Paris Landing state park marina

The strange creature floating in the water at the marina

We travelled 43 miles today along the Tennessee river, Kentucky lake. Beautiful day to travel and nice marina, but poor Internet access. Will describe more of the trip when Internet access is better.
Much as we like Green Turtle Bay, it is time to move on. Exited the marina into Barklay Lake, then immediately entered the cut between Barclay and Kentucky Lakes, exited the cut into Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River. Kentucky Lake was formed when Kentucky Dam was built; in doing so, the town of Birmingham, which at one time had 500 people, was flooded. The charts warn that you stay well within the markers because there are still submerged building foundations. Kentucky Lake was a rich source of freshwater mussels, and mussel harvesting boats used to be common. The mussels were exported to Japan, where they were used to seed oysters for pearl production. Disease problems in Japan and export difficulties have reduced the overseas market, so now only a few divers gather mussels by hand.


As we moved through Kentucky Lake, we noticed large nests built on the markers; they are osprey nests. We are docked at Paris Landing State Park marina, a pretty marina in a state park with a beach, huge conference centre, restaurant, etc. Fuel and dockage prices are very good here. When we arrived, we noticed things floating in the water that look like huge jellyfish. They are apparently plants that grow on the bottom of the lake and occasionally break loose and float to the top. They only grow in clean water, and they only grow in this area. The proper name for them is bryazoia.

You know you are moving south when:

• Marinas are open year round

• You see your first magnolia tree



Much of the shoreline as we travelled today was like this.