September 17-19, 2015 - Diversion Channel, Green Turtle Bay

We left Hoppies at 7:00 for a long day on the Mississippi River.  We had great weather and passed many barges.  We anchored at Little River Diversion Channel around 3:30 and relaxed the rest of the day.  We traveled a total of 107 miles, the most miles in a day on the loop to date.  We left our anchorage at about 6:50 Friday and at approximately 10:30 we left the Mississippi River and entered the Ohio River.  We arrived at the Olmsted Lock at 12:30 and were told we had to wait until about 5:00 due to construction in the canal.  There were 7 Looper boats so we all tied together and waited out the afternoon.  Finally at 5:00 a lead boat led us through the new lock and the old lock.  We traveled another 20 miles and at 7:15 anchored out for the night at mile 949 (yes, that is what it was called).  This was our longest day.  We left our anchorage at 6:30 Saturday and arrived at Lock 53 at 8:00 (which we were told to do by the lockmaster).  We were then told the wait to get into the lock would be about an hour and a half.  We finally entered the lock at 10:00 and were out around 10:30.  We eventually left the Ohio River and entered the Tennessee River.  We had one more lock (the Kentucky lock) and we waited about an hour for it.  We entered beautiful Kentucky Lake and then arrived at Green Turtle Bay Resort and Marina at 4:30.

Passing a barge on the Mississippi River

Some nice houses along the river

Our anchorage at the Diversion Channel

Sunrise on the Mississippi River

Another view from the bridge of the Mississippi River

All rafted together waiting for the Olmsted Lock - Blue Haven, Spirit,

Nearly Perfect, Reunion, Gemini;

Sea to See and Namaste separate anchor

(thanks for the picture Lila Daut)

Finally being led through the Olmsted Lock

Sunset from our anchorage at Mile 949

Passing Paducah, Kentucky

(Turns out friends Danny and June were on the beach waiving at us)

Paducah, Kentucky - leaving the Ohio River (on the left)
and entering the Tennessee River

Kentucky lock - 57 foot lift