And, Yes, Chattanooga We’re Still On Our Way

October 22, 23, 24, 2011

October 22
Some days just don't co-operate with the big plan.  Oh, I forgot -- this is our new life:  no plan, no schedule!  It's hard to break those habits after so many years of regiment and deadlines.  So, what I meant to say is -- We didn't get off at the crack of dawn like we had anticipated.  The fog was very thick this morning.  It was so thick that the fishing tournament boats had to wait around an extra hour.  Then, once they were released -- in a very orderly manner (most of another hour) we left the marina with seven boats that were on their way to the Great Circle Rendezvous.  

It is very difficult to get any sense of how large these
locks are.  The water will cover all of the dark
section of the doors

Look very carefully and you will see the 3M logo
on the water tower

The water was extremely calm with no wind -- while we waited for a lock to open we turned off the engine and just sat enjoying the quiet. Our first lock of the day was Wilson. We were lifted over 100 feet. I think this will be the biggest lift that we will go through. When Wilson was built it was the largest dam in the world. Even after all of these years, it is still number three behind one on the Snake River in Washington and another one in Eastern Europe.  

We ended the day in Decatur, Alabama, after passing a 3M plant that Brian used to visit in his previous life. 

October 23 



The morning started clear and sunny.  We were surprised that there was no fog.  As we left the marina, we could see a few wisps, but nothing to concern us.  Soon it was so thick that we couldn’t see anything in front of us.  The sun was still shining and its brightness was magnified by the fog and water.  It was like staring directly at a high wattage light bulb.  Luckily we have radar, AIS (Automatic Identification System) and electronic charts.  Within twenty minutes the fog lifted and we were on to smooth sailing.



The fog is lifting

Huntsville is the only commercial area that we passed today.  It was critical to our space program.  This is where Wernher Von Braun worked at the Marshall Space and Flight Center.  He is responsible for bringing the United States into the space age as the chief architect of the Saturn V launch vehicle that propelled the Apollo spacecraft to the moon.   

Unfortunately, this is all we saw of the
Marshall Space Center





Although there are narrow sections of the Tennessee River, the dams have formed beautiful wide pools that are called lakes.  Each one has its own personality.  One might be primarily a wildlife preserve and another might be more residential, but all are fabulous recreational waterways.  Lake Wheeler, that we went through earlier today, has a National Wildlife Refuge (34,500 acres).  This is the southernmost wintering ground for Canada geese.  Guntersville Lake (76 miles long) also has state parks, but it is very residential.  By car this area is only about an hour from Chattanooga; making it very accessible for primary and secondary homes.  There is a wide variety of old and new houses, but no trailers on stilts.  This is definitely an upscale community! 



We’ve also seen a change in terrain.  The lake is now surrounded by wooded hills.  The foliage is still primarily green, but areas are showing fall color.  Large bays go for a mile or more off the main channel.  What we have seen the last few days gives us an entirely new impression of Alabama.  If you haven’t decided on a retirement location, check out the greater Chattanooga community.  The waterways are clean and abundant.  It is as beautiful as any river we have seen anywhere in the United States.  Previously, we had only seen Alabama from the Tombigbee.  It hardly seems like the same state!    





We found a perfect anchorage:  off the channel, behind an island off Mink Creek --- so quiet! 

October 24

Today’s river is  pretty much the same as yesterday except – the terrain is a little more dramatic, the hills are higher, the river banks a little wilder, the houses fewer and more moderate and the river narrower.  Other than that, it’s just like yesterday!  Oh, yes, and we crossed the state line -- we're back in Tennessee.

Near the end of the day we passed through the southern end of Sequatchie Valley.  This is one of two great rift valleys in the world.  The other one is the Great Victoria Valley in Africa.  Both were created when the earth's surface split apart.  The Sequatchie Valley is more than 125 miles long, but never more than five miles wide.  It's cliffs provide ideal conditions for hang gliding and it is known as the hang gliding capital of the east.  

The last map showed us entering Barkley Lake at the top of this map (the rivers form a circle). 
We have now gone through part of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and back into Tennessee
on the Tennessee River.
Chattanooga tomorrow!!!

1350 miles in less than a month -- We're smokin!!!!

Gotta smile -- we're lovin the ride!