More Rivers and Total Eclipse

As we headed up the Ohio we said goodbye to the Mississippi and our average 10 mph.  Going up the Ohio was slow going compared to the Mississippi but we pushed 56 miles to Paducah, which was as long a day as going 110 miles on the Mississippi.  We only had one lock to transit, Lock #53, the new Olmsted and Lock #52 were open but you must wait for an escort as it is considered a safety zone.  I was a little nervous at Lock # 53 because I knew we had a considerable rise and thought there might be a possibility of having to throw our line to the attendant.  Now you have to understand I can’t throw worth a darn so the thought of throwing a line that far was chilling!  But, no problems they did have a line to drop to us but I had already gotten creative with my trusty Boat Loop, I extended the hook and was able to lift the line to the attendant, and I have to say he was just a little impressed.  Love my new Boat Loop.  Locks 52 and 53 were built in 1928 and 1929 and will be closed when the new Olmsted Lock opens.  Paducah Marina was sort of open when we stayed there.  No showers or other amenities but we were able to stay there by going through Dockwa and self service fuel was available.  Reflexions came in after we left and had issues with electric and we heard they closed again to take care of that problem.  So last I heard they were again closed until September.  Chuck and Diane from the Bear were also at Paducah so I got to reunite with their Golden Doodle, Max. 

We have always had golden retrievers and I think I am drawn to Max because he reminds me of our dogs. 

The next day we traveled to Green Turtle Bay Marina.  But we were almost done with the Ohio and although the Cumberland is more cruising upriver the current isn’t as strong, at least that’s what we thought.  We were wrong, it was slower going than the Ohio, not sure why but we slowed down even more.  We were able to pick up our speed a little by playing the bends but it was slow going.  We had only Barkley Lock to get through and then about a mile to Green Turtle Bay.  We made it to Green Turtle Bay with a half tank of gas and had used 5/5 gallon Gerry cans to get there from Hoppies.  We have a fuel range of about 100 miles and a 14 gallon fuel tank, this stretch was mostly against the current.  We are now on Lake Barkley which is surprising deep, with a summer pool depth of 359 feet. 

Green Turtle Bay is a great marina and has over 400 slips.  We didn’t know until we arrived that we would be near the epicenter for the eclipse.  Very interesting, it was dark for a little over 2 minutes and looked like the sun has just set but instead of a little light peeking over the western horizon you could see that light on the horizon in a 360 degree circle.

Our cameras didn't do justice to the dark, as they brightened the pictured and it took us too long to figure out how to overcome this.  

I know you are all dying to know, did we go to Patty’s?  Well the answer is yes we went to Patty’s but no, for all you pork chop lovers, we passed on the pork chops as we don’t eat meat.  I love to smell cooking/grilling meat but we don’t eat it. 

We also rented a car and did the tourist thing and visited a few civil war sites.  We really enjoyed Fort Donelson the site of a Civil War battle which took place February 12-16, 1862.  It was a strategic battle for control of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers and the first major victory for the union and the little known Brigadier General Grant. 

We stayed a week at Green Turtle Bay and got to meet up with a lot of new friends we met on the river.  Lady Di, Neverland, Gypsy III, Bear, and Reflections and met quite a new friends.  We have had a wonderful time here but look forward to hitting the road again, or is that water? 

Song of the Day:  It's 5:00 Somewhere by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffet

Why?  Because you can't always wait for Docktails