ssloop: Tennessee River - Clifton, TN to Florence, AL

We left Clifton Wednesday morning to the flatest water we have seen yet. It would have made great water skiing! After 47 miles we locked up at the Pickwick Lock. Due to strong current and running fast due to trying to lock through with another boat (19 miles per hour - wow!), we exited the lock on fumes. Luckily the Pickwick Landing State Park was right outside the dam so we could fuel up. Whew!

We continued on 11 more miles to anchor out at Waterfall Anchorage. This is a great little rock lined cove with a small stone beach and beautiful waterfall.

The next morning we hiked up to the top of the waterfall - what a view! Cooled off after our hike by swimming under the waterfall! After breakfast Sheli gave the captain a much needed haircut on the bow of the boat. You don't get views like that at every barbershop! Sheli took the dinghy over to release our two stern lines tied to trees on the banks, while Steve kept to boat in position. We thought that was the tricky part until we began lifting the anchor only to find a tree wrapped in the anchor chain. Now Sheli had to maintain the boat's position while Steve wrestled with the tree and the chain. With great teamwork mission accomplished!

Our destination for the day was Florence Harbor Marina in Florence, Alabama. We plan to stay here for a few days as they are predicting rain. Pulling into the marina, we realized we were not going to be the big dog in the marina. Slipped here is a 110 ft yacht named Freedom. She is impressive!

Friday morning we took the courtesy van to town to pick up supplies. In the afternoon we toured the Frank Lloyd Wright - Rosenbaum House that was built in the 1940s. Super neat. We could move in today! At night we had dinner with our looper friends from Twelve Stones and Endevour at a local steakhouse.

Clifton Marina