Pickwick Lake

It's fall in Alabama. The trees are just starting to turn, its in the 40's at night, but low 80's in the day. It really is very nice. We are still on the Tennessee River. We left the first major lake, Lake Kentucky, after 205 miles from the Ohio traveling south. We are now in Pickwick Lake which is smaller, only about 40 miles. Think of Table Rock Lake, but straighter. These lakes come from the Tennessee River which flows much straighter here than the crooked switchbacks of the Ozarks. So the lake is pretty, but you still have to stay in the navigable channel.

The above shot shows how the river has worn through many million of years of limestone. There are some beautiful spots that we have traveled through. The other photo is Shelley on the front of the boat as we entered Pickwick Lock and Dam. This lock took us up 66 ft. Note the big truck/trailer on the bridge just above the lock. That gives you an idea of how deep a canyon the lock is and how huge they are.

The marina we have been at for the last several days (Aqua Yacht Harbor in Iuka, Mississippi) is at the junction of three states....Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. We are now on a line nearly equal to the Red River border between Texas and Oklahoma. That is a long way south from our days in Canada. But we have traveled south with the good weather, which has been wonderful so far. Knock on wood.

I want to travel east on the Tennessee River through northern Alabama as far as we can get over the next 10 days. We Have a Looper Rendezvous in late October on Lake Wheeler, so we want to see as much of the river and lakes as possible. After that we head south. Time to start thinking about running from winter and get to the Gulf.

Bob and Jean got back to Austin, safe and sound. But Bob was really tired from all the big fishing we did on Lake Kentucky. I know...its exhausting catching all those fish. Somehow we survived.

Shelley continues to read about how the world is falling apart as we tour the Great Loop. So one of my next missions will be to fill the keel of the boat with gold. I know, we only have three bedrooms and two heads on the boat, so it may get cozy if you all want/need to come live with us after the economy collapses. But bring your guns and fishing rods. We'll be fine. Marc