Tennessee River Thru Paddle - Day 3 (4/13/21)

Magical Day on the River

Start: River Mile: 609

Finish: River Mile: 587

Day Total: 23

Trip Total: 65

Cold last night, even though the thermometer said 50, it felt much colder. At 6:45, the sun was just below the horizon and casting a beautiful glowing morning light on our world. Warm coffee and a breakfast biscuit and all was right in the world.

Since we were camped at a boat ramp, we had pulled out boats out on our portage wheels. We then just leave them on the wheels and it feels like we are car camping. No hauling gear up from the river. Everything is right there, and pack up is much easier. 

We launched at 8:45 and paddled out into a river that was flat as glass. Temp was in the low 60s and partly cloudy skies make for near perfect paddling conditions. We had 7 miles until we reached the Fort Lauren Lock & Dam. 

Riding the elevator down

We called ahead and spoke with the Lock Master Justin, when we were an hour away. He said there was no traffic coming from down river and that he would have the chamber filled and waiting for us when we got there. As promised as we approached, the massive doors swung open and we paddled into the chamber that can hold a tow boat and 4 barges. In our Mississippi River paddle, our largest drop was 30 feet and most for 10-20 feet. Well, today we dropped to 30 feet, then 40, then 50, then 60, then 70...and finally 75 feet!! We hadn’t asked the Lock Master how big the drop was. We we were starting to wonder, did he forget us? Once the doors at the far end of the chamber opened, we paddling out into a river that had a swift current. A few minutes of exciting paddling in the wash of the spillway and we were on our way to our lunch stop in Lauden, TN. 

75 feet below the river above

Lauden is a cute little river town. We walked to the Carmichael Inn for lunch. It was nice to have a sit down meal on comfortable chairs. The food was good and they even helped us charge our devices.

The last leg of the days paddle just reinforced how magical a day on the water this was. No wind, perfect temperatures and a nice current. Jon looked over at me and said, “these conditions are why we do these big river trips”. I couldn’t agree more.

As it write this, our camp is set on a bank, 15 feet above the Tennessee River, on beautiful pasture land. Birds are singing, our bellies are full and our hearts are bursting. I don’t want this magical day to end. 

Our beautiful view from camp