CRT 4

Left Clarksville about 9 this morning. Another nice day.

We made it through the first lock today without a problem--except waiting about an hour for a barge to clear.

We're staying at the Rock Harbor Marina tonight. Our boat is in this photo. This place is quite a hodgepodge of boats and docks.

Pam and her catfish--I think it's a blue cat.

CRT 3

Last night we met Jim and Jo Patrick, from San Francisco, CA. They were on their Sundeer 52'

They had sailed out of S.F. several years ago--down through the Panama Canal, and over to Europe. Everywhere from the North Sea to the Med.

they hired someone to sail their boat back across to the Chesapeake. From there, they came through the great lakes and down the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, and had been in Nashville. Now, they're heading down to the gulf, and eventually back to San Francisco. We sat on their boat last night and talked with them about their adventures (Pam talked about grandchildren.)

CRT #2

We were fogged in this morning and couldn't leave our anchorage until about 10:00. So, I jumped in the water to take a bath--a little cool.

As you might guess, while I was in the water, the fog lifted, and we were surrounded by other boats. I figure that since I don't have my glasses on, no one can see my nakedness. (I am pretty modest.)

This area is more like a river than Lake Barkley.

And just in case you forget this is part of the TVA, they put in one of these every so often

We got to Clarksville mid afternoon, and tied to the free public dock. I had called ahead and confirmed that wee could stay there. It's part of their park system. Really nice, and within walking distance of downtown. We're going in to the Black Horse Pub tonight for pizza.

We tried to buy some stereo albums and 8 track tapes at Newt's. but it's Sunday, and they're closed.

T & P

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.)

The end of the North Carolina Adventure

We got the boat back on the trailer Friday morning and headed home.

An interesting thing happened to the boat on the way home.

When we were docked in Oriental, next to a Beneteau 50, our boat looked very small. When we stayed at Beaufort Docks with all the Nordhavns and 100 foot motor yachts, our boat looked even smaller. However, as we traveled farther from the ocean, the larger our boat became--especially in the rear view mirror.

NC #9

The crossing today was a little sloppy

I think we will haul out and start home tomorrow

Nc #8

Where we anchored Tuesday, we didn't seen another boat all evening or the next morning. So I decided to take a shower on the transom. Don't know what it is about nakedness that attracts people, but shortly (not a pun) after I started, it's like we had parked along an interstate highway. I'll spare you the photo.

Yesterday, we left the anchorage at 9 am and started back south. We travelled about 60 miles, and stopped at 4 pm. As it turns out, the hurricane isn't headed this way, but the wind had picked up on the open areas of Pamlico Sound.

Going through Goose Creek, I thought the Coast Guard was wake-boarding again, but they were just out patrolling. They had probably received reports of indecent exposure.

Found another peaceful anchorage last night in South River.

At least we thought it was peaceful until the helicopter. After dark there were two objects circling the boat. One was a helicopter, and the other had some dim lights glowing like nothing I'd ever seen before--at least not on this planet. Of course, it didn't show up in the photos.