So this morning we are up at 5:30 AM looking for the 142 bass boats who were here. I know it's not a good picture but think...just up...looking out the aft and you see this
The fishermen were waiting for True Light (7AM), someone sang the National Anthem and then the boats left every minute
Rik visited with a gentleman from KY and he told us all about Bass boats and Bass tournaments. In exchange we gave him a "hot" cup of coffee. Steve you would have loved this....
124th to leave
We are departing at 8:45 AM today as we are waiting for a barge to lock thru Wilson. 8 Loopers will be locking thru at 9AM....the rest at 11AM...Here we go....with Water Music behind us...
We have a very good friend with us today. Miss Faye has joined us for our cruise to Joe Wheeler. You can see Saddi is showing her the ropes
OK now for Lock Two....Wilson Lock and Dam....we are leaving Pickwick Lake and will be entering Wilson Lake
Wilson Lock is the world's highest single lift lock. It now ranks sixth in the US...built in the 1950s. This is a 93-foot-high lift, has an unstream gate that lowers. Oh me I'm ready with my gloves, life jacket and fender out, lines ready to catch the bollard.
coming in
gate closing
Bollard....looking up.......
Waiting for the gate to lower
30 minutes from the time the gate closed to the time the gate opened....tells you how FAST we went UP... Wilson Lake is the shortest of all the lakes on the Tennessee. It's one of the deepest with water depths up to 125 feet. Beautiful homes surround the lake but the haze on the water prevented pictures.
Lock Three...Joe Wheeler Lock is a 48-foot lift.
Joe Wheeler Dam is only 72 feet high and is the lowest of all the dams on the Tennessee. But, with a length of 6,349 feet it's the third longest. Construction began in 1933 and was completed in 1936.
Going In
Closing the Gate
There was lots of wind in the lock but I'm getting this locking down....Took over 30 minutes again
Wheeler Lake is 74 miles long but we are just going to the First Creek (on the port) to Joe Wheeler State Park Marine where we will be until October 24th.
We arrive with the wind blowing, loopers everywhere and it is a stern docking...plus we were sharing a dock....Well, Capt Rik put the Nanseann into her slip and with the help of fellow loopers lines were tied and we were docked. This was a 22 mile day.....four hour run from Florence...and the boat we are sharing the slip with are from KY Lake Dam Marina...
Gerald and Faye fixed dinner at the campground that evening...Chicken on the Grill with all the trimmings. Faye fixed a "new" dessert called SIN and it was sinful. Saddi came along (in Gerald's truck), walked the loop, watched the campfire and rolled in the dirt. She even had bites of chicken but no dessert. (watching her weight)
Beautiful day....the best of two worlds....Boating and Camping....
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