7/28/17 – 8/15/17:  Counce, Tn ( MM 215) to Knoxville, Tn ( MM 648) = 376.27 NM & 7 Locks

Grand Harbor Marina, Counce, TN. Is located at the intersection of the Tenn-Tom River ( MM 449.7) and the Tennessee River ( MM 215). From MM 215 head southeast on the Tennessee River towards Chattanooga, a 249 SM (statute miles) trip, then to Knoxville another 184 SM, for a total of 433 SM.

Along the way we saw some amazing birds.

7/28/17:  Grand Harbor Marina, Counce, TN. (MM 215 Tennessee River & Tenn- Tom) – Rogersville, Al. Cove Hideout Anchorage (MM 268 Tennessee River) = 49 NM & 1 Lock

This is a small cove surrounded by houses with docks on all sides except the entrance.

7/29/17: Rogersville, Al. Cove Hideout Anchorage (MM 268 Tennessee River) – Joe Wheeler State Park Anchorage (MM 277 Tennessee River)  = 7.8 NM & 1 Lock

Went through the Wheeler lock & anchored out at Joe Wheeler State Park. When we came in the Marina hailed us to see if we needed fuel or a slip for the night. We said no we were anchoring out. They let us know that we could Dink over for free live music from 1 to 6 today and a Seafood Buffet starting at 5 pm. Just tie up anywhere on their dock for FREE. This is why I like Joe Wheeler park so much. Looking forward to a good day.

I got to be Captain while Russ cooked out.

7/30/17: Rogers Joe Wheeler State Park Anchorage (MM 277 Tennessee River) – Huntsville, Alabama, Ditto Landing Marina ( MM 333 Tennessee River) = 47.28 NM

We stopped for a couple of days at Ditto Landing. Our sister ships ‘At Last’ GH37 and ‘Sea Dream’ N47 call this marina home. 

8/1/17: Huntsville, Alabama, Ditto Landing Marina ( MM 333 Tennessee River) – Stevenson, Alabama, Raccoon Creek Anchorage ( MM 398 Tennessee River) = 56.48 nm

In 2014 we anchored at Raccoon Creek and it was just as we remembered. The entrance is narrow but we anchored just past the power lines and had a peaceful night.

8/2/17: MILESTONE

Today marks 100 days since we left aboard Twelve Stones from Ft. Myers, Fl. We will have traveled by waterway over 2000 miles. Crossed the Gulf of Mexico (a 24 hour trip), been in 5 States (some more than once), and successfully locked through 21 Locks. The memories are priceless. 

8/2/17: Stevenson, Alabama, Raccoon Creek Anchorage ( MM 398 Tennessee River) – Cedar Creek Anchorage (MM 427 Tennessee River) = 29 NM & 1 Lock

Most all our anchorages are peaceful. 

We passed the TVA Widows Creek Fossil Plant. The 63 year old plant has been shut down and was on the top 20 worst pollution plants list. Google has purchased the location and plans to build a $600 million dollar data processing center. The data processing center, one of only 14 worldwide will create 75 to 100 jobs for the nearby town of Stevenson, population 2000. What a great Cinderella story.

Widows Creek Fossil Plant - A Cinderella Story

We arrived at the Nickajack Lock and there was a Tow that had already been there an hour that had to break apart to lock through. We ended up waiting 3 hours for the Tow to get through. Right next to the Lock is a public boat ramp which afforded us the opportunity to lower our anchor and hang out. Lockmaster said overnight anchoring is okay at this location. Good to know for our return trip. Lucy for us once past the Lock there was a nice anchorage.

8/3/17: Cedar Creek Anchorage (MM 427 Tennessee River) – Chattanooga, TN - Erwin Marina - Bluff Docks (MM 464 Tennessee River) = 37.34 NM

This is our 2^nd time staying at the Chattanooga downtown docks and we have enjoyed each visit.  There are 77 steps from the dock to the top of the hill where downtown is located. Over the 4 days we stayed here Russ walked over 30 MILES!

Of course we loaded up on MOON PIES….

Nashville had the land cycle bars , Chattanooga has a boat!

8/7/27: Chattanooga, TN - Erwin Marina - Bluff Docks (MM 464 Tennessee River) – Watts Bar Dam, Tied up to an abandoned dock ( MM 530 Tennessee River) =  50 NM  & 2 Locks

After leaving Watts Bar there is an abandoned resort dock which we were able to tie up at for the night. It was a peaceful night.

8/8/18: Watts Bar Dam (MM 530 Tennessee River) - Lenoir City, Tellico Lake Anchorage ( MM 604 Little Tennessee River) = 64.3 NM & 2 Locks.

We ducked into to Lake Tellico just for the night but we will be back to Tellico Lake after Knoxville.

8/9/17: Lenoir City, Tellico Lake Anchorage ( MM 604 Little Tennessee River) – Fort Loudon Marina, Lenoir, Tn  (MM 602) = 2.3 NM

The Fort Loudon Lock is undergoing construction so John about RecRoom had to raft off us in the Lock. I think he enjoyed that.

Fort Loudon Marina turned out to be more than we ever expected. The staff is excellent, they have two great restaurants onsite, and a courtesy van. The town has everything you need. We were able to take both dogs to the PetSmart vet for their checkups and Ike even got groomed.

As luck would have it there was  a new Petro Restaurant that opened about 10 miles from the marina, yum!

8/15/17: Fort Loudon Marina, Lenoir, Tn  (MM 602) – Knoxville Downtown City Docks, Knoxville, Tn. (MM 652) = 45 NM

We left Fort Loudon Marina and headed to Knoxville. By car the trip would have been less than 20 miles by boat it was 50. The river twists, turns, and winds revealing the biggest houses we have ever seen on the river. McMansions! One of the things on our bucket list was to go all the way to the headwaters of the Tennessee River and we did just that. Past Knoxville it is secluded and breathtaking views. Glad I get to do this with the love of my life.

Tennessee Headwaters:

The Tennessee River is formed at the confluence of the Holston and French Broad rivers on the east side of present-day Knoxville, Tennessee. From Knoxville, it flows southwest through East Tennessee toward Chattanooga before crossing into Alabama. It loops through northern Alabama and eventually forms a small part of the state's border with Mississippi, before returning to Tennessee. 

At the Tennessee River headwaters.