Double Islands to Dry Creek, Pickwick Lake

I have to tell you, first up, that the anchorages we chose are behind small islands, generally, in the Tennessee River. It's not like you can GO anywhere other than the river, to park up for the night. The GOOD thing is that the current precludes the need for swing room, although we are mindful of a potential change in wind direction, which could influence the anchorage choice.

We came out the way we went into Double Islands, even though we could have just gone forward, but with the waters in flood, we weren't sure if there was an easy path. Better to be safe than sorry, always.

The fog lifted around 9am, so we lifted the anchor, which Waz said was clean, coming up...vs covered in mud! Nice, for a change:)
We had an undisturbed night with no wind and no discernable wave action. We were not aware of any tugs plying the river just beyond us, which was a good thing. Their wake didn't reach us, if they were.

The day improved steadily, after the fog lifted, and bright sunshine was our companion for the most part. At those times when a cloud crept over the sun, the temperature would dip measurably:( We still wore out sweaters and sweat pants, though at one stage, later in the day I changed out to capris...with a sweater on!:)

This tow (Lexington) passed the bottom of the anchorage, on the river, as we were getting ready to leave. By the time Waz had the anchor up, she was visible at the other end of the island, and we would catch her up about an hour later. She was travelling at 6 knots, and we were doing not a lot more than that.

 The low fog at the anchorage was all but gone when we pulled out at 9am.

 The parting shot...

 and the other end of the island.

 There are so many stairways leading down to the river from homes perched on the cliff. We didn't see the home, but this was one of the sturdier looking stairways that we saw. We aren't sure why they go to the water, as there is no jetty there and other than fishing off the bottom of the stairs, what do they do?

Typical of the homes along the waterway in secluded settings surrounded by trees. This is on our right or starb'd side...

and on our left (port) side, is this far less attractive setting, to our minds. There was pasture beyond, before the hills. All the homes were built either on stilts or substantial block basements at least one story high, but most were two, above the ground.

As I said, we were to meet the Lexington a wee way down river. Her captain kindly slowed for us at a critical juncture to get past on this narrow section. We sped up to pass her before going into the narrows. He came out of his cab to hail us, and we returned his horn greeting:)

 Todd and Debbie had Marina'd in the little town of Clifton, over night, and it took us an hour and half to reach there. It would have been getting dark by the time they reached the marina.

 This photo is taken through the plastic windows, hence the weird stuff...but this is typical of the little 'local' marinas just off the Tennessee River.

 Why is this so unattractive? ahhhh! not trees surrounding it!:) So many holiday homes along the waterway, but the ones that were occupied had some lovely gardens.

On this part of the river, the towns and place names are more frequent. We saw many more signs of civilization too, with homes dotted all along the river.

 This home had a fabulous view, but it was a little too close to the precipice for my liking!

This home was also very close to the cliff, and with the hue fissures below, we didn't want to think of what would happen if an earthquake or really high water were to come this way.

 Home designs are 'traditional' for the most part, with the odd 'contemporary' as they are called, here and there. This one was new.

 This one caught our eyes...mostly for the color, which is similar to the color I painted a holiday home of my own, but we liked the peaked roof...and the damaged dock at the bottom of the garden.

 The dock actually belongs to the neighbors...and is prob. the result of flooding!

...and yes, it is 75.6ft deep right here!! well, not HERE...but THERE...where it shows

 here...on this corner:)

 We fell in love with this home and grounds...stunningly landscaped!

 ..and this one too! Love the stone fences and we figured this home is quite old! See the pumpkins on top of the concrete thing with the arch (they have a name I cant think of right now) at right?

 Another older home in glorious surrounds. We have speculated that we will return and drive the country roads that lead to these lovely properties. Funny what you think and talk about when you are travelling at 6.3 knots up a river!lol

All was going swimmingly until we got to our third choice of anchorage, this afternoon. It was 3.30, and because the sun was shining and there was a little bit of heat in the sun, we thought to stop and put a chair out back on the fly deck, and just enjoy the moment in utter peace and quiet.  We tried the anchor once....we drifted back all the time, even with about 70ft of chain, but the anchor just kept dragging. After the second try, we figured out we were in loose gravel, on the bottom and we had just wasted 45 mins of our precious time trying to anchor. Bah! Daylight is a premium!

So, at 4.15pm, we motored out the other end of our anchorage choice, and back into the river. This  time we turned the gas on, because there was a tow ahead of us (Lexington, again) and we had a lock to go through before the next anchorage. bother!

Little islands give quite a lot of protection from the main river, while maintaining the current, so we don't have to watch our swing.

 We took the left arm to try to anchor, but as I said, it didn't happen...moving right along....

 Can you see the fisherman in his boat?

 Coming out the far end of the anchorage that didn't happen, into the main river.

 These trees wouldn't normally be under water...this is 12 feet up, remember!

 Rather idyllic, don't you think?:)

 Waz poured on the gas and away we went to catch the lock through, if we could.

 We were four miles out when we first hailed the Lock master and asked if we could possibly lock through with the Lexington, which was locking in two lots. The first is already in the lock and going up.

We were told, as we closed the gap, that wasn't possible, and to tie up on the wall of the auxiliary lock until he was ready to lock us through...about 2 1/2 hrs aieee!


We were to park ourselves in front of the white looking gates, port side tie up. We did as instructed. The current coming from the dam on the left shook us off course until Waz got us under control and eased onto the wall where I put a rope around a fixed bollard.

 You can just see the end of the tug poking out from the end of the wall, next door

 This chamber is small compared to the large one next door.

 One rope kept us at the wall, though each time the water was put into and let out of the chamber next door, we moved a lot, in and out, back and forth. It didn't make for much fun, actually, especially as I was cooking dinner, at the time.

 And the sun set behind us...

 ...and the water came out of the chamber as they lowered the level for the tug to go through with her next lot of barges.

 and set a bit more....

 Fi ally the lights went on, as we sat and ate dinner.

As we prepared to go back into the main chamber...which the lock master had told us was required for locking through, all the lights were on and it was pitch black sky.

We had entered the auxiliary chamber at around 4.45pm, and exited at 8.45pm..4 hrs! At least we had dinner and time to read.:)

On leaving the lighted approach to the Lock, I fixed all the ropes and left the fenders down..no need to deal with them in the dark. It was rather disquieting going straight out into the inky black darkness and on our own in the water without benefit of ANY light. We were literally piloting this vessel by the seat of our pants. Not our choice in the future, believe me!

For some strange reason, the Samsung decided it would go on the blink...again..when we needed it most to show is the sailing line. Normally we have the Samsung Galaxy on for the sailing line and the chartplotter on for the AIS and other information. This time, we couldn't zoom out far because it was the only sailing line I had to go by, on the chartplotter, until the Samsung decided it would work, finally. Waz turned the radar on, and did a wee (note...just a tiny weeeee bit) of stressing when we couldn't see what the dots on the radar screen were, in real time, with him shining his powerful flashlight out into the darkness.
I piloted while he ran (sometimes literally) between the radar in the pilothouse (we don't have one upstairs) and the open window on the starb'd side to look out and find the red markers I was sailing close to, on the line.

Fortunately we didn't have far to go to our anchorage for the night, but we did have to negotiate the current, which we couldn't see, but could feel, a bit of wind that had come up and the wake of the Lexington, just in front of us. All these conspired to move us directions we didn't necessarily want to go. I gave the helm to Waz and went down the front of the boat with the flashlight so that we could see the land on either side of the keyhole anchorage. Again, we it was hard to judge the distance we were from the land, in order to find where to park. We finally ascertained that it didn't really matter where, just as long as we appeared to have enough swing room.  After a bit of dickering around, going port here, and a bit of starb'd there, we set the anchor down. She took immediately, and we wound our day up with a cup of tea! Phew!

We slept like logs and awakened to bright sunshine and lovely views:)

Looking back to the opening to the keyhole anchorage on Pickwick Lake. This is Dry Creek.

Across the way to Port

Looking towards the end of the keyhole

 Off to starb'd

The last photo I took, last night before heading downstairs...anchor set.

We are spending the day at anchor, today, in glorious sunshine. I am about to take myself upstairs to the flydeck to read my book and watch the fishermen going hell for leather up and down the lake. I think they only have one speed on their boats...Fast! aieee!!

Ciao for now. Moving on again tomorrow, and the weather looks fantastic for the rest of the week and past next weekend. We will make the most of it. We have to go down 412 feet to Mobile Bay, Alabama. A few locks in our future?? sure thing:)