Day on the Cruise: 159
From: Birdsong Marina, Camden, TN
To: Clifton Marina, Clifton, TN
Statute Miles: 57.1 SM
Time: 7.25 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 4,125.7 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we are at Clifton, TN at the Clifton Marina.
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We left Birdsong this morning about 7:15. The entrance channel into Birdsong from the Tennessee River is winding like a snake's back. There are very small green and red buoys that mark the channel. Some depths in the channel are below 5' and you must stay between the buoys. I was worried that if we waited much longer after sunrise that the glare would make it very hard to see the channel. We managed to hit the sun fairly well and got out into the river with no problem. We headed South.
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| Leaving Birdsong Marina |
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| Leaving Birdsong |
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| Turning Into the Tennessee River |
The day turned out to be beautiful. We passed the point where the Duck River enters the Tennessee and this was a very scenic spot. High bluffs on one side of the Tennessee.
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| Duck River Confluence |
We crossed under the I-40 bridge and I really felt as though we had transitioned into Southern Tennessee. We waived to our friends from Nashville, Josie and Keith, as we went under the bridge.
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| Under the I-40 Bridge. Hi Josie & Keith! |
The further South we traveled on the River, the narrower it got. There are a number of islands that we went around. The feeling of the Kentucky Lake turned into the feeling of the Tennessee River. It was also good to be back on a river setting.
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| And the Waterway Narrows as We Leave the Lake and get into the River |
Our destination was Clifton, TN, which is one of the few marinas until you get to Pickwick Lake. We found the marina in good time and docked at the very small transient dock. The marina is just a very small harbor through a narrow entrance off the River in the town of Clifton. The transient dock was wide and fairly new, although there was room for only four boats docked two to a side. There were two more slips at the gas dock. There was also a very nice office and small cafe' on the docks.
When we arrived, John and Barbara on "Go" were already there. We could see their AIS on the chart plotter from far down river. Soon after we arrived, our friends Leila and Rick on Sun Gypsy arrived. We also had a boat from Louisville arrive and two Nordic Tugs from Montreal came in. A 37' Larson from Toronto named "Let's Drift" had been there for a day or two also. We met Chris and Lynn on Let's Drift and ate dinner with them and Leila and Rick at the cafe' there at the marina.
At dinner, there were a lot of locals who had come into the cafe'. We met an older gentleman who had retired from a career as Chief Engineer on a big tow boat. He has run all of the Rivers in his over 40 years of experience. He had lots of interesting stories that he told us. He showed us some pictures of the Wheeler Lock near Decatur, AL from 1961 when the lock failed during construction of a new lock next to it. Of course this gave all the ladies in our group second thoughts about going through locks. Ha ha!
We loved getting together with our friends as this marina and eating dinner at this little cafe'. It was a lot of fun! Talking to the locals was very interesting also. It is neat to learn of the local color and culture of these river towns.
Tomorrow we head to Pickwick Lake and Grand Harbor marina.
Thanks for Reading!
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