Day 106: From Green Turtle Bay to Cane Creek

Another month has flown by: Here is a summary of October's travels.

We left Charlevoix, MI on October 1 with Summer Fling and Karla B, all heading for Leland. Zendeavor was also enroute, having left Petosky earlier that morning. From Charlevoix on the 1st until our 2nd day at Green Turtle Bay Marina in KY on October 31, we journeyed from Charlevoix to Leland. Leaving Leland we passed by Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Manitou Islands, pulling into Manistee late in the day on October 3. Due to weather and Lake Michigan's angry seas, we were not able to leave Manistee until October11. Pulled into Grand Haven for a night; left on October 12, pulling into West Basin Marine for fuel in St. Joseph where we stayed on a free wall for 2 nights before being escorted to a private dock by a harbor host. We were not able to leave St. Joseph until October 17, once again due to the lake's nasty conditions. Cut across Lake Michigan on the 17th, landing in Hammond, Indiana where we stayed for two nights. We left Hammond with AGLCA flotilla 13 on October 20; traveled the Calumet River, Cal-Sag Channel, Chicago Sanitary Channel to Joliet on the Illinois River. Once through the Brandon, Dresdon and Marseilles locks we docked in Heritage Harbor in Ottawa. In the morning we left, locked through Starved Rock lock and continued to Peoria Lake onto the Mississippi River to the Ohio to the Cumberland at Green Turtle Bay Marina in Grand Rivers, KY. 

Illinois Waterway Locks:              Upper Mississippi                    Ohio.                Cumberland

Lockport                                        Mel Price                                 Olmsted.           Barkley

Brandon Road                                Chain of Rocks

Dresden Island

Marseilles

Starved Rock

Peoria

La Grange

                  Nautical Miles                 Statute Miles                 Hours UW                 Duration Hours

July            469.50                               540.29                           66.06                          74.15

August.      489.90                               563.77                           74.00                          79.22       

Sept            493.60                              567.33                            67.58                          69.38                

Oct             849.90                               978.05                          112.00                       113.59

Day 106: November 1: Cold temperatures and sea smoke creating an eerie morning. Summer Fling, Zendeavor and we got UW at 9:00am, leaving Green Turtle behind us. 

Outside the entrance to Green Turtle Bay Marina

Once out of the harbor entrance we traveled a short distance before turning to starboard, entering Barkley Canal. This 1.5 mile long canal connects Lake Barkley on the Cumberland River (which runs through Lake Barkley) with Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River. (which runs through the Kentucky Lake). The waters in these lakes are clean and clear and full of fish. We see them jumping everywhere but unfortunately not into our boat. 

There is a piece of land between the two lakes to the Southeast, appropriately called the Land Between the Lakes. This 17,000 acre parcel is rich in natural beauty and wildlife. The outdoor enthusiast will not be disappointed with a trip to this area; there are over 200 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, campgrounds and country roads. 

Kentucky Lake was shining like pure crystal. At this point we were heading upstream so the LDB was on our starboard side, meaning we needed to keep the red on the right. As the day rolled on the sun got higher in the sky and we were finally warming up. What a pleasant cruise with very few barges and the sun beaming in through the bimini windows. Finally the compass said "heading south"!

The Tennessee offered plenty of beautiful views! From sandy shores lined with trees to majestic hills, every turn delighted the eye. 

We pulled into Paris Landing State Park Marina in Buchanan, TN for fuel. We took on 212 gallons at $4.599 per gallon, one of the cheaper prices around, We actually could have taken on more but the lady in charge said her truck had not arrived yet so she was trying to share what was available amongst the many Loopers, asking us to only take 200 gallons. 

Blue Heron are everywhere; this one seems like he is used to having lots of people around as he was hanging out on the docks without a care in the world. 

We traveled 50 NM which equals 57.539 statute miles in 6.50 hours, arriving at Cane Creek in Stewart, TN, our chosen anchorage for the night. It was a great spot south of an old L&N railroad bridge. There was also an abandoned dock off to the starboard side as we pulled in.  

The bridge was built in 1931 and was a successor bridge to two others that were built on this site. With the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) dam and the Kentucky Lake, the bridge had to be raised in 1941. The tracks also had to be raised above water level leaving the approaches visible to all passing by. L&N eventually abandoned the line; today the bridge is a private residence (in the picture with a red roof). 

We dinghied to Zendeavor for chicken wings and bingo! We brought quarters and left them there! LOL.

Goodnight