Almost Heaven!!! Green Turtle Bay in Grand Rivers, KY

Green Turtle Bay                       Grand Rivers, KY                               October 18-25, 2015

                                                                Hunter Moon

Despite thinking we would sleep in we still got up and going early. Mom remembered Jill on Chasin 80 saying that she used the raw water hose & pump to clean off the chain & anchor while bringing it up. Mom took charge of bringing up the anchor and it was a lot less of a mess!!! I decided to help her out and pee on the back mat after she had put the hose away… Don’t think she was happy with me! But, she didn’t say a word! She just cleaned it up! She’s a good mom!!!

It was an overcast day cruising down the Cumberland River, but we spotted a pair of eagles playing? Loads of turkey vultures, a blue heron and a mixed amount of civilization here and there along the way… As we got close to our one lock for the day, we caught up with the sailboat, Star Dust with loopers Tom and Rich. By the time we reached the locks, there were 6 boats that locked through together. 

Where the Ohio and Cumberland Split

 

Smithfield, KY on the Cumberland with it's own version of Tara...WOW!

Other buildings in this tiny town

Reflections

It was interesting to see how erosion had cut through the banks on the Cumberland River

The Captain's view of this tight Cumberland Channel

The barge closest to us was struggling since we had really good winds that day and he was pushing empties...

It's blurry because I caught it in flight playing???

Lots of gravel places along here

Big Industry here

Not sure what this use to be???

Another tiny town, Dycusburg, KY but not nearly as affluent as Smithfield

Star Dust with Tom and Rich

Definitely one of the fancy doublewides we have seen!

Barkley Lock and Dam with Star Dust

Our friendly locksman

Green Turtle Bay on our Overcast Entrance

Green Turtle Bay’s entrance was only about a mile away, so everyone was calling the marina at once. Poor Carrie in the office and the dock crew were trying to keep it together, but for the first time on this trip we saw some incredibly rude loopers. A couple speeded up their boats racing to be the first ones into the fuel docks and their slips…(when some didn’t even have reservations). In so doing they cut off the ones of us that did have reservations…we ended up in another slip other than what had been given to us which didn’t make dad happy! But, Green Turtle Bay were so sorry about it that they ended up comping M & D our first night…M & D told them NO, but they insisted so you can’t beat that for customer service! As I told Carrie, I’m not sure there was anything anyone could do with the behavior shown!!! 

When we got settled in, Sandra and John and Mom and Dad went to a nice meal at the Commonwealth Yacht Club here. I so enjoyed all the grass around that I was in heaven again!!! We got to talk to Tom and Rich and Ladonna and Walt again too…

Diny's boat. Another looper doing it by herself with Rich and Tom from Star Dust

Our first night's sunset

The Dock Grille with Violet, our darling waitress

Got a good night’s sleep! M & D went for breakfast at the Dock Grill and came back to clean. Lori and Ed were coming in late tonight so they were trying to get Moondance ship shape! They had to stop in early afternoon to have her hauled out to check out any bottom problems. Fortunately despite all the unseen log collisions the bottom was fine but our port shaft bearing was loose. They were able replace that and our zincs quickly so mom and dad were happy about that! 

Mom and dad cleaned a bit more after getting settled into a better slip space. When they went to restart their AC, the pump wasn’t working…UGH! Prior to the haul out it was working fine. M & D were so frustrated! They did what the mechanic told them to do  to burp the lines, but nothing!!! At that point you didn’t want to be around dad…he was NOT happy!  Mom got him to take a shower to cool down…They headed to the yacht club for a small dinner and met up with Bren and Mark, Sandra and John and Walt and Ladonna. 

Ed and Lori made it

 By the time they returned to the boat to wait for Ed and Lori, the night and the boat was cooling down…and our extra fans helped! When the Buns arrived M & D and Ed and Lori started sampling one of the wines that Ed and Lori had brought…so it was really late before they all went to bed! I was ready long before they were!!! M & D enjoyed the other delicious wines, cheeses and fruits they brought later during their stay! I can say the fruits and cheeses were excellent choices!!!

The next day was much cooler, but overcast and rainy… Mom and Lori took off shopping in Grand Rivers while Ed went to workout at the health club and dad waited for the mechanic. Turns out dad had to order a new pump and it won’t be put in until Monday. Thank goodness for extra heaters and fans! While shopping mom heard that Kevin & Steve were back for the night, so she decided to cook for all six on the boat. It was so great to see Lonestar’s crew again!!! They are so much fun and everyone was sharing stories like crazy!!!

Shopping in Grand Rivers at Patti's 1880's Settlement

The Pink Tractor

Green Turtle's Bay Vehicle Entrance

The Entrance to the Marina

Walking to breakfast

Everyone left me after my breakfast to go for theirs before they all separated to do different things…The main activity for all was Jade and Earth massages while Mom and Lori got pumpkin mani & pedis too! They smelled really YUMMY when they came back!

After they were all cleaned up, they drove off to see Paducah. They came back bragging about how cute the town was and how good their dinner at Bill’s in Grand River was! It was a really wonderful day! I was surprised they stayed up late again…I was ready to turn in and snuggle; especially since the temps had dropped into the forties!

Saturday Ed and Lori left after breakfast leaving mom and I to do the laundry and dad to work ahead on navigation. It was a beautiful crisp fall day!  Mom and I did some walking too and we really enjoyed that. Some of our looper friends moved on ahead of us today while others are behind us. Katie added some updated photos & a video of baby Ella. Boy, is she growing big!!! 

GTB's Jade and Earth Spa and Health Center

Moondance

Paducah, KY Historic Downtown 

American Queen on the Waterfront

Listening to her calliope before she was ready to leave

Paducah's Lowerville Arts District

Dry Ground Brewing Company with Ed and Lori

Lonestar's Kevin with Mike

Steve, Kevin's funny Husband

Deby snuggling with Steve

M & D had a quiet Saturday night Yacht Club dinner before dad came back to watch more of the Winds of War series and mom finished her latest book.

With more blankets on all of us including me, we all slept late this morning before getting up for breakfast. Another gorgeous day here…so lovely!!! I’m beyond relaxed!!! Dad was happy to catch some of the Formula One Race and watch other supporting events online. We all enjoyed leftovers before turning in for the night.

Monday dawned beautiful again. The Good News was our pump was in and Joe the mechanic replaced it and it's working great!!! We leave here tomorrow for Paris State Park on the Tennessee River for a night. Dad is guessing we still have 3 weeks before we get to Mobile Bay...

Our darling Ella's latest photo, she's almost 3 months now...WOW!!!