Days 129

Green Turtle Bay, KY - Dover Island, TN Anchored

• Start 8:20 AM
• End 3:05 PM
• Underway 6:30 Hours
• Distance 50 miles
• Total Mil6s on Trip 2382
• Av Speed 7.7 knots
• Locks 0
• Weather Rainy, 68 Degrees, Wind 6Kn SW

We started our day by stopping at the fuel dock. One great thing about traveling with Mark & Karen (Kay Dee) and Nick & Ginger (Ginger Gale) is we travel much slower 7 - 8 knots and our fuel economy is about 50% better.

Today we traveled on the Cumberland River / Lake Barkley. Lake Barkley was formed when the Corp of Engineers built the Barkley Dam. The lake is very low, but that is normal for this time of year. They lower the lake level to prepare for the winter run off. While the lake is very wide, outside of the channel it is very shallow. They farther north we go the more the lake looks like a river and is much narrower and deeper.

One of the issues with the lake becoming narrower, is passing the tows. At one point as we neared a bend in the river, a tow called us, and asked us to wait where we were, until he passed us. As he came around the bend it looked like he was heading right for us, about 200 yards off our bow. I called him and asked if he wanted us to move, and he replied "as soon as my stern is clear of the rocks, I will move my nose off you" Wow can these guys handle their tows, 200 yards out and he just spins this 600' tow around.

One of the most impressive sites we passed was "Castle on the Cumberland" Built in the mid 1800's it is known as Kentucky State Prison. It is the only maximum security prison in Kentucky. It is an impressive building. I am not sure why the prisoners get to live on the waterfront.

While we were underway, Kay Dee (Who left earlier than us) called to tell is they were have an engine issue, and were stopping where they were to see if they could fix it. They hoped to be back underway in a day or two.

Most of the morning was raining on and off, but by early afternoon the son was out. We arrived at Dover Island, our anchorage around 3pm. After setting our anchor, Ginger Gale pulled alongside of us to raft out for the night. Dover Island was the perfect place to anchor. We were out of the main channel and there was plenty of water to swing on the anchor. Nick & Ginger joined us for burgers on the grill and martini's. As we cooked and ate, the fish were jumping around us. After dinner we sat on the back deck watching the sunset, and then the stars coming out. There were absolutely no lights and stars were stunning.

Tomorrow we our destination is Clarksville City Marina in Tennessee.