Cumberland River Trip #1

I had gone down the Tennessee River earlier this year on a small sailboat with a 23 year old kid who lives across the lake from me. I really enjoyed that trip (even though he played the bagpipes at every opportunity--my apologies to those of you who live along the Tennessee River)


So Pam and I packed up the Rosborough, and drove to Kentucky Lake to launch at the dam, and go through he canal to the Cumberland River.

Left home Friday at 9:15. Arrived at the Dam Marina about 4:45. We're gonna need a bigger truck.

Thought we'd just stand the mast, put on the boom, tune the rig, put the sails on, and launch. Oh wait a minute, all we need to do is launch--the dark side has it's benefits.

However, there was a bASS tournament going on at the Dam Marina. The very large parking lot was full with about 250 trucks and trailers waiting to pull out their bASS boats.

We got in line, and launched, and went down Kentucky Lake and anchored in Sledd Creek.

After the sun went down, the boat was covered by slimy green bugs. I had to scrub them off the next morning.

We left Sledd Creek about 9:30, and went through the canal to Lake Barkley.

About 7 miles upstream of the canal, we saw someone in a 61' Hatteras who was having a real bad day.

That's the United States Coast Guard on the right side of the photo.

Yes, those are rocks..........................and yes, he's supposed to be on the other side of that red buoy. A lesson about staying in the channel.

Further up the river, we saw an interesting building.

Looks like a school--maybe a seminary. Maybe a nice resort on the lake.

When I get caught, this is the prison where I hope to do my time.

Just over the Tennessee State line, we passed two guys in a bASS boat who flagged us down, and said they were "broke down" and could we tow them to Dover. I wasn't familiar with Dover. They said it was about a mile upstream. (It was closer to 9 miles, but we saved their bASSes.)

As most of you know, there are white pelicans around Charlotte Harbor (near Ft. Myers, FL). People in Ft. Myers say they're rare.

They're rare here too--Can't be more than 10 million of 'em. (some locals say they taste like chicken.)