Thursday, July 26

Hungry heron at the Wilson Lock- Tennessee River

Tennessee River 600 - Wilson Lock - Tennessee River

Waterfall Cove a favorite on Lake Pickwick

In Pickwick Lake, eight miles past the dam, you can exit the Tennessee River and enter the Tenn-Tom (Tennessee-Tombigbee) Waterway which takes you to Mobile, AL. and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Tennessee River continues on for several hundred miles past Pickwick Lake and is renowned for its beauty.  A thirty mile stretch leading to Chattanooga, TN. is known as the Grand Canyon of the Tennessee.  With nothing but time on our hands, we decided to veer off on yet another side trip.
The river consists of a series of lakes created by the dams - beginning with the 55-mile long Pickwick Lake.  Next is Wilson Lake, with a length of only 15-miles long it is the shortest of all the lakes on the Tennessee.  It is also the deepest with depths up to 125 ft.  These lakes are the prettiest waters we have seen since Georgian Bay in Lake Huron.
There was great excitement locking through the Wilson Lock as we watched 46 jet skies exit en masse.  They were part of the Tennessee River 600 and were traveling down river from Knoxville, TN.  They were a fun group who haul their jet skies all over the country to cruise different waterways - maybe our next adventure? (with Kathy's next husband?)  Once inside the lock we watched two heron feast on the small fish trapped in the lock.  Maybe not the best pickins'- but it was quick & easy - sort of like the McDonald's of the avian world.

Cove on Pickwick Lake

Soon we entered Wheeler Lock, our final one of the day.  Exiting onto Wheeler Lake we could see the hint of mountains in the distance.  This lake is about 20 miles long and leads to Huntsville, AL.  and the Ditto Landing Marina.  This unusual name comes from James Ditto, a pioneer who began operating a ferry here in 1807.  Today, we cruised 118 miles and have passed through 131 locks to date.