FRANKLIN FURNACE, OH TO GUYANDOTTE, WV

Thurs, June 5th 2014

Day 1
Miles Traveled: 34
Total Miles Traveled: 34

The "Shake Down Cruise" has begun!!!  

  We left our home port of Holiday Point Marina in Franklin Furnace, OH with muddy water but great weather.  There was some debris in the river from yesterday's rain, but not enough to postpone our leaving another day.  Hoorah!!

Saying goodby for a while

The journey begins

  We passed by several of our favorite places where we raft up with our boating friends.  Our favorite spot is just upriver from Greenup, KY where there are several beautiful homes with great landscaping.  We are certain that they keep their yards nicely manicured just for our viewing pleasure when at anchor for the day. 

  Up river from Greenup is a town called Ironton, OH.  As we have come to find out today after reading some history about the town, Ironton was known as the 19th Century Las Vegas.  Back then it was a very prosperous town due to pig iron production.  Many saloons, brothels, and a racetrack were big attractions back then.

Ironton's Riverfront

  One thing we have learned from boating on the river is you never know what you are going to see.  

This property owner apparently wanted more yard.  So why not use an old abandoned barge - pretty cool. 

Dan thinks these look like river carrots.  Angie calls them the river's botanical gardens. (For those who don't know what these are - they are called dolphins and tow boats use them to tie off their barges.  These are old ones with trees and shrubs growing out of them.)

  We had a pleasant cruise past Ashland, KY and Huntington, WV and other small towns.  Dan was happy to finally be underway.  Can you tell by the size of his smile?  

Captain Dan - a happy man

  We found a nice anchorage just up river from Adam's Landing Marina in Guyandotte, WV.  This town is just upriver from Huntington, WV and may have been named Huntington, WV if the mayor back in the 1860's had not fined the owner of the C&O Railroad, Collis Huntington, for letting his horse rest on a sidewalk.  Another bit of fun history we read about while anchored here.  The evening concluded with the sun setting behind one of the bridges of Huntington, WV. 

HOME IS WHERE THE ANCHOR DROPS!!