Days 141

Pebble Isle Marina TN - Clifton TN

Start 7:20 AM
End 3:40 PM
Underway 8:20 Hours
Distance 55 miles
Total Miles on Trip 2751
Av Speed 6.5 knots
Locks 0
Weather Rainy/Cloudy , 71 Degrees, Wind 6Kn SSW

Today's trip was longer than we have done for some time, but it was a very easy day. We left in a heavy rain. Within an hour of leaving the rain changed to a drizzle and by 10AM it was gone entirely.

Every day the Tennessee River gets prettier. The banks of the river are now lined with homes and campsites. Very often mixed in the same area. The banks are also lined with yellow and orange limestone bluffs. It is interesting seeing the ingenuity people have used to install stairs and docks to reach the water. We have not seen many tows on the Tennessee and today we only passed one. Unlike the other inland rivers, the tows on here do not seem to answer when we call them on the radio. We had to wait for him to contact us for passing directions.

One bit of clarification, This section of the Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake are the same. Kentucky Lake was formed when the Corp of Engineers dammed the Tennessee River. The section or the Tennessee River between Pickwick Lock & Dam and the Kentucky Lock & Dam is Kentucky Lake.

We spent the night at Clifton Marina & RV park. It is a small marina that was built in a partnership with the town and a private marina. The marina has a small bar & grill with live music on Friday nights. The first pleasant surprise was the restaurant was open. Many of the restaurants on the water have been closed, because the season is coming to the end. The second was the food was out of this world. I expected typical bar food, it was anything but. Ribeye Steaks, Rack of Lamb, and several other choices. As the owners daughter-in-law, went over the menu choices got harder and harder. My choice of Tortellini with Andouille Sausage and Shiitake Mushrooms in a White Cajun Cream Sauce was perfect.

After dinner we called it a night, tomorrow will be another early day. We are leaving at first light to go to Grand Haven Harbor, 57 miles with one lock to go through.