1,000 Miles and time for a rest

                                     Sunset in a cove at the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers

We have now travelled 1,000 miles since purchasing our Ocean Alexander July 28th.

We have been on Lake Huron (barely), Lake Michigan, Lake Charlevoix,

The Illinois River, The Mississippi River, The Ohio River and the Cumberland River.  We are  now moored in a beautiful marina on Barkley Lake in Grand Rivers, Kentucky (pop. 350).

Barkley Lock, This was about a 50 foot rise to Barkley Lake

The last week heading down river we anchored out three nights with three other boats. We traveled 250 miles in 4 days.  We traveled so fast as there were very few anchorages and there was the danger of the barges at night on the river.  Anchoring on the rivers is a bit risky because you must find a spot that is protected from the current and wind, but also where the tug boats and barges won’t hit you during the night (the tugs travel up and down the rivers 24 hours a day). The water level is really low so most of the normal anchorages are now on sandbars.  We were fortunate to find very good spots to spend the night.  The rivers are very muddy and full of Asian carp.  One night we were anchored in the dark and I turned the bright spot light on in the water.  The light showed hundreds of carp in the water around us. It was disgusting how many there were, and you definitely would not want to be in the water with them.

While exploring an island at one of our anchorages  we ran a ground twice in our dingy and tangled our prop in an old fish net. The water is very unpredictable and while underway in the big boat you must always beware of the depth, the current (about 4mph), where you are in the channel, and floating debris and logs.

We are now at The Green Turtle Bay Marina which is so... nice. We will be here a week and plan to rent a car for a few days and drive to Nashville and the Mammoth Caves before continuing down river. The Marina has a great spa, indoor pool, outdoor pool, cable TV and marina repair services.  We are in a dry county (you bring your own wine to dinner).  We had an incredible dinner with our Looper friends

Green Turtle Bay Yacht Club

Wednesday  night at Patti's  restaurant established in 1880.  The food was truly unbelievable. We had shrimp appetizers and Bill and I split a 2" thick, 18oz pork chop dinner and still only finished half of it.

 Anchored for the night on the Ohio River

 Looper Docktail hour - anchored for the night

                                                   Mississippi Paddle Boat - cruise ship

 Passing one of dozens of barges on the Tennessee River - not much space between the tug and the shore!

When we did see any houses on the Mississippi River there were always raised for flooding