restaurant where they do a million light display until January. I’m sure we’ll have pics for tomorrow’s post.

 Posted by at 12:17 AM

Anchor High Marina, Hendersonville TN to Clarksville Marina, TN

 Nashville to Florida  No Responses »
Dec 272016
 

We arrived at Anchor High Marina on Christmas Day in the late afternoon.  We needed to prep some final details including putting away all our luggage and supplies that Scott picked up before he left to come home last week.  The weather was a balmy 75 degrees F, 22 degrees C and sunny.  We spent the evening just catching up and enjoying talking about our time at the marina.  Setting a start up time for 7:00 at the lock we headed to sleep.

Waking to the sound of the alarm at 6:00 with the coffee on, we got ready to head to the first destination at Old Hickory Lock, a 65 foot drop to The Cumberland River heading west.  A quick radio call to the lock master left us with a 3 hour wait before we could lock down.  2 tows were ahead of us and locking up.  So we cleaned windows, set the course for the next few days and had another coffee.

The wind picked up to the point that there were white caps by the lock that we could see sitting at the marina.  This was going to be fun trying to lock through in those winds.  Then, of course, we get the call from the lockmaster that he will wait for us.  We shove off leaving the beautiful Anchor High Marina ,our new friends and memories, behind.  We had a great time at Old Hickory Lake this past summer.  Anyone interested in stopping by Nashville on a side trip on the Great Loop really shouldn’t miss the comraderie of the friends you will definitely meet on Old Hickory Lake.  Anchor High has transient dockage, all amenities as well as diesel and gas.  The staff are always welcoming and accommodating.

Locking through the lock was windy but not too bad in those winds.  Mainly because we did lock down which is much easier.  Entering The Cumberland River we see a couple fisherman in boats, a lot calmer winds and beautiful scenery.  We pass the Grand Ole Opry and the hotels.  The majestic General Jackson paddleboat is docked at the Opry.  This portion of the river winds and turns and really feels like you are not going very far.  The scenery is not a nice as it is when the leaves are on the trees.  We pass the City of Nashville with the batman building which announces the arrival of the city.  A unique waterfront city that has so much history in the shipping industry which has now become more a blast from the past with its hotels, bars, and of course, music.

Next stop is a diesel top up at Rock Harbour Marina.  They have a 24/7/365 gas/diesel availability with a swipe machine to use the pump at any time.  Then we’re off to Cheatham Lock on The Cumberland.  It drops approx 40 feet.  The winds had died down by now so this lock was relaxed and uneventful.  The river from here is much more serene and less commercial except for the tows and barges.  Today we only passed 3 barges and 2 rec boats.  Mostly the fishermen are out on a gorgeous day with temps in the 70’s.  The river travels more west on this stretch towards Lake Barkley.  We pass several bluffs, beautiful mansions, and several blue herons.  Our end goal is Clarksville Marina at Mile 127.  A new marina with the city within walking distance.  Full service marina with laundry, restrooms, fuel, and those city amenities.

Today we traveled from Mile 216 on the Cumberland to Mile 127 at an average speed of 21 mph.  The total trip took approx 5 hours including the 2 locks.  As I sit here writing this blog the winds have picked up, a storm has arrived with tons of rain.  Sitting here under the aluminum canopy that is everywhere for boating in Tennessee we are thankful we are not anchored.

 Posted by at 2:38 AM

We’re Moving on. Date set at Dec 26, 2016

 2016, Nashville to Florida  No Responses »
Dec 152016
 

Times are a changing…..As we prepare to move along the path of the Great Loop “stuff” must be done.  Oil change is complete, filters and just overall maintenance has to be done and now the upgrading of the technology is a must.  One of the electronics we use, the Searay Navigator, is on its way out.  It may be the last one standing anywhere on any Searay since Scott doctored it many times.  Moving into The Gulf and ocean we feel its time to address this issue.  So we went to the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show for options and settled on the Simrad and Mercury upgrade for the engines.  Hope it’s as easy an install as Scott gets ready to put that new baby in the dash.  I’ll have to post pics of the work after the install.

Continual changes with work make the start of this portion a bit of a mystery.  We are waiting for the opportunity to have a few weeks together to move.  Stay tuned.  Now that Aiden is in high school bringing him along when school is in session is out of the question.  So he will not do the complete loop.  Secretly I think he’s happy with that.

We will say goodbye to covered slips, clean fresh water, and the many friends we’ve made in the Nashville area and welcome salt water, sun and open seas.

 Posted by at 1:13 AM

The end of the beginning…………….

 2015, Buffalo NY to Nashville  1 Response »
Aug 242015
 

We are in Tennessee.  Now what?  There has to be more but that will have to wait for now.

We have cruised over 2000 miles to get to Tennessee it is without a doubt that we have boating in our blood.  Aiden has learned more about nature, history, family, self initiation and so many other things.  We feel very fortunate to have been able to do this trip.  I miss my kids at home, Amy and Steve, and I miss our dog, Newton.  Mitchel, who I barely got to see while here in Canada.  My friends, my ladies, and you know who you are, I miss you all so much.  Lunch, dinners and nights out have to be planned when I get home.  No excuses.

Thank you to my mom and Pat who without you two we would have taken a much more difficult path to get out of Little Current after hitting the rock and then getting back.  We appreciate the sacrifice you two made to help us out in little time and took so much of your time to get us underway again.

Amy and Mitchel who have taken such great care of our baby, Newton.  We miss him so much but know that he is well taken care of.

Steve who always comes through with anything we need at the house and office.  Thanks for holding down the fort with all those tasks that were needed.

And again, all of you who took the time to read and follow our journey.  This journey is truly a boater’s dream .  Wth the knowledge that you are reading this crazy personal journal makes it so much more.

Life is a journey!  Stay calm and journey on!!

 Posted by at 1:31 AM

Nashville, TN – Anchor High Marina, Hendersonville, TN

 2015, Buffalo NY to Nashville  No Responses »
Aug 162015
 

Leaving Nashville we are now set to move to our final spot.  We have to lock up Old Hickory Lock and travel about 30 miles or so to get there.  It’s a nice quiet drive passing only a couple barges.  There are tons of fishermen which causes us to slow and reduce our wake.  Homes are up on bluffs with long staircases coming down to their boats.  There are a lot of pontoon style boats, fishing boats and run abouts on the Cumberland.  We can see the water level that spring brings on the mud lined rockface.  Boats have lifts that lift them up.  Some are up about 50 or more feet from the water’s edge to beat the spring flooding.

The river is narrow but again, the barges and their tows have to get through.  Stay on the channel and use your charts and you’re good.

Making our way to Old Hickory Lock where we wait until the lockmaster drains the lock for us.  It’s a good wait as this is a 57 foot high lock.  There are fisherman just waiting below the lock doors for their perfect catch.  As the lock doors open we head in and tie to a bollard.  The bollard floats up with us again and makes this lock super easy.  It’s a bit cool today.  Only 85 and little sun so locking is pleasant compared to some I’ve done.

We are only about 1/2 mile away from Anchor High Marina when we leave the dock.  We head over for a top up of diesel and it is apparent that they have been waiting for us.  The attendant says “You’re the ones we have been hearing about”.  We talk a bit and head over to our slip.  This is super sweet.  A covered metal slip in a condo style boating experience.  I want this to take home.  What a great idea to have these boats covered.  The drawback here is that your power is on a meter.  Just like a house.  No one uses their air conditioner unless they need it.

After lunch we decide that we would like to take a dip in Old Hickory Lake.  We are shown a couple places to go and drop Low Voltage and dingy over.  Again Old Hickory Lake was formed when the locks were made so the lake is not entirely open for boating.  You must follow the old river bed that winds through the lake.  We find Wedding Cove and Skinny Dip Bay to be perfect.  Tons of boats are in Skinny Dip Bay with waist high water so smaller boats are anchored here with the larger boats off to the one side all rafted together.  It’s a big party.  We anchor in the dingy and have a quick swim.  The storm that was forecasted starts to roll in.  We start the 15 minute trip back and stop in Wedding Cove.  There are a couple boats there getting ready to leave.  Turns out one of them is a fellow Scott knows from work.  So we talk a bit and then we all head for cover at our marinas on the lake.

This marks the end of our journey.

 

 Posted by at 8:55 PM

Harpeth Island – Nashville, TN

 2015, Buffalo NY to Nashville  No Responses »
Aug 152015
 

Today marks the last night of our journey.  Leaving Harpeth Island with only about 40 miles left to go it is bittersweet.  I know we will all miss the calm and serenity of these little anchor spots.  The adventure will continue but in a different way as Conductance will sit in her marina slip for approximately one year.  But before that happens we will visit Nashville, TN.  There is a 500 ft city dock available for dockage.  It is by reservation but in our opinion not run well.  I called the number several days ago for the reservation and asked to make one and was politely told that I was not guaranteed a spot even if I made a reservation.  The transients and how they park their boats determines how many boats are on the dock.  There is no harbourmaster and no one is watching the dock.  So we decide to go and see what is up as this makes no sense whatsoever.

Anyway while we travel to Nashville we pass very narrow areas of the river.  It had been dug out by hand in solid rock from when they first decided to connect this river for commerce.  Barges and their tows make their way this way so it must be wide enough for those big puppies.  We didn’t pass one barge and tow on this portion of the narrow winding river.  I’m certain it would have been fine…tight, but fine.  The scenery is still beautiful with the trees and stone on both banks.  Farm land is here too in the low areas of the Nashville Basin, as it’s called.  We must travel a portion of this river for 10 miles that as a crow flies is only 1 mile.  The river winds and turns so much that the boater must takes the long way.

We get closer to Nashville and now can see the AT & T building.  It is referred to as the Batman Building.  You’ll see why in the pics.  The dock has power and water and only one boat on it.  As we get settled we can see a storm brewing in the sky.  We got Conductance all set up with power and water and started to talk about this reservation thing as we had lunch.  The fellow on the phone said we had to leave as the entire dock was full.  One boat and it is full.  Apparently they are all on their way.  So we talk with the other boater.  She said that she has been coming here for decades and has never seen this dock full in any of the years.  Hmmmm.  So we decide to take a walk into the city and see the sites and pop back to the boat to see what is going on.  Apparently Tim McGraw is playing at the Bridgestone Arena.  The city streets are bustling with people everywhere.  Walkers, bikes, and bikes with several people riding on them and a bartender serving drinks with a sober driver at the front of the cart driving.  The drinkers pedal to keep the cart moving.  Lots of fun and singing going on.  Next girls trip has to be here.  There are horse drawn buggies, bike rentals, golf cart rentals, a train to get you around to the different sites, busses.  Any means that you need is available.  Bars are also abundant.  The party never stops and it is only 1:00 pm.  It’s also raining but rain here in the south lasts about 10 minutes and it’s done.

We took the time to stop at a convenience store as we are all out of beer and bread.  Two essentials on a hot day.  We also head over to the State Building which Nashville is the State’s Capitol.  It is a beautiful stop with history and architectural style.  The museum is there as well and built in the same era as the Capitol building.  We saw Coyote Ugly Bar, the 3 storey, fully packed and famous Honky Tonk Bar.  We walked by the Ryman Building which was the original Grand Ole Opry where Elvis and many others performed.  The Johnny Cash museum and so many more.  Too much to see in just one afternoon and evening.

We did end up staying on the dock with 2 boats for the evening.  A far cry from the 500 ft full dock that we were told.  Both of those boats did not expect to be there either.  One was broke down with engine trouble and the other boat was the mechanic’s boat.  Not sure how this place runs but they really should take a lesson from the little town of North Tonawanda, NY.

Scott took some shots of the city at night.  Aiden was exhausted and headed to bed.  Tomorrow we travel to our home for the next year where Conductance will have some maintenance done and a good thorough cleaning.

 Posted by at 8:30 PM