Days 125

Bean Branch Creek Anchorage - Paducah City Dock

• Start 7:20 AM
• End 10:20 PM
• Underway 3:00 Hours
• Distance 16 miles
• Total Miles on Trip 2343
• Av Speed 5.3 knots
• Locks 0
• Weather Sunny, 62 Degrees, Wind 3Kn SE

Today's run was a very short run, compared to what we have been doing. (Mostly because we pushed how far we went yesterday). We still chose an early departure so we would have time to explore Puducah.

The docks at Puducah were incredible, the pilings that hold the docks in place are around 70' tall and at least 4' round. The ramps coming down to the docks, have three levels and each section is designed to float as the river rises. The docks are only five years old, and were built with a federal grant. They are easily the best docks we have come across so far. It is also a very important stop for many loopers. It is the first place in over 200 miles to get fuel. Without this stop some boats would not be able to do the loop.

Adam, who works for the city, was at the dock to assist us as we came in, was great. After helping us tie up and setup our electric, he even took our trash for us.

We went out to Broussard's Cajun Cuisine for lunch with Mark & Karen (KayDee), Marvin & Nancy (Crimson Tug). If you ever go to Paducah, I highly recommend eating here the etouffee was out of this world and the bread pudding was just as good.

When we started this trip, I had told Angel we would end up going to some odd museums and such just for something to do and I figured our next stop was going to be one of them. After lunch most of us (Mark insisted on going back to wash his boat) went to the National Quilt Museum. How wrong I was. The quilts were amazing, they truly were works of art. From the designing and planning of them, to the time and skill in making them. There were some that did not appeal to me but even those I had to admire what it took to make them. Then there was the section on 9/11 with 26 quilts from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. That alone was reason enough to visit the museum.

The best part of Paducah, was when Nick & Ginger (Ginger Gale) and Teresa joined us for dinner. We had not seen Nick & Ginger in over a month, and we have not seen Teresa since July when we were in Mackinaw Island. Nick and Ginger had gone home for a month, and Teresa brought them back to their boat in Green Turtle Bay (GTB). Paducah is a 30 minute car ride from GTB, and a 6 hour boat ride. We will be going to GTB tomorrow and traveling with Ginger Gale and Kay Dee to Nashville from there.