DEFEATED CREEK

Sept. 16, 2009---At 3:00 a.m. the rain pounded down upon the Dream Manor with considerable noise. At 7:00 a.m. we decided to start up river as the rain was just a good drizzle. There was a lot of fog in the hills. After I handled the boat for an hour, manuvering around floating debris in less than desirable conditions, we reached mile marker 365.5 on the Cumberland River. We made a captains decision and turned around to reduce further risk.

Keith took his turn at the controls after we started back down river. Our goal was to have reached the end of the navigational channel at mile 381. There were only 15.5 miles to go, but common sense said this was close enough. Interesting to note that traveling down the Tennessee River from Knoxville, TN to Grand Rivers, KY (Green Turtle Bay) and up the Cumberland River to the turn around point has covered 965 river miles. Cross country from here to Knoxville is about 100 miles! Amazing isn't it?

Some erie sights were created by the fog and low clouds.

It was interesting how these trees had grown together forming a natural arch.

The weather began to clear somewhat, but we drove in and out of rain for 6 hours. There was no competition on the river as no other boats were seen today. Perhaps this weather is the reason the boating season is considered over after Labor Day weekend.

Info from the internet:

Kudzu was introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Countries were invited to build exhibits to celebrate the 100th birthday of the U.S. The Japanese government constructed a beautiful garden filled with plants from their country. The large leaves and sweet-smelling blooms of kudzu captured the imagination of American gardeners who used the plant for ornamental purposes

Kudzu is the fastest growing vine in the United States and now covers about seven million acres in the south. Now there is a lot of effort to get rid of the vine. It grows over top of everything in its path creating some strange looking creatures.

The rain stopped as we turned starboard at mile 316.8 and went up Defeated Creek about 1.5 miles to anchor for the night. We chose a spot past the Defeated Creek Marina. Travel today was 56.4 miles. This location on Cordell Hull Lake is about 5 river miles from the lock. We called and made arrangements to lock thru at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. This lock requires 24 hour notice. As the crow flies we are about 5 miles from the town of Carthage, TN.