Day 115: November 10: It was pretty chilly and overcast this morning. Radar says we will have light rain for a few hours; not always the best conditions to travel in but we will manage. We pulled anchor and left Booker T. Washington park at 8:00am and made our way onto Chicamauga Lake. The small boat that shared the anchorage with us last night also got UW, heading in the opposite direction.
While we are much warmer than we were in Michigan, and we have had some beautiful sunny days, I still keep yearning for real summer like weather. This back and forth with sweatshirts and T-shirts, drizzle and sun are for the birds. Come to think of it, even flocks of them are heading south to escape the winter chill.
Our cruise along the lake was enjoyable despite the inclimate weather; the rain slowed then stopped after a few hours. Fishermen weren't bothered by the rain, dotting the river's edge and zipping back and forth chasing the elusive fish. They troll along so close to the banks that we sometimes have a hard time seeing them as they blend in with the environment.
Once the rain stopped and the skies became clearer, the brilliant colors on small specks of land brightened our way. Seeing such lovely sites makes every trip worth it, even in not so perfect conditions.
John called the Watts Bar Lock located at Tennessee River mile 529.9 which is halfway between Chattanooga and Knoxville where we are headed! Construction of this lock began in 1939 and it was put into operation in 1942. It got its name from nearby Watts Island and the fact that there were many sandbars in the area at one time. The sandbars were a landmark known to early river pilots and appeared on all early charts. In 1956 a highway was built across the dam. When you are in the lock it is something to hear cars thundering overhead. The first time you hear it, you look around, wondering where the noise is coming from. The lock seems huge as does so many that we have passed through. Its maximum lift is 70' with normal lift of 58'.
Once through the lock we made our way to the abandoned Watts Bar Resort. The once thriving resort had its beginnings in 1939 when cabins were built as temporary housing for those who had worked on the Watts dam. When the cabins were no longer needed, a man named Pete Smith bought and renovated the property, turning it into a unique resort. It was a seasonal enterprise and offered cabins, a pool, tennis courts, boating, fishing, a restaurant and more. Eventually Smith sold the property to two brothers from Illinois who ran the place through the 80's until abandoning it. Buildings have since been bulldozed under and all that is left are the floating docks.
We slowly entered the inlet, always wary of shallow waters or debris lurking under the surface. Fortunately we experienced easy access and easy entry, actually noting about 10' all the way in. The two floating docks (one about 100 feet in length) had plenty of cleats. Although weathered and battered in some spots, the docks were a perfect spot for Loopers on the lookout for a place to drop the hook or tie up.
Sandra and I took a quick walk up through the woods, hoping to find one of the old buildings; we were disappointed but did find a beautiful path. There was a cement platform left behind for the resort's glory days; we knew it would be a perfect spot for a fire so we collected wood, planning on having a campfire after dinner.
Everyone tried their luck at catching fish, casting for awhile. David fooled everyone, finding a dead striped bass floating around the dock. John was surprised to see such a large striper in fresh water. David eld it up as though it was a great catch. He had us fooled for a minute! Although it was dead, it made good bait for a trot line he also found on the dock. Obviously someone had left it behind, probably frustrated after not catching his dinner.
David explained a trot line is a heavy fishing line with baited hooks tied to it every foot or so. The line is then left in the water until a fish is caught. He spent some time unraveling it and baiting it with pieces of the dead striper then tossed it in for the night. I was hopeful we will be having catfish for dinner tomorrow.
While John and David were not successful, Sandra was. We heard a yell and saw she was reeling in a fish. Great fun as she pulled in a small mouth bass, showing off in front of the guys.
After dinner we built the campfire. It took no time for it to become a perfect fire, hot coals just ready for cooking! (Next time I guess). John was asleep in his chair and I believe the rest of us nodded off for a bit.
We called it a night although I'm sure we could have just brought sleeping bags out and stayed put!
We are making great progress along the Tennessee as we make our way to Knoxville! Today we traveled 50 NM in 7 hours.
Comments
Post a Comment