For Kevennie

With a cloudy Monday morning, we had to wait until about 7:45 for enough light to comfortably leave Poland Creek.  The threatening weather turned into a short blow just before midnight, and just a little bit of rain last night.  So after drying off everything enough to travel by, we were on our way.  We timed it perfectly, by accident, arriving at Fort Louden Lock just before 10:00 a.m. when they opened.  "Makin Memories" was already in front of the lock to claim their position, along with "McTug".  We seemed to have the lock master confused since the other four boats pulled out of Fort Louden Marina, including "Playin Hooky" and "Off the Radar", but we did get permission to raft to "Makin Memories" while the rest of them rafted together on another bollard.  By 11:00 the lock doors were open and we were free to leave.  We took up the caboose even after talking to "McTug" on the VHF radio.  We talked to them the weekend before last at Whine on the Dock as they are Loopers and they noticed our gold flag, so I thought maybe we could hook up at anchor this evening and give them some pointers, especially on the Tenn-Tom since we are so well versed on that water by now.  They seemed to be in a hurry at seven miles per hour though since they informed us they were going as far as possible tonight with Joe Wheeler State Park on their itinerary for Saturday night.  Obviously trying to make the rendezvous, but part of doing the loop is not being in a hurry though, isn't it?  Good for them though that they took this side trip all the way to Knoxville!  If anyone knows them, I have lots of pictures of them thinking we would hook up tonight.
No one left in sight, we just meandered down the Tennessee River listening to the bear hunters from Tellico on VHF channel 68.  I feel like I learned some of the lingo and will be ready to hunt with Doyle next winter.
Just after 1:00 p.m. we were traversing under I-75. Just before the Highway 30 bridge in Kingston is where you will find the ultimate Tennessee fan on the water.

Took these pictures for Kevennie

It was thankfully an uneventful day of travel.  We entered Martins Branch for our intended anchorage for the night, but could not find a comfortable depth with swinging room in the NNW winds that picked up.  We tried the next slough, which was a first class harbor, usually a good indication, but it was too deep for comfortable swinging room also.  Hoping third time is a charm, we tried the next slough.  Sharon said it was their favorite, so that was encouraging.  It facing directly north was encouraging.  We slid in there for quite a ways but found 16 feet of depth which seemed like the best we were going to get and you would never know the wind was blowing except for the sound in the trees.  It all seemed perfect except for the rock banks on the way in, sometimes indicating a rock bottom, but the anchor stuck immediately.  We were snuggled in after 10 hours and 66 miles of travel.  There seemed to be just enough sunlight left in this small cove to shave legs by lake water in a bucket.  Spike had better ideas for that lake water though, as he drank it like he was thirsting to death after spending all day under the couch as he normally does while underway.

After the Party

Our neighbors seemed to have had a good time until about 3:30 a.m.  Therefore they were not so happy when rafters were wanting to depart starting at about 8:00 a.m.  Our row diminished throughout the morning.  The first to effect us was "Flynn Stones", but they were not able to leave as early as they wanted.  The morning fog kept them tied until about 9:30 a.m.  We had to make an extra long bow line to go around their stern as they pulled out forward.  Stuart from "Making Memories" and Byron from "Marilyn Ann" pulled us over to "Marilyn Ann" to close up the gap.  Byron got the short end of the rope so to speak as it was not real easy pulling our three remaining boats while our anchor was tightening.  Not too much later "Making Memories" and "Marilyn Ann" decided they were going to pull out.  Since the rest of us three were not ready and our anchors were tight, we just decided to anchor out in the river for a while.  Once the other two boats pulled away from us, the wind changed direction to fight the flow of the river, we were sitting sideways on the river with the potential to swing into the bridge.  Just about that time Bill and Rita Livezey showed up to pick up Ray.  We decided the best way to get Ray to shore was to pull up to Volunteer Marina.  With the ice machine staring at us, we decided to get a couple bags too.  So not really as planned, we were underway just before 11:00 a.m.  Most boats were courteous as they passed us, with the exception of one, but the VHF radio was almost a comedy of boaters talking to the wrong boats.  Linda and Joyce meandered downstream at a leisurely pace with the south winds pushing us at times and fighting us at times.  Four and a half hours of travel to go 28 miles and we were once again anchored in Poland Creek.  We enjoyed this anchorage on the way up, knew the holding was good, and knew we could get some ice.  We wanted good protection and holding as a cold front is supposed to come through tonight with some possible wind and thunderstorms.  The cold air coming behind it made us decide we probably did not need any more ice as it doesn't sound like it will melt too much in the coming days.

Happy Birthday to me!

The rows of boats rafted behind us as we are the farthest line upstream.  Stadium in the background.

I don't usually blog on days that we don't travel on the boat, but since this is what we came for, I thought I would share.

The Watsons and Kevennie showed up in the morning for some boater tailgating.  We walked up to Calhoun's for lunch.  With an hour and a half wait for a table for 12, Linda and Joyce walked up to the Farmer's Market downtown.  Got back with our vegetables just in time to get seated.

The Watsons had a couple extra game tickets so we decided to go and watch the game in person.  What a great game it was!  We baked ourselves in the sun until half time when the shade thankfully reached us to give us some relief for the second half.  Good thing because the way the game was going we were sweating enough.

Let's get this party started!

After the game we enjoyed some chili and birthday cake thanks to "Making Memories".  We called it an early night after staying up dancing until 2:00 a.m. last night.  Those on the boat next to us might have been getting us back though.  It wasn't much of a peaceful night's sleep until about 3:30 a.m., but that's what everyone came for, right?!

Vol Navy

Of course at planned departure time the fog was so thick we could not see a thing.  Didn't even know which way was out of Poland Creek.  So much for staying ahead of our friends so that we could meet up in Knoxville at the same time to raft together.  We all left about the same time, just after 9:00 a.m., but "Making Memories" and "Marilyn Ann" were doing about 20 miles per hour.  Not real sure how they were as the fog was still pretty thick for about a half hour, but it did not take long for them to pass us.  Just before we reached Knoxville "Flynn Stones" passed us also, so they rafted to "Marilyn Ann" who was rafted to "Making Memories" who was rafted to a couple of house boats as far up as they could get on Calhoun's dock.  After four hours of travel we rafted to "Flynn Stones".  Marine Max hosted a wonderful party at Calhoun's in the evening.

Approaching Knoxville

Get ready for game day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This is how boaters tailgate!

Poland

Our crew of three lifted anchor just after seven o'clock this morning.  Thankfully there was no fog.  We ended up about the same distance ahead of "Making Memories" and "Marilyn Ann" again today.  At 11:00 a.m. we were traveling under I-75.  "Making Memories" and "Marilyn Ann" passed us just before Fort Louden Lock, so we were the third boat in the lock for a 72 foot lift.  Those guys pulled off into Fort Louden Marina just after departure from the lock around 3:00 p.m.  We continued on up river about 20 more miles and anchored in Poland Creek near the campground of the same name a couple hours later.  Ray almost immediately got the dinghy down to take the trash to shore and see if we could possibly buy ice at the campground.  Sure enough, despite being a small campground, the camp host office had an ice machine there so we bought four bags.  Back at the boat, Linda decided to carve the two pumpkins to get ready for the game.  The girls made another trip to shore to dispose of more trash, mainly the pumpkin innards.

Where There's a Will, There's a Way

Linda & her mom, Joyce, pulled anchor out of the Hiwassee River at 7:40 a.m.  By 8:05 a.m. we were on the Tennessee River.  It was a foggy morning until about 10:00 a.m., but we had at least a half mile to mile visibility.  "Making Memories" and "Marilyn Ann" were about 11 miles back as they stopped at Shady Grove last night.  Ray's work crew decided to go hunting the rest of the week, so he got up at 3:30 a.m. to drive to The Livezey's so Bill could drop him off at Shady Grove Marina.  We decided Ray could ride with "Making Memories" to our planned anchorage, where we would raft together and Ray could get on board "The Second Noelle".  Our timing was perfect for meeting up at Watts Bar Lock, so Linda got permission from the lockmaster to raft to "Making Memories" in the lock so Ray could get on board "The Second Noelle" just in time for lunch.  We lifted 59 feet in the lock along with "Marilyn Ann" and "Shored Up III" also.  By 1:30 p.m. the lock doors were open and we took up the tail.  By the time we got to Iron Hill Secondary Channel Cut-off, Marine Max was right behind us.  They got delayed at Chickamauga Lock this morning, but still made it through Chickamauga Lake pool in two hours.  They let us get though the cut before they took off again.  Since our timing worked out so well today, we decided to anchor a little farther up river than "Making Memories" and "Marilyn Ann", and not raft with them as we originally planned.  So we dropped anchor just before 5:00 p.m. in a first class harbor at Tennessee River mile 561.3.  It was a peaceful evening despite the neighbor cutting his lawn and finishing his yard work until just past dark.

Boat Divided

For the first time, "The Second Noelle" is taking a trip to Knoxville for the Georgia/Tennessee football game.  The boat has only been to Knoxville one time before.  At this time of year "The Second Noelle" is usually departing to head south for the winter.

Someone has to work around here, so Ray is in Murphy, North Carolina while Linda and her mom pulled out of slip CRO5 at Gold Point Marina at 7:45 a.m.  First order of business for the crew was to pump out.  A half hour later we were underway making way.  It was a cool, cloudy morning which really did not warm up until we were near our destination for the night.  Nothing eventful on the 31 mile trip.  We tried pulling off to anchor in a couple places on the Hiwassee River, but finally opted for mile 2.7 where we anchored with friends for the Labor Day weekend.  By 1:30 p.m. the anchor was set and the sun was quite warm.  We spent the afternoon rag tatting and watching the few other folks out on the water.

Boat divided.  Trying to keep peace with the lock masters while still showing our true colors.

These are temporary until we make it through the locks, then they will be carved with G's!