Last Wednesday afternoon we left Chattanooga to head up river to Knoxville. It's football time in Tennessee and joining the Vol Navy has been a goal for a long time so off we went. Day one got us just on the other side of Watts Bar Dam as the sun was setting. Beautiful day and very scenic ride. Chickamauga Lake has many very nice homes all along until about the point where the Hiwassee River enters the lake. From there on to the dam, it is basically wild, undeveloped land. The river narrows and was much like the narrows south of Chattanooga. The lock at Watts Bar is the smallest we had seen, narrow with bollards on one side only. Just above the dam is a nice little state park with a well sheltered cove where we anchored and grilled dinner.
Thursday morning our goal was to start about 8 AM and have a slow cruise up to Ft Loudon Dam for dinner at Calhoun's. The trip upstream was very comfortable with another nice sunny day. The lake is wide and again lined with many beautiful homes. One of the wildest things we saw along this stretch of river was a home with a giant Power "T" cut into the grass. His boathouse had an orange and white checkerboard roof housing an orange hulled boat!! We had to wait to get through the lock, but still arrived with a little time to chill before an early dinner provided by a surprise visit from a mechanical engineer buddy who was there visiting his Mom. Thanks Steve, the ribs were fabulous as usual and the company was very enjoyable!
Friday morning did not start as planned. Fog caused a two hour delay so we did not leave until 10 AM. After one slight disorientation leaving the marina, we got into the channel and off toward Choto marina which will be the boat's home for the next three months. Now I have water skied on Ft Loudon many years ago, but oh how it has changed! As we head on north, the homes (read mansions) that we passed were unbelievable both in number and size. It took an hour to reach Choto where we stopped to find our slip and be sure all was in order. More on that later. We continued on for the next three hours enjoying the views as we got closer and closer to the Navy.
As we rounded the bend at Alcoa Highway, it all began to come into perspective. There was the Ag Campus, the Vet school, then the top of Thompson Boling, Neyland Stadium and the Navy docks. Dozens of boats were already there. We're rookies, first timers, where do we go? I passed the Lady Vols boathouse trying to figure out where the limits of the UT control ended. Not sure, so we cruised on toward Calhoun's on the river where we worked ourselves into an empty spot. My frat brother Alan was there yelling at us from the deck and saved the day by being our dock hand. No one was around so he came and caught lines, helped us get into position, tie fenders and drop anchor. He also brought ice and liquor!!
Saturday was game day. We had our first boat-gating event with about 30 people on board. I'm still not sure how they all fit. Friends, frat brothers, a co-worker, my dentist, our godson and some students all joined in. It was a blast! The new Butch Jones' Vols took the field and won the game 45-0 over Austin Peay. The entire second team played the entire second half and everyone in orange enjoyed the day.
Sunday we waited all day for Boomsday. Biggest fireworks show in the south. First time we had ever seen it. Huge crowds come and enjoy food, music, all sorts of booths and interesting sights for the whole day. Fireworks synchronized to music on a local station began at 9:30. The show did not disappoint, but the black mess on all the boats did. Apparently the wind blew in the opposite of normal direction and we all spent the next hours trying to clean up.
Monday arrives way too soon (and early). We have to get out of the raft up and go south to Choto. It's a three hour trip and the boat is still dirty, slip must be set up and we don't want Casey and Megan waiting on us forever. The departure was easier than expected. Folks were mostly up as promised or did so quickly after banging on their doors. No rain even though it was threatening. Made it to the marina and headed for our new slip which turned out to be about 4" too low. So after tearing off my anchor light, we move into one that fits and begin tying, washing and packing. Needless to say, I was not happy, happy, happy. Our friends meet us soon after we let them know all is set. Off we went to get our car in Chattanooga.
The first chapter of this adventure is finished. Can't wait to it all again!!
