Wednesday September 7: Grand Harbor Marina - Mississippi!

We enjoyed our time at Pebble Isle but by Monday it was time to move on. The marina was busy with many boaters out and enjoying the last long weekend of summer.

Houseboats in and out. I think  this owner is a Browns fan, don't you think??

The marina had a very fun boat sitting at the entrance. Seems the guy that owned it just left it for the marina - not really worth much but it made for a great sign!

As we exited the marina, there was a lone white pelican sitting on a sand bar with a group of seagulls - which seemed very strange. Maybe the sea gulls have adopted it - kind of like the ugly duckling?

4 out of 5 boats on the water were pontoons boats - the kind with enough horsepower for skiing and tubing or just buzzing past us!

They seem like the ideal boat (other than the houseboats which would be  way more comfortable) as you can just pull the boat right onto shore with the reinforced aluminum pontoons - unlike having a fiberglass boat.

The shoreline continues to be a mixture of large industrial plants (we think this is a power plant - not sure though) and wilderness.

We are still going south on the Tennessee River and won't go through another lock for more than a hundred miles.

This is one LONG lake/river!

The shores are becoming higher with areas of large cliffs formations. No wonder as to why the river bends around these areas!

After spending a very leisurely morning at Pebble Isle (including an EXCELLENT breakfast buffet at the marina),  it wasn't until 10 that we were underway so the 40 miles, 5 hours to Perryville seemed to take forever!!

Of course it is still very hot (90's and humid), so even when we arrive, the power gets plugged in and the air conditioner goes on.

There is literally nothing at this marina but the distance was good for progress for moving south. And as always the people running the marina are very nice.

Tuesday was to be a short 4 hour day as we were traveling to Clifton but settled for breakfast on board as it was the only option!!

The narrow entrance out of the marina looks worse than it is but the swirling muddy water as we backed out gives an indication of the lack of depth.

But I'll take a mud bottom any day over the rocks of the Canadian waters!

This is Little Toot - the tug that didn't look very big or powerful but saved the day!!

The Tennessee River is beginning to narrow as it seems to be wind around more and more as the banks seem to be low on one side and very high on the other.


It was an early in day - nice as again it was hot. The sky is so blue and there are very few clouds. Often we've been traveling with the shade screens up on the flybridge to be able to stay out of the sun.

Funny about the Clifton Marina - neither of us really remember this from our stop 6 years ago! And again - very nice people working here. As we were walking to the marina, the gentleman in the boat in front told us we really should have a cheeseburger as it is the best ANYWHERE.

So what to do but have a cheeseburger for late lunch? I should have taken a picture! As Steve said, it was the best ever :-)


There isn't much around the area. The marina had a rental car so we figured we might as well take a ride around town.

It's like many towns along the rivers - a few stores and lots of empty stores.

Oddly enough we found a place maybe two blocks from downtown that had a number of not sure whats. Definitely some goats though.

Just not sure what some of the other animals were ......

The marina also has a campground - we thought this might be one of the motorhomes built by the Flxible Company in Loudonville OH where I grew up.

But it wasn't. Steve talked to the lady sitting out front and found out it was a 1953 Greyhound bus converted to live in. It was actually quite nice inside!

The lady was 80 and had grown up in this area. She indicated it had changed a lot since then!

The bluffs continue as we moved on on Thursday. It was going to be a long day of 55 miles plus a lock so we were up early and on the water by 7:30.

Fallen deck.

Here is an example of a deck along one of the bluffs that was built just a bit too close to the edge!

The closer we came to the lock, the stronger the current became! By the time we reached the lock we were fighting a current that reduced our speed from 7.8 mph to 5 mph! Those last 10 miles were VERY long ....

But the timing for the Pickwick lock couldn't have been much better as we had to float for only about 10 minutes until the lock water was lowered and we were able to enter.

Another hour and we arrived at Grand Harbor Marina. Long day.


We'll stay a couple of nights ....