Saturday, Sept. 15 (though going way back to Friday, Sept. 7)

Shortly after leaving Paducah as we were looking into the sun, we saw what looked like a large dark evil monstrosity a ways ahead of us on the river. So we checked the Garmin to see if the monster had an AIS signal. (AIS is the marine automated identification system for tracking ships/marine vessels. We have an AIS receiver so we can see what is ahead. We don’t have an AIS transmitter – we prefer to travel in stealth mode! Ha!) It was sending an AIS signal, in fact it looked like two tows were in a head-to-head battle in the middle of the river.  We learned that it was actually a giant “dredge” (per the AIS screen - I thought it would be called a dredger) being pushed very, very slowly by a tow. As we got closer, we could see it better and another tow was on its way to help push it, understandably – it was giganitc!

As we neared the Cumberland River, we saw a couple more monstrous things (though less evil looking), two federal emergency mooring cells. They were at least 25 feet in diameter and taller than our boat (18” above the water line) and it looked like one must have been hit or pulled with enormous force to tip a bit sideways. I have no idea how anything our size could moor to one of those – they must be for tows with barges, and maybe dredgers!  

Within a minute we turned upstream onto the Cumberland River. As we entered the confluence of the Ohio and Cumberland, it was like a different world: peaceful, serene, idyllic. Aaaahhhhhh…

A little while later having rounded many a river bend, we came upon monstrosity number three - a massive quarry! Clouds of dust in the air, gravel trucks grumbling along the pathways, stones and boulders of all sizes, loud crushing noises as rock was ground into smaller chunks. Ugh! Though the size and amount of equipment and conveyors was quite impressive, it was good to get past it.

Finally, close to our destination for the day, we arrived at Barkley Lock & Dam. The lock was at the upper level and we were at the lower level. Since no one was in the lock or waiting for it except us, the lock master had to release the water to lower it for us to enter. About 30 minutes later we lassoed a bollard and started rising. As we neared the top, we noticed our last mini-monstrosity of the day inside the lock. It was actually not monstrous at all, but a sad little bat climbing the ladder wall inside the lock. Maybe not sad, but it looked to be struggling and it had a very long way to go up if it was trying to get to the top. It easily remained above the waterline, so that was a relief.

Once locked through, we were at our destination, Green Turtle Bay Resort and Marina in Grand Rivers, KY. GTB is a “not-to-miss” stop along the Loop, plus it has good boatyard for repairs. Once tied up at the transient dock, Bo’s grass found, registered at the office, (that’s the order we follow) we were able to relax. Dinner was at the Thirsty Turtle, a quiet half mile walk away and to our surprise, a doe and three fawns were munching grass along the way.

Now that we’ve been here a week, we’ve learned that the deer are around nearly every time we go for a walk, though they hold very still if Bo is with us, and he doesn’t notice them. Nature sure has that figured out! Bo still loves to chase a ball and we can always find a little shade for that. Sue got a fantastic massage at the spa and will look into other services there. The DVDs in the marina are free, but as the high school-aged boy at the counter told me, the movies are “old.”  I said, “So are we. That’ll work out fine.” ;-)

As you’ve seen in Brian’s update, we will be here for a few more weeks. By the time parts arrive and are installed, we will be taking our planned week to drive home, attend our niece’s wedding, see our kids, and drive back. We may rent a car for a little side trip while waiting for the parts to arrive. At least we know that this is a great place to leave our boat while we are gone.