A nice run down the Tennessee to a secure anchorage.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Days 54 on the Loop – Pebble Isle Marina - Tennessee River to Double Island Anchorage (46.54 Miles).

Pebble Island Marina was nice.    It was nice having shore power (electricity) to turn on the heat in the morning, since it was quite chilly.   I am supposed to have a diesel powered heater on board, but that has never worked and I have not been able to find anywhere to fix it.

Vicki returning to the boat at Pebble Isle Marina

On the dock at Pebble Island Marina

In the morning many Loopers went to the office to pick up cinnamon rolls that the marina provides to guests.  :)  We skipped on that, but other said they liked them.

Before leaving the marina I spent some time on the phone making calls to ask for quotes for having Sunny Tug trucked from Iuka MS (Aqua Yacht Harbor) to Orange Beach, AL (Saunders Yacht Services). 

Lady Finger Promontory on the Tennessee River

The ride up the Tennessee River was very pleasant, with no locks and a relatively short run down to our planned anchorage behind Double Island at mile 148.5. 

Mileages are calculated from the mouth of the river.  The Tennessee started at Paducah, KY.  References are made by right or left "descending bank," so our anchorage tonight was a mile 148.5 Right Descending Bank (RDB).  This means that it was actually on our left hand side since we are going against the current (ascending).   

Channels are marked by buoys.  The rule is "Red Right Returning" so if you are going up the river (as we are) then the buoys are on the right hand side.  This comes from the idea that you are returning from the sea and going up a river to your home.   

On the Mississippi River the red buoys were on our left, since we were going with the current (i.e. down river).

Red buoys are known as "nun buoys," because they have pointy tops, like a nun's habit (or so the folklore says).  The green buoys are called "cans" and they are drum-like and the name seems to fit.   Having differing shapes is very helpful, since the color is often not distinguishable as you squint into the sun looking at them.

Double Island Anchorage

We did run quite quickly today, despite the short distance, since we wanted to get to our anchorage around 4:00 pm to be well settled in by the time the light faded (around 6:00 pm). We achieved that and explored the anchorage, which was recommended in the Skipper Bob book, and anchored in about 12' of water.

Safely anchored behind Double Island.   12' in sand.  The current is very gentle.

Vicki did some painting (she is taking a water color class) and I got caught up on some emails and phone calls.  My Verizon Mifi has worked out very well this trip, and we have internet access even in this remote anchorage.

After a spaghetti dinner it was fun to enjoy the quiet evening and to turn in early.  "Looper Midnight" is around 9:00 pm and most of head to bed around then.