OCT 4-6,2011- GREEN TURTLE BAY TO BARKLEY STATE PARK, KY TO CLARKSVILLE TOWN DOCK TO NASHVILLE TOWN DOCK, TN

Onward up the Cumberland River to Nashville we go!

LEAVING OUR SLIP AT GREEN TURTLE BAY

TERRI AT THE HELM ON THE FLY BRIDGE ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY

KENTUCKY STATE PRISON

LOOKING DOWN FROM ABOVE WHILE WE ARE UNDERWAY

WINDING CHANNEL ON LAKE BARKLEY

Barkley State Park Marina turned out to be more of an endurance test to passing boaters than anything. As it was only 30 miles from Green Turtle Bay, it was a natural stop on this trip to Nashville for those who departed late. That would be us as it was after noon when we finally departed. We had to wait around for the overnight courier to arrive with our much needed parts. Don’t ask!  We arrived at the marina in good time, three dock hands and a very empty marina. The dock hands helped us dock and were very friendly. Go on into the office and register we were told and don’t forget your proof of insurance. We had to have at least $30,000 in liability insurance in order to be privileged enough to dock here. We carry $2,000,000 but who is counting.  After we had dispensed with the niceties the two ladies behind the counter passed the bill to me and I pulled out my well-worn Visa Card. Oh no we don’t accept credit cards at all. Just cash and for your convenience we happen to have an ATM machine right over here. I looked at Terri thinking to my self is this a scam or a joke. Seeing no cameras and Terri shrugging her shoulders I pulled out the cash and paid the bill taking an extra careful look at the receipt. It looked legitimate so we are good to go. We received our slip assignment that appeared to be the furthest possible slip that we could have been assigned to. Third building back, turn right and you are in dock two. Are the docks numbered I asked? Oh yea, the number is right on the dock, for sure, can’t miss it. Great will there be someone there to help us. Help you what? To dock I said. Oh you want help, you want us to walk all of the way around there? Remember there is a total of 5 staff members that we have met and we are the only customer. I start to hear Banjo’s in my mind and say ah don’t worry about it eh! What, the clerk said in her southern drawl? We will manage Terri offered. So we are politely helped off of the gas dock by the three dock hands and we set off to find our assigned slip. Banjo music, getting louder now. We followed directions but could see no dock numbers. Banjo music gets louder still. Since we are alone with no one to help us, we reason that dock number two must be the second dock from the end. There are about ten empty slips all around us and it shouldn’t be a big deal even if we are wrong. There was no wind or current to speak of so docking was not a big deal. Banjos fade. We quickly get the boat tied up and next came the shore power cord. After I fought my way through a family of spiders and their associated cob webs I found the appropriate receptacle that appeared to be hanging by its wires. Oh and under all of the cob webs on the electrical dock fixture I see a big number three. Banjos are really loud now. I did manage to get hooked up to the electricity and no one has asked us to move. We did enjoy the rest of the evening and we were glad to be gone first thing in the morning.

ISLAND WILL BE GONE WITH THE NEXT MAJOR FLOOD

BALD EAGLE

MORE VANISHING LAND

Clarksville turned out to be a very nice city dock. It was made of concrete and floated parallel to the river current which made docking and un-docking routine. When we arrived and got settled we noticed there was something a little peculiar with the shore power here. It seemed to be supplying one of the two main circuits on the boat. This meant we had to do without air-conditioning or start the generator or move the boat about 80 feet to the next power source. Move we did and all was well. We broke out the chairs and had our own little dock party. Terri was worried about us having cocktails on the dock as this was a dry town (we think). After a wine spritzer she worried no more. We were just starting to feel relaxed when I spotted two big burly men walking down the dock towards us. There was no mistaking they wanted to talk to us. The first man, a big man introduced himself as Gene Killinger a former Sea Ray Boat dealer from Florida. Gene and his friend Mike Engel were travelling this portion of the Cumberland in a Pontoon Boat, stopping nightly at different hotels along the river. He was so intrigued with our vessel that he just had to come and see it for himself. He asked for a tour and of course I obliged and he wanted to show his gratitude in some way. So as he still owned a marina in Florida he offered us free dockage for the boat when we returned home in Dec. Quite an offer and Terri and I will have to decide after looking at the charts and doing the geography. They left after hearty handshakes and promises to meet up the river someday.

FLOOD DAMAGE TO A COAL UNLOADING DEPOT

GENE KILLINGER AND MIKE ENGEL

TERRI AND SMUDGE AND OUR OWN LITTLE DOCK PARTY

TERRMAR AT REST IN CLARKESVILLE TN.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

After our pork chop dinner we were just settling in for an episode of the Walton’s before retiring. I was doing the dishes when I saw a bright shining face looking through the window at me and waving from the dock. It was a young girl about 18 years of age and I went out to talk to her. “Please” she said my girlfriend is an aspiring model and we are putting together a portfolio for her. “Can we please take a few pictures of her in front of your boat” No problem what harm can it do. She jumps up and down, gyrating and screaming and waving her arms like young girls are want to do. The next thing I knew there were 6 locals 3 boys and 3 girls, all around 20 years old and all very polite and easy to talk to. They took a few dozen pictures and then the original girl and now spokesman for the group pointed up to the fly-bridge. “What’s up there” she smiled. One of the young men trying to appear nautical answered “They drive the boat from up there”. I knew what was coming next and relented before the words were completely out of their mouths. So, Miss Future Superstar and Mr. Photographer both clambered up the side of the boat and commenced taking their photos. “Pose with the Canadian Flag” I suggested. Of course they did while the cheering section left on the ground with me continued their squeals of delight as this would be a definite plus for superstar’s portfolio as no one else knew there was such a thing as Canada much less a Canadian flag. They had their fun and reviewed some of the photos before they proclaimed themselves done or cool or something like that. They all shook my hand and politely offered their thanks and were gone as quickly as they had descended. What a day! I am looking forward to the Walton’s and then some much needed rest.

THIS ISN'T EVEN THE SUPERSTAR

SUPERSTAR AND A CANADIAN FLAG

SUPERSTAR DESCENDING THE STEPS




SUPERSTAR AND ENTOURAGE 

A NEW MARINA ALMOST COMPLETE IN CLARKESVILLE

MORE CLIFFS

HOUSE ON A CLIFF

NEW GAS BARGE READY FOR LAUNCH



Half way through the episode and after dark had descended upon us there is a knock on the hull. There is 5 people 3 adults and 2 children standing there looking at me. It seems that Raoul the youngest of the bunch at about 4 years of age had made a great fuss to his parents about the boat. He just had to get on one or even in one if he could they said. Here hand him to me I said and in a flash he was in my arms squirming to get down on his own two feet. I let him down and he looked at Smudges Pee-Pad and then at me as if to say “what is that”. His eyes then fell upon the aft door as he wanted to go in. “No no not tonight” I said and scooped him up holding him and answering all of his questions. Everything I said was interpreted into Spanish for the one person present that did not speak English. They left telling me that there was no boat like that in Puerto Rico and how they wished that there was. Soon enough they were gone and young Raoul seemed content as he rested upon his father’s shoulder as they quietly slipped away. I am getting goose bumps writing this and I am not sure if it is the story, or the fact that there is a fresh breeze cooling me down.

Well that’s all folks,

Sleep tight!

Mark