John, Charles' brother, was convinced to join us for the trip from Knoxville toward the Tombigbee. Our first lock after departing Knoxville on the 29th was the Fort Loudon Lock, our entry and departure.
We passed some eagles and Bonnie captured one on the camera while it sat in the nearby tree.
We spent the night at the Blue Springs marina and the next day, 12/2, we were to be off to our next stop, Shady Grove Harbor Marina, in the fog, as shown in the pictures of our bridge area and the burgee . . . thick fog. Thank you for radar, Garmin GPS, and the kind hand of God to direct our way.
Just as we arrived at the Watts Bar Lock the sky cleared and we entered and then departed with John supervising on the bow.
On down the river we enjoyed the beauty of an evening sunset.
Just had to take this picture . . . a big house on the water's edge, the bulkhead has collapsed . . . will the "For Sale" house be next?
Following a three day stay at the Shady Grove Harbor Marina waiting for lower water at the Chickamagua Lock we found SONATA behind two tugs with barges waiting for a lock through. BEARCAT and GLEN EARL (out of New Orleans and pushing two red-flag barges) agreed with the lockmaster that we should go through first. ...John and Charlie directed the matter on the bow.
Down stream the current around the "green-can" shows our 2.5 knot current push . . . SONATA is at some 11 knots speed over ground.
As we pass Chattanooga Lookout, "Signal", Mountain looms in the background.
Entering the Tennessee "Grand Canyon" the several weeks make a big difference. The colorful fall leaves have given way to the leaf-less winter season.
Pressing on to meet a self-made-schedule God's gentle hand, radar, GPS, and flash lights, spot lights, help guide our way through the rain into Jones Creek to anchor for the evening . . . two hours after sunset. All is well until 0200 when we drag anchor, get up in the dark and rain, and re-anchor, then sleep until after 0700.
In the AM Charlie lifts the anchor and we catch a gill net . . . tow it a way, cut it free, and continue into the Tennessee.
Down the river from Jones Creek we are into the Guntersville Lock where Bonnie pilots SONATA to the correct bollard, we tie off and are locked down. Next stop was Ditto and 110 gallons of diesel . . . then off to Joe Wheeler State Park where along the way we met strong wind, rain, and SNOW. It must be time to really head further South!
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