Exploring Tennessee River
Friday, October 13 through Tuesday, October 17. After Chattanooga we headed up Tennessee River to possibly go to Knoxville.
We locked up Chickamauga, Watts, and Ft. Loudoun Locks totaling another 200’ up (ish). After the Chickamauga lock and 40NM, we stayed at Shady Grove Marina. This is a great marina with a very nice courtesy vehicle—which we took to do 5 loads of laundry—woohoo in Hixon, TN. Our next destination would be an anchor right after locking up Watts lock at Meigs County Park. This was a quiet, secluded cove and although enjoyed, we discovered our battery seems to drain more than it should. We decided we would stay at the Ft. Loudoun Marina after locking up the final lock on this side trip up the Tennessee River.
After Watts dam—man with his dog bass fishing.
Oh my—the Ft. Loudoun Marina lock was so windy inside the chamber that Darth was having trouble keeping the boat straight. The lockmaster told us to go to the front bollard to have the smoothest ride up the estimated 90’. Very close to the front bollard was a concrete barrier that Darth thought he may hit as he was trying to get the boat close enough to tie up to the bollard. Thankfully, he was able to maneuver and got the boat to the bollard, but we locked up with fast beating hearts. Immediately after this lock was the Ft. Loudoun Marina. The marina dock manager was kind enough to let us stay by the fuel dock. This was Saturday and ALOT of Tennessee University fans use this marina to stay at after attending the Saturday football game in Knoxville—we did not have reservations. We ate at the onsite Calhoun’s restaurant and there were many happy Tennessee Univ. fans as they beat Texas A&M 20-13.
Also at the fuel dock was a pirate ship that was holding tours for local families. Our boat was directly across from this. Oh the questions we received about our boat, as well as the location (Edgewood, WA) on the boat. “Y’all from Washington state? How did you get here? How long are you staying on your boat? The loop? Really? Where’d y’all start? Where will y’all end up? And so on… it was fun—and also time to go.
I had received a recommendation to check out Concord Marina. This marina is about 17 miles SW of downtown Knoxville. After we arrived, we set up the bikes and rode around Concord. This was a very quiet marina—the weather was off and on rain so we decided to stay another night.
Bike ride in a neighborhood in Concord, TN. Darth is fuzzy but he is shown on the road. The houses were all brick and many decorated for Fall. What I thought was interesting was there are no fences in the neighborhood.
The moon that night was a gorgeous crescent moon. In the morning when a fellow was launching his boat, we saw 2 full moons and they were bright pink and not so gorgeous. : / No photos of either—but really it was very hard not to look!
Concord Marina, the night after the crescent moon.
Tuesday, October 17th. We decided to turn back going down the river. We read about Tellico Lake - Little Tennessee River and decided we would check it out.
Tellico Lake is home to many, many, many mcmansions. So many I took probably way too many photos.
Tellico Lake
Tellico Lake
Tuesday, October 17 - Thursday, October 19th. We anchored right by Fort Loudoun Historical State Park which was further down from the homes pictured above. This state park is 1,200 acres and is one of the earliest British fortifications on the western frontier, built in 1756. The fort was reconstructed during the Great Depression and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.
The visitor center showed a film explaining that in 1754-1763 —during the French-Indian War, the British Colony of So. Carolina felt threatened by French activities in the Mississippi Valley. To counter this threat, the Colony sent the Independent Co. of So. Carolina to construct what became Fort Loudoun. There are many sides to what comes next—I couldn’t begin to summarize. It still fascinates us both the history we are learning about this part of the country.
There is an reenactment of the lives and battles held at the fort. This gentleman was giving an interview of the importance of teaching local 4th graders at the site. The buildings in the background are reconstructed showing supplies, cookhouses, bunk houses, artillery, etc. and quarters for the soldiers.
Before we dinghy’d to the Fort we woke up to a very foggy morning—-and birds!!!!
This was a very foggy morning outside Fort Loudoun State Park. I sent the photo to Dave and he did the following water color interpretation. He has an instagram and yes I’m his mom—-but I think he has a real knack for drawing and watercolor. : )
By Dave-instagram: daveh20color Check it out, his artwork is truly amazing. : )
The fog lifted —birds flew away.
Coming back to the boat after we toured Fort Loudoun State Park.
We anchored one more night on Tellico Lake and woke up to this sunrise.
As we continued toward Fort Loudoun Lock, still on Tellico Lake, I couldn’t resist one more shot of a huge home. The red bushes are surrounding an infinity pool.
And now we are back on Tennesse River. Such a contrast! Time to keep going back down the river.