The sun is just rising as we look around our "bed" for last night and find a quiet channel on the south side of Cuba Toehead. Tom takes down our make-shift mast light and pulls the anchor and we are headed south up the Tennessee River. This river is another backwards rivers that flows from south to north. The red markers are on the our right no
t left side.
t left side. 
Along the way we see a new type of dolphin. What's a dolphin? It is a very secure structure used by barges to tie up and looks like a large concrete drum. These are taller which allows for changing river levels.
Twenty two miles and we are at the Kentucky Lock and Dam. It is a very deep lock with a 57 foot lift. Tom calls the Lockmaster and keeps his fingers crossed that we will not have to wait hours. The Lockmaster says, "I'll get everything ready and you can drive right in!" Tom pushed the throttles full forward and we took off for the Lock in joyful surprise.
We drive in, pick a bollard, the lower gate closes and the water quickly fills the 58 foot well. We felt like royalty! We are so happy we chose the short route on the Tennessee (versus the Cumberland) and risked a long wait!
Kentucky Lake is one of the largest man-made bodies of water in the world covering 160,000 acres with 2,380 miles of shoreline. We will travel more than 240 miles on Kentucky Lake to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
As we head up the lake
and then move to the west coast but find it very shallow (3 feet). It is very important to be on the correct side of the markers. The barges travel along the east side of the lake but we are headed for mile Bear Creek at Mile 31 on the west coast. Sailboats dot the lake and motor boats roar by us. Neat, well kept cottages are built high above the water line.
and then move to the west coast but find it very shallow (3 feet). It is very important to be on the correct side of the markers. The barges travel along the east side of the lake but we are headed for mile Bear Creek at Mile 31 on the west coast. Sailboats dot the lake and motor boats roar by us. Neat, well kept cottages are built high above the water line.
Docks are sprinkled in the coves. We reach Bear Creek Cove and turn in to the Moors Marina and Resort, Catrina's home for the next couple weeks.
It is time for Tom and Debbie to get back to the real world (shutter). We need to take our truck-camper-boat to Florida. After 32 days, we have traveled about 600 miles in the great lakes, 627 miles on the Chicago, Illinois, Des Plaines, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Rivers. We have passed through, over or around 14 locks. We have made many good friends and shared many new experiences. When we return in November we will continue our blog for 634 miles on Rivers and 14 locks and then a trip across the Gulf to Crystal River.
