Sunday, July 22

Badgett Playhouse - Grand Rivers, KY

Lake Barkley - sailboat dingy of choice is the jet ski

Kentucky Penitentiary - Old Eddyville - Lake Barkley

Once again, the place to be was on the water - today we cruised Lake Barkley.  As we left the Green Turtle Bay Marina we immediately took notice of all the large barge tows - three deep waiting to lock through the Barkley Dam.   We were grateful not to be part of that line-up, as pleasure craft always take a back seat to any commercial traffic.   We would have been waiting for hours.
Instead we turned down the main channel that parallels the shoreline of the Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area.  There were many protected coves and far less boat traffic than yesterday.
Although the main channel is well marked and deep, Lake Barkley is known for its navigational hazards.  Created in 1966 by the construction of the Barkley Dam, it is a man-made lake which changed the landscape of this area.   Many large foundations of previous buildings, cemetery tombstones and in fact most of a town - Old Eddyville - now lie beneath the surface of the water, along with the usual suspects like tree stumps and sand bars.
A few structures remain to tell the story of the town, one of the most impressive being the Kentucky State Penitentiary.  Built inland more than a hundred years ago, today it rests of the shore of Lake Barkley and is affectionately referred to by locals as the "Castle on the Cumberland."

Barge tow line-up for Barkley Lock

Over the weekend we had the chance to attend "The Super 60's Show" at the Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers.  Featuring talented performers, many from Nashville, and showcasing the great tunes of that era, it was a fun evening - but according to Charlie they butchered Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.