Day 21 - October 10 – Kentucky Lake

It was time to leave Green Turtle Bay and as we were pulling out of the harbor, we looked back and there behind us were our friends Paul and Emy from Restless Wind. It just seem so natural that they would be following us as this is how we made our way down the Illinois Waterways. However this time they were headed to another marina on Kentucky Lake and we were headed south to the Great Loopers Rendezvous at Joe Wheeler State Park in northern Alabama.

Both Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake are everything wonderful that people say about them and more. I tried to take pictures but the shots just did not do justice to the shoreline and truly natural beauty of the area. There is almost no development visible from the lakes so the shoreline is pristine. There are all sorts of coves and inlets that make anchoring out the thing to do. Next time I think we will spend less time at a marina and more time anchoring in these cozy little hideaways. Ideally we would have liked to spend a week or more just exploring Kentucky Lake. There are wonderful places to discover with the dinghy and what a romantic way to spend some quality time! Alas, next time…



The aspect of Kentucky Lake that I found to be the most interesting was the way that commercial and recreational craft share the same waters. Basically the Tennessee River runs through Kentucky Lake almost like an invisible highway. As we traveled south, the “river channel” was very clearly marked and this is where we stayed along with the barge traffic that we encountered. All around us we saw fishermen, jet skis, houseboats and sailboats enjoying the same water space but outside the designated traffic lane.

About 4p, Mark found this wonderful little inlet, almost like a water cul de sac for us to anchor for the evening. Mark and I have literally fallen in love with anchoring out. This evening Mark grilled steak and salmon on the gas grill and we ate dinner as we watched as the sun slowly set. There is simply nothing like this solitude for a sense of true peace and calm. My idea of heaven is to fall asleep while gently bobbing in the water.

Hours on the water: 6
Nautical miles traveled: 45
Number of locks: 0
Time spent waiting at locks: 0
Tomorrow's Destination: Somewhere down the river
What we're listening to: I am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe
What we watched: 0
Lesson for the day: There is nothing more beautiful than a sunset
Obligatory knitting report: Mittens for Wunder Kids