So long anchor, 10-2-2014

Thursday, October 2, 2014
Beautiful morning…but

 Once again, dawn brought forth a beautiful morning.  Everyone made ready to head up the Cumberland River through the Barkley Lock and on to Green Turtle Bay Resort and Marina, Grand Rivers, KY, a distance of only about 33 miles. It looked like an easy day.

Except, the fates were not with us. 

We started our engine and Tim went to haul in the anchor. He got about 30 of the 100 feet on board and then the line went vertical and stopped. It was hung up on something near the bottom some 17 feet down. We put the engine in forward, we put the engine in reverse.  We swung around.  The line did not budge.
  

No anchor on the bow

Near as we could figure out, the anchor rode (line and chain) had lodged itself under a submerged tree. It refused to come back aboard!  All the pulling and tugging we could muster didn’t budge the line an inch. Since the line was hung up around 50 feet from the anchor, diving in to dislodge it likely wouldn’t work. Besides Tim is not a big fan of being wet much less free-diving in murky water in a current to dislodge something he could not see.

Since no good solution was forthcoming, we decided to turn this problem into an expense and abandon the anchor. Tim cut the anchor rode and said goodbye to a reliable old friend that had been on the boat for some 28 years. 

We were back on our way.

Since we carry a second anchor and rode, we were able to continue our trip without delay. We ordered a new anchor as well as new line and chain, which will be delivered to Joe Wheeler State Park and Marina, where we will meet up with other loopers the week of October 13^th for the rendezvous.

Sometimes stuff happens. Another boat, that same morning, blew through 3 alternator belts and had to drive 30 miles on one engine.

There was a lot of countryside to be seen as we moved up the Cumberland River. Tim had just commented that we hadn't spotted any 4-legged critters near any river during the entire trip so far. Sure enough, a cow ambled down to the river for a drink. Cows aren't exactly the type of critters we had in mind, but they are critters nonetheless.


Could have seen this back home!

After 225 miles and three days anchoring out we finally arrived at Green Turtle Bay Marina. We filled up with fuel, emptied out the holding tank, and secured a place at the dock close to the store, laundry and bathrooms/showers.  We were happy campers!

Green Turtle Bay is a huge resort, with a marina, two restaurants, and condos for rent or for sale. AND a day spa! 

Green Turtle Bay Marina, KY

The marina also hosted a welcome barbecue for those of us on the loop. Kathy secured a courtesy vehicle, and picked up a couple of other folks to do a grocery and liquor store run (Turtle Bay is in a dry Kentucky county).

Tim cleaned up, and headed up to meet friends at the barbecue. Kathy met up with them after the grocery run, chowed down on some pork and mutton barbecue, and we returned to the boat to promptly fall asleep.