Kentucky Lake (Part 1)

Kentucky Lake/ Tennessee River

22 Sept 2012

We were so happy to catch up with our friends on MV Wild Goose, SV Flying Free and MV Next to Me. However the visit was short as we left Green Turtle Bay the following morning. Our friends on MV Next to Me are heading all the way up the Tennessee River to Chattanooga, the folks on MV Wild Goose are going home to Florida take care of some business. We were sad that we had missed our Brazilians friends on SV Teasa who were heading back to Brazil as their US visa is almost expired.

The Barkley Canal that links Barkley and Kentucky Lakes

So we headed out with our Canadian friends on SV Flying Free through the Barkley Canal to the Tennessee River and our first stop; a whole 5 miles away at an anchorage called Pisgah Bay.

Pisgah Bay is located next to an old stone quarry. The rock from the quarry was used to build the Kentucky Dam. The dam was built in the 40s and flooded a town called Birmingham. Several boats have been damaged as a result of hitting foundations and remains of old buildings.

Boys and their toys - Pisgah Bay

The old rock quarry has been a spot for graffiti artist for many years. I was surprised to notice that there was (even in this day and age) no profanity and pictures drawn in bad taste, on the walls. Some drawings were actually very artistic.


Some examples of the graffiti , some dating back to the 60s

Gary spotted this lizard when we were out for a walk

It was nice to quiet down and enjoy a peaceful couple of days on the hook. We enjoyed a long walk in the woods with the gang from SV Flying Free. 

After a long walk in the woods

25 Sept 2012

Onwards to the next peaceful stop and anchorage. The Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake is world famous for all the beautiful and peaceful places to anchor. Some boaters come here and stay for the whole summer. There are over 160 000 coves, beaches and embankments to visit. Kentucky Lake is one of the world’s largest man-made lakes with over 2,400 miles of shoreline.

We were told to be on the look-out for mussel divers. The meat of the mussel is used for bait and the shells get exported to Japan for jewelry.

Our first stop was at Duncan Bay, a waterfowl and eagle refuge. We are having a pizza cook off between Gary and Joanne.

Just as we were taking the pizzas out of the oven we looked up and saw our friends on SV Teasa motoring into the anchorage!! We were so happy to see them!!! They joined us for pizza and we all decided to stay the rest of the day to visit, rather than move on to Sugar Bay.

We had such a good time that we stayed for another day. We had a “goodbye” breakfast on SV Teasa and then spent the rest of the day exploring the bays around the anchorage.

Happy Boaters

After our breakfast on SV Teasa

The seasons are changing but
it is still very warm here in Kentucky

Fossils

How many people does it take to build an Inukshuk?
3 Canadians, I south African, 1 Dane and 2 Brazilians

Our cocktail hour was cut short by lightning and thunder and the rain that soon followed. The rained all night and into the morning, the weather remains unsettled but we decided it is time to move on.

Sept 27, 2012

We anchored in Fort Heiman Bay and the first thing I was a huge water moccasin swimming past the boat. No swimming for me here, that is for sure!!

 …………………………..TO BE CONTINUED