Tennessee: Densons Island Anchorage

Day: 104

NM Today: 27

NM Total: 2146

Locks Today: 0

Locks Total: 82

We enjoyed our stay at Pebble isle Marina very much.  The day started today with fresh-baked complimentary cinnamon rolls provided by the marina that were absolutely delicious!  Free coffee was also provided but neither Clark nor I drink coffee.

Pebble Isle Marina reflections

PIC 2306 – Pebble Isle Marina

Before leaving Pebble Isle Marina, Clark and I decided to take the bicycles out for a tour of the neighboring Johnsonville State Historic Park.  I found the history of the area very interesting including the importance of the area to the Civil War as a Union army supply depot for General Sherman’s “March to the Sea”.  In 1864 Confederate General Nathan Forrest destroyed the supply base and the defending gunboat flotilla as well.  Per the information at the park, this event is the only record of a naval force being engaged and defeated by a cavalry force.  In all Forrest’s forces sank 33 Union vessels, destroyed two trains, and burned six million dollars’ worth of supplies. 

Johmsonville State Historic Park

Lookout over Tennessee River
from the Johnsonville State Park

Civil War Earthworks -- Rifle Pit

Canon for Guarding the River

Besides the civil war history lesson we learned that the entire town of Johnsonville ceased to exist in 1945.  For a hundred years the town was home to many families, but the area suffered severe flooding from the Tennessee River.  The TVA purchased the land including all farm lands, factories, and residential areas and all inhabitants were relocated.  Dams were constructed, and Kentucky Lake now sits where the town once stood.

The Tennessee River Cruise Guide points out that as we cruise the river, we travel over the remains of all those sunk Union vessels as well as whatever remains of those farms, factories, and houses that were vacated when Kentucky Lake was created.  At the restaurant last night (Clark and I had ice cream cones for dessert) we heard one lost anchor story that is relevant to this subject. 

A boater doing the loop put his anchor down in a recommended anchorage, but when it came time to pull up the anchor he could not bring the anchor up.  He had to mark and cut the anchor line to leave the anchor behind.  The boater hired a diver to go down to retrieve the anchor.  The diver failed to retrieve the anchor, but instead, as he searched under water he found old farm equipment.   Old roads, foundations of demolished homes, and who knows what else all lie beneath Kentucky Lake.

We left Pebble Isle Marina around 10:30 and traveled with two other Mainships – Ariel and Time Out whom we have known since the Trent-Severn Canal in Canada.  We reached our destination around 3:00 and anchored together in Densons Island anchorage.  As we pulled into the anchorage we noticed several Cypress trees whose roots are visible above the waterline. 

Typical River Scene --
note cypress tree roots showing above the water

3 Mainships in a Row
Densons Island anchorage
on the Tennessee River

Robert and Corinne from Ariel like to row so they pulled out their modified stand-up paddle-board rowing equipment.  When Corinne came by our boat, she convinced Clark he should pull out his kayak.  He joined them on the water for some exploration of the area as well as conversation off the back of their boat.  I stayed on Sea Moss and did some much needed window cleaning.  Between the panels on the full enclosure on the upper helm and the cabin windows, I had some pretty dirty water to dispose of when I was done.

We are all heading for the same marina tomorrow night and expect to travel together for a couple of days until we part ways as we continue on the Tennessee River to the AGLCA Rendezvous, and they turn onto the Tenn-Tom waterway to continue on their way towards Mobile, Alabama.

NOTE: Regarding yesterday’s bridge to nowhere and the abandoned building.  I read in a guide book that the partial bridge is all that remains of the L&N railroad bridge, and the abandoned building was used for shipping grain on the Tennessee River before the Kentucky Dam was built.  Apparently the building was so well built that attempts to destroy it failed, so officials decided to leave it standing.