Getting Closer to the Smoky Mountains

 Leaving our dock we had to pass the lily pads and about a half mile of weeds before reaching the River channel.

This house on a hill had 4 flights of stairs going down to their boat house! How would you like to climb them after a day on the lake? Look close on the left side of the stairs to see a way to get up from the dock to the house without walking those many steps... a tram awaits.

Here we are about to go under three bridges all at once... I didn't believe it when Walter told me this until.....

A tug up ahead looked familiar and reading the name on it with our binoculars confirmed it was our old friend, the Lexington, which we passed yesterday... he kept going while we slept. We caught up and passed him again which ensured us getting into today's lock ahead of him.  As I am writing this after we stopped for the night, he is passing us again!

A cold front is suppose to come through Sunday night but in the meantime it is hot and humid on the bridge. So the Captain kept cool by removing his socks and shoes... now if he could just figure out how to pilot the boat with his bare feet!

This is the Shelby A. Rhinehart highway Bridge...Pretty, eh?

We are heading into the Nickajack Lock.

Exiting the Lock to find calm waters.

Beautiful lake with reflection of the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and clouds.

We didn't expect to be this far along so soon but we have made such good time with no slow downs at the locks on the TN River. We called the city docks in Chattanooga and tried to get in there earlier but they are full for this weekend.  We have found inexpensive dockage for tonight about 30 miles down river.  We will use the next few days of waiting for an attempt to push back the constant mildew that is about to cover the old people aboard Miss gg!  I can also get caught up with the wash.... and have a couple of slow, delicious mornings!