Monday, July 13, 2009

Back on the River- Fulton, MS to Aurora, Kentucky

After some time at home we're back on the boat and heading North. We currently have a boat slip reserved at Kenlake Marina in Aurora, KY on Kentucky Lake. This may be as far north as we go. Looking at the lack of facilities on the Ohio River and the strong current on the Mississippi combined with the fact that we will have a covered slip at Kenlake, we might just stop there. The covered slip helps a great deal with the summer sun and heat. From Kenlake we can cross the "Land Between the Lakes" and travel on the Cumberland toward Nashville if we decide to.
Day One-We moved 54 miles and through 3 locks from Fulton, MS to Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina near Counce, TN. We were parked where MS, TN and AL all come together. We spent two nights here. Gail enjoyed the pool.
Day Two-We passed through Pickwick Lock, our 31st lock and probably the last one for a while. We continued for 58 miles on the TN River to Clifton, TN. Here on the TN you're traveling North, but downstream and so the red and green buoys switched sides. Yes, it is confusing.
Day Three- Traveled 63 miles from Clifton, TN to Peeble Isle Marina near New Johnsonville, TN. Along the coast the porpoises played in our wake, here it is the jet skis and tubers pulled behind boats.
Day Four-We moved 54 miles to our destination of Kenlake marina. Luckily the heavy rain came after we were tied in the covered slip. Fuel here was $2.58. We averaged 2.34 MPG on this run.

"Smooth waters in Northern, MS"

"Wonder how they unload their pickup?"


"Inside our deepest lock-85 ft."



"Waterfront camping at Pickwick Lake"




"Built it himself on a pontoon boat, "Greenhouse", he has traveled all the way up from Carabelle, FL"




"Playdough is in MS, the houses are in TN and the land just right of the sunrise is in AL"



"You know you are back on the TN River when you see these steep rocky banks"



"What a tug looks like below the waterline"



"Tubers and jet skis play in our wake"


"An old loading dock that sat on the TN River before Kentucky Dam was built"



"Ferry crossing -since there are not many bridges across Kentucky Lake"


"Tugs up here push more barges, 25 here equals 1425 tractor trailer loads of coal"