Dry Creek to Panther Creek

Dry Creek  Wednesday 10/12

Went past the  Shiloh battlefield today. Locked through Pickwick lock with Southern Belle & Resolute.  When we came through into Pickwick Lake we noticed that the landscape had changed from the low banks and flat foot hills to higher bluffs with large beautiful homes.

This afternoon we  anchored in a cove that is called Dry Creek along with Southern Belle who was about  200 yds away.  It started raining after dinner and continued until 10:30 am on Thursday morning.  In the middle of the night we heard a scraping sound coming from the front of the boat.  We were both up trying to figure out what this noise could be.  After checking every thing we could think of , John thought it was the chain from the anchor dragging along the bottom of the lake.  Mary was not quiet convinced and settled into the couch so as not to hear the sound  from the front cabin any more. We left our anchorage after a leisurely breakfast.  Our next destination was only about five miles away. An easy day.

Sunset at anchor, Mary says we are posting too many sunsets,  oh well.

Shiloh from the Tennessee River.

Pickwick Lock, where we dropped 55 feet.

This is the floating bollard we have to tie up to in the locks.

One of the many LARGE houses on Pickwick Lake.

Grand Harbor Thursday 10/13 – Sunday 10/16

We stayed at Grand Harbor from Thursday through Monday. Our slip was quiet a way’s from the laundry, showers and marina office.  We used the dingy to get over since it was a lot closer that way and a fun ride.

We needed to use the dinghy to get to the marina office.

Its for sale.

Friday was spent going to Savannah Tn. to  our new favorite  store…. Wal Mart, plus we did find a Kroger’s which was a nice change of pace. Savannah has an historic district and one of the homes is Cherry Mansion. One of the reasons it is well known is because General Ulysses Grant was eating breakfast their on April 6, 1862 when he heard distant dull thuds of artillery fire as the Confederate forces were beginning their attack at Shiloh.  The house continued to serve as Grants headquarters during this two day battle.

Slightly overgrown Cherry Mansion.

Saturday was color and cut day at the resort for both Mary and Chris. It was certainly different to go to some one other than my hair stylist of the past 25 years.  I miss you Tracy!!   That evening we went to a local restaurant named Freddy T’s with fellow Loppers from Resolute and Southern Belle. Good food and even better company.

Halloween decorations at Grand Harbor.

Sunday was spent touring Shiloh National Park.  The battle at Shiloh was ;named after a church on the battlefield. Shiloh in Hebrew witch means place of peace.  Ironic !!   More than 103,000 Union and Confederate soldiers along with two gunboats were involved in the two day battle.  By the time the battle had ended 23,000 men were dead or wounded. The park covered over 4,000 acres with 156 monuments and some 217 cannons. It was very impressive and moving.

The Shiloh Cemetery Gate.

We are in front of one of the Illinois monuments.

Shiloh Church.

Shiloh looking at the Tennessee River.

Panther Creek  Monday 10/17

Short run today, five miles.  After a free pump out we headed to out to find an anchorage on Pickwick Lake with Southern Belle.  We had hoped to stop at one with a waterfall, but it was small and there was another boat there already.  Too bad as it was quite nice.  We ended up at Panther Creek, which was  also very nice.  We each set our own anchors.  Chris & Kerm launched their dinghy and came over for cocktails.  They told us they had decided not to go to Chattanooga and instead start headding down the Tenn Tom. We have truly  enjoyed traveling with them for the past few weeks and are hoping that we will meet up with them again  some where along the way in the next few weeks. 

The boat that got to the water fall spot first.

The waterfall.

Swings at the waterfall cove.

Panther Cove.

After  cocktails Kerm was not comfortable with how the boats had twisted around and wanted to reset his anchor.  As they tried to reset the anchor it got snagged on a large stump and it took them a while to free it.  By the time they were free it was dark, so they rafted up with us for the evening.  Everything was fine overnight.

Our Buddies, Kerm  and Chris

We are going to miss our new friends and our "buddy boat" we sure hope to meet up with them somewhere don the river.

Mary & John