Day on the Cruise: 172
From: Goose Pond Colony Marina, Scottsboro, AL
To: Hales Bar Marina, Halestown, TN
Statute Miles: 52.0 SM
Time: 6.7 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 4,397.2 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we are at Hales Bar Marina which is about 20 miles by road from Chattanooga, TN. We are right next to the old Hales Bar Lock and Dam that was replaced by the Nickajack Lock and Dam about 6 miles down river.
There was no fog this morning when "Pazza Bella" and we left Goose Pond around 8:00. We got into the River and again headed Northeast toward Chattanooga. The first town that we passed was Scottsboro, AL and its bridge across the Tennessee River. We slowed to idle speed under the bridge, as there is construction ongoing to replace one of the ancient spans that carries traffic from the Scottsboro side to the Sand Mountain side.
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| Leaving Goose Pond marina Through the Aquatic Weeds |
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| In the Tennessee River Early this Morning |
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| Cruising the Tennessee toward Scottsboro, AL |
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| Approaching the Scottsboro Bridge |
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| New Bridge Construction at Scottsboro |
Next was the town of Stevenson, AL and its industrial plants along the River. We passed a paper mill complete with its wonderful odors permeating the morning air, covering the River with the smell of money! Right past the paper mill is TVA's Widows Creek Fossil Fuel Power Plant with its imposing stacks rising above the River. We noticed some type of effluent that suddenly appeared on our Isinglass on the fly bridge, and we crossed our fingers that it was steam condensing in the cold air and falling back to the River.
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| Bridge at Stevenson, AL |
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| Stacks at Widows Creek Power Plant |
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| TVA's Widow's Creek Power Plant at Stevenson, AL |
Near Stevenson, Pazza Bella, who was in the lead today, radioed back and said to look for a bald eagle that they had seen on the RDB. We surveyed the tree line and yep, there it was in the trees, high up over the river bank. We first saw its white "socks" very clearly, then its brown pants and then the white head. Beautiful! Majestic! I marked the chart to see if we can spot the eagle on the return trip.
After Stevenson, we passed Bridgeport, AL and traveled under an old railroad bridge. Just past Bridgeport we re-entered the Great State of Tennessee and went through South Pittsburgh and under the blue suspension bridge that crosses the River. In driving this route from Huntsville to Chattanooga dozens of times by car, this blue bridge is a landmark that you see when leaving South Pittsburgh and getting on I-24.
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| Cruising from Stevenson to Bridgeport, AL |
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| Railroad Bridge at Bridgeport |
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| Approaching South Pittsburgh as We Cross Into Tennessee |
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| The Blue Bridge at South Pittsburgh, TN |
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| Following "Pazza Bella" Under the Blue Bridge at South Pittsburgh |
The blue bridge must be a landmark for aviators as well. We saw two Navy T-39's, probably from NAS Pensacola, fly over at tree top level as we approached the bridge. They were on a low level nav training route, and turned North as soon as they passed over the bridge. They were flat out honking! We see these guys fly over our lake house all the time on a low level route that has a leg over the lake.
About 8 miles upstream from South Pittsburgh and the blue bridge, we arrived at Nickajack Lock. No wait today, and we entered the chamber very quickly and locked up to a beautiful lake. Another 6 miles found us at Hales Bar Marina where we spent the night.
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| Entering Nickajack Lock |
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| Doors Closing at Nickajack Lock |
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| Waiting for the Lock to Fill |
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| Up at Lake Level and Waiting to Leave the Lock |
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| Entering Nickajack Lake in Tennessee |
Between the Lock and Hales Bar, we were hailed by a Mainship 40' trawler. It was Carlton and Becky Moore from Decatur, AL. We had been hearing about these folks for several years. We both lived in Decatur, we both have Mainships, and they have finished the Great Loop and we are getting closer to finishing every day. We had never met them in person.
Well, I mentioned a few mutual acquaintances to Carlton over the radio, and he connected the dots. They had been in Chattanooga and met our friends on Sun Gypsy, and they had told the Moores all about us. Anyway, we had a great chat on the radio, and I can say that we have finally connected with Carlton Moore!
Soon thereafter we motored into Hales Bar Marina. Both Pazza Bella and we tied to a face dock on the side of a covered dock. We were disappointed to find that there was not a restaurant available. This place is out in the boonies!
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| Approaching the Marina at Hales bar |
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| The Marina at hales bar is Straight Ahead |
After we got settled, susan took Maggie out for a walk and ran into someone who asked if we used to live in Decatur. She yes, and he said that he knew us. It was Ron Cowan and his wife Nan Sue. Ron had lived around the corner from us in Decatur and our company did work at his facility in Decatur. Ron was at Joe Wheeler one day when we were there, but we missed each other. Ron and Nan Sue came by our boat and we had a great conversation catching up on what we each have been doing since retirement. They have a trailerable Rosborough Trawler that they launched and tied up at Hales Bar as we were arriving. They are heading to Chattanooga tomorrow also. For the umpteenth time, I declare, it is a small world!
We had wanted to join Mike and Veronica from Pazza Bella for dinner at a restaurant, but this would not be possible tonight at Hales Bar. So, we wound up eating on the boat and prepped for an early departure tomorrow. It sure is dark here tonight!
Tomorrow we should finish our trek to Chattanooga where we will go into Lake Chicamauga above Chattanooga to a marina where we will leave the boat for a few days while we go to a wedding.
Thanks for Reading!
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