Tennessee River Thru Paddle - Day 24 (5/4/21)

Big Bad Scary Storm

Start: River Mile: 207

Finish: River Mile: 207

Day Total: Zero

Trip Total: 447

Well, here we are again. For the second time this trip we are weather bound. Luckily we are at a spot were we can get safe, warm and dry lodging. The State Park and Pickwick Landing has a really nice Lodge, right on the water. Shawn was able to drop us here after breakfast. He had to get back on the road so he could be back in Austin TX by tomorrow night. It sure was awesome having Shawn with us the last three days. He and Jon the the two friends I have spent the most time traveling with in the last 15 years and having them both together was really special. I’m blessed to have both of these guys in my life.

Backing up a second, the three of us wanted to go out for breakfast this morning. Shawn found a place called R&B cafe, just a mile or so from our hotel. Walking into the cafe was like walking back in time. The small dinning room was packed with old timers, no one was under 70 and not a female customer to the be seen. Our server was very cheerful and fun. She clearly knew the majority of the jokers in this this place and knew how to keep them all in their place. 

Back at the Lodge, we cleared all of our gear from Shawns car. We said our thank you’s and goodbyes and went into the lodge to get our room. Check in was not until 4:00 but they let us hang out in the restaurant with a nice view of the river and lock. Jon buckled down and got a lot of work done, I got caught up on e-mails and blogging. I also checked in the Brad Collett over at Tennessee RiverLine and he reminded me that we had someone right down the river in Savannah, TN that wanted to meet us. Beth Pippin is the Tourism Director for Hardin County. I reached out and she offered to meet us at 5:30 to take us to dinner.

Having our dinner plans locked down,  after lunch I went back to the room and took a nap. Ahh, the joys of a zero day. Watching the storm come in really made us glad we were not on the river. 

Weather bound at Pickwick Landing 

Dinner with Beth was really nice. We visited a local restaurant on the opposite side of the river, so we got to drive across the bridge over the Lock & Dam. The Outpost (https://www.facebook.com/pickwickoutpost/) restaurant was a really fun, eclectic place that had a little bit of everything from a restaurant, gift shop, meat counter, canned preserves, art gallery and much, much more. You could easily while away a lazy afternoon here. My wife Christina would absolutely love it!

We loved hearing Beth talk about the events her county puts on. We also talked quite a bit about the RiverLine 652 project. That project has been the common thread connecting so many of the people we’ve met to the river and by default to us. This river, the Tennessee connects so many towns, businesses and people together. Most of the time we don’t even stop to think about this. But a through paddle really brings this front and center in our minds. Hats off again the Brad Collett and all the people he has connected to the river to each other and to us. 

Thank you Beth for a great dinner!

Tomorrow we hope get any early start and take advantage of the clear and cooler paddling conditions. After a zero day I’m always comping at the bit to get back in my boat and dip my paddle in the water.