Big E to Green Turtle Bay

October 27, 2001 - Big E to Green Turtle Bay

Got up early to a freezing cold boat. After having breakfast and getting fuel, we said good-bye to friends Sherman and Tom at the Big E Marina at 9:30 and headed for the Cumberland River and Green Turtle Bay on Lake Barkley. The winds aren't big this morning yet, but we are looking right into the sun and it's hard to see the mile markers.

We turned onto the Cumberland River at 11:30 and realized that we didn't have any charts for the Cumberland, so in the process of logic and deduction, we turned right and headed for the blue water. I think we were lucky. Someone had told us that we would see a big difference in the color of the water when we left the Ohio River, and so it was. Once we were on the river, which is about the size of the St. Joe. River and about 5 times deeper, we just followed it along and were fine. It's narrow and very curvy, so we had to watch carefully for oncoming barges. These barges aren't quite as big as the ones that travel the Mississippi and the Ohio. The scenery is prettier now, but the trees haven't changed color much. We arrived at Green Turtle Bay about 3:00 and it is a very pretty and nice marina, as advertised. Lots of huge houseboats abound. I'll bet they have a lot of fun on those when the weather is warmer. Many people along the way told us that we must eat at Patti's Restaurant, so we did, and it also was as advertised. Very good. This is the night that we turn the clocks back, so we are going to bed at 9:30. Good Night! We leave tomorrow for Paris, then on to Cuba the next day, then to Diamond Island. Sounds like the jet set to me. Stay tuned for the next adventure.

P.S. Just before we arrived at Green Turtle, we went through the Barkley Lock, which was a rise of 57 feet. Jo and Ralph were quick learners and their first lock great.