Ohio River and Kentucky Lake--Coming Home

Confluence of Mississippi and Ohio Rivers

Making the turn where the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers meet near Cairo, Illinois, not only did the color of the water change but the current also.  We went from a 4-5 mph advantage to a 3-4 mph disadvantage.  Slugging up the Ohio now at 5 mph, we passed dozens of tows both fleeting and on the move.  We managed to get to our anchorage at MM964 on the Ohio River without being hit by the storm that had been chasing us all day.  When I say the anchorage was on the Ohio River I mean ON the Ohio River--not in a cozy cove.  Just downstream was the construction site of the new Olmstead Lock and Dam that will eventually replace lock and dams #52 and #53.  We pulled out of the channel far enough to be well away from tow traffic and the current.  After Taxes rafted with us, also dropping their anchor for added security.  As we watched, the storm split and passed on both sides of the river leaving us with a beautiful double rainbow.

What an omen!

That night we had a rousing game of Oh Hell! with both boat crews.  Great fun, much competition, and several "oh hell"s!

Tuesday we were hoping to make Green Turtle Bay on Lake Barkley, but it was going to depend on how we hit the locks.  Lock #53 was no problem as the wickets were down and we sailed right over them.  We couldn't believe our luck when we reached #52 to find no wait.  We owed this good fortune to two other boats that had been waiting for over two hours.  Since pleasure craft is allowed to pass through the locks every third opening,  they had held our place in line.  Tom and I put Alice and David to work and we just relaxed!

Alice holding the line on the bow.

David at the stern.

After the locks, we passed by Fort Massac, a replica of an 1802 American fort, near Metropolis. 

Fort Massac State Park on the banks of the Ohio River

Then it was on to Paducah.  Several loopers have stayed overnight at the public dock here, but we chose to keep going.  Paducah's waterfront is lined with dry docks--mostly servicing towboats.  The American Queen, one of the few excursion riverboats still traveling the rivers, was docked at Paducah as we passed through.

The American Queen--a grand lady!

Numerous dry docks at Paducah

At Paducah, we left the Ohio River and turned onto the Tennessee River.  Once again, the color of the water improved and the current lessened.  Our next lock was either the Kentucky Dam Lock or the Barkley Lock.  Kentucky Dam Lock had just reopened the day before after being closed a month for maintenance.  It generally handles the large commercial traffic while Barkley gets smaller tows and pleasure craft.  However, our luck was holding.  For when we called Kentucky Lock to see about the wait, they informed us that although they were open, they were only taking small tows and pleasure craft today. They told us to come on and they would be ready for us.  Catching two locks just right in one day is a small miracle.  Being able to use Kentucky Lock instead of Barkley saved us 17 miles!

Kentucky Lock has a lift of 56 feet.

The lock doors opened and we
were in beautiful Kentucky Lake.

Cormorants at the arrival point
 lined up to welcome
us to Kentucky Lake

Again we put David to work--
this time holding a line around a floating bollard.

What a feeling to be back in home waters!  We cruised into the channel (that cuts through the Land Between the Lakes) connecting Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.  Turning into Green Turtle Bay, the premiere resort/marina in the area, we joined a few dozen loopers already in residence.

Docktails at Green Turtle Bay

The following day, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, we celebrated the official changing of the burgee with old and new friends.  The champagne corks popped and the gold burgee replaced the white one that had been with us for 16 months and 9,650 miles.

Sharing the bubbly

Popping the corks

Changing the burgee

We did it!

Following the ceremony, we enjoyed a barbeque feast courtesy of John and Donna.  The After Taxes crew had taken the GTB courtesy car to Paducah during the day and sampled the offerings at the barbeque festival.  They returned with bbq ribs and chicken for a delicious picnic supper.

Thursday, we bid a temporary good-bye to After Taxes (we joined them for dinner again the following Monday) and headed to our favorite cove, Duncan Bay, on Kentucky Lake.  The weather was sunny and warm, so after anchoring we donned swimsuits and cooled off floating on noodles in the somewhat clear water.  Carol Anne, the loop boat next to us in GTB, joined us at the anchorage and Bob and Loretta dinghyed over for a wild game of dominoes that evening.

Large eagle or osprey nest
on shore near anchorage

Wild turkeys browsing on the shoreline.
We also saw deer, but out of camera range.

Friday morning after a delicious breakfast of blueberry/banana pancakes and the Johnson's $40/pound bacon (their grandchild's 4-H project auctioned at the county fair!!), we cruised the final leg of our journey to Kenlake Marina.  Bob and Brandon aboard their dinghys escorted us under the Eggner Ferry Bridge.  After we were secured in our slip,  we again celebrated the changing of the burgee with our good friends at Kenlake Marina. 

Captains Bob and Brandon
Our escort to Kenlake

Getting ready for the home stretch
under the Eggner Ferry Bridge

Bob capturing Tom pop the cork.

Brandon, Cindy, Ed, Roger, and a barely visible Mavis
watch as Tom attaches the gold burgee

We have had the opportunity to live a dream these past two years.  We are blessed to have had the time and health to do so.  The support of family and friends has been invaluable.  Thanks to all of you who shared with us in person and/or through the blog.  What a ride!

This is Linda signing off.  The Raydiance has landed!