SV Sea Hawk Journeys: Tennessee River

August 29 through September 1

We anchored at mile marker 148 behind Double Island on the Tennesee River in sweltering heat. After setting anchor we jumped in for a swim in such clear water we could see our rudder. That night as we sat in the cockpit listening to the ambient wildlife noises I realized the noise level was much louder than I am used to at home and we live in the country! Not sure why that is, maybe because it is so much hotter here, well you never know!? Anyone out there know why insects are louder on the Tennessee River than in Northern Minnesota? We were in what is called a 1st Class Landing for tows, which means they can come in behind the island and push up on the shore. Something to remember when anchoring! The next morning we woke up to the thickest fog I've ever seen. All you could see beyond the boat was the shadows of the treetops. After a couple of hours the fog lifted enough for us to continue on our way. After a long day of 50 miles against current we anchored behind Diamond Island just before the Pickwick Lock. The current becomes stronger the closer you get to the lock and it really slowed us down. After another hot day we were looking forward to a swim, but it was not to be. The most we could do was stand on the boarding ladder with a line tied to our wrist in case we slipped. The current was so strong that even when I was standing on the boarding ladder I was floating behind the boat and being pulled by the current. I shudder to think how far the current would have pulled me if I had slipped. Thankfully, it was enough to cool us.
We are feeling a sense of urgency to get off the river as we hear more and more of Hurricane Harvey (and later, Hurricane Irma) and realize we will be reaching the gulf much sooner than planned . We have decided we need to slow down and will have our bottom painted at Lee Spry Boat Yard in Iuka, Mississippi. Several other local boaters at Green Turtle recommended Lee and after doing a little research found he is reputable and does good work. We have never left our boat so far from home but have decided we will rent a car and go home for the three weeks needed to complete the job.

Pictures from the Tennessee River.

We spent that night at Lee Spry's Boat Yard and the next morning left for Duluth. It's funny how you think you have your land legs and suddenly you find yourself lurching for no reason, anyone else know what I mean, lol. We spent a few hours walking (and lurching) around Shiloh National Military Park. I find myself humbled by the experience of walking through these hallowed battle grounds and I think of the passions that drove these young men to war and death to defend their beliefs.

Words escape me.

A few words about readjusting to land living. I can really stretch out in bed but I wake up stiff in the morning. Driving in the car can be painful, every time we stop and I attempt to get out of the car, I have to take a moment to stretch. I put makeup on this morning! It has been so hot it seems like a waste of time to bother with makeup and I can't remember the last time I used it. I find myself looking for a flag or something blowing in the wind to gauge wind direction. I don't have a compass to tell me the cardinal directions and I am notorious for becoming disoriented without google maps to tell me which way to go. Then there is the speed with which we are traveling, 70 mph vs 6 mph, yikes I want to put the brakes on. Miracles of miracles I am rediscovering cold drinking water and ice! And lastly (I don't want to bore you too much) I am still trying to find the foot pedal to pump water and the water gets hot! I have been home only one week and I already miss the boat.