CUMBERLAND TOWHEAD ISLAND, KY TO GRAND RIVERS, KY

Monday, August 25th, 2014

Day 21
Miles Traveled: 32
Total Miles Traveled: 616


   We were both very excited about entering the Cumberland River and traveling a new waterway.  The Cumberland River is about 700 miles long, but only 381 miles are navigable.  There are 4 dams on the Cumberland River that form four "lakes" - Barkley Lake, Cheatham Lake, Old Hickory Lake, and Cordell Hull Lake.


  Smithland, KY, the first town that we passed, was at the confluence of the Ohio River and the Cumberland River.  It is reported to be the oldest incorporated town on the Ohio River.  Just along the river bank is the Gower House.  In about 1780, it served as a luxury inn for travelers on the Ohio River.  Several presidents stayed here, and, it was used as a backdrop for the motion picture "How the West Was Won".  

Gower House

  Previous days on the Ohio River was mostly flat land.  Upon entering the Cumberland River, we started to see hills and bluffs again.  Bissell Bluff is the highest bluff on the Cumberland River between the Ohio River and Barkley Dam.

Bissell Bluff

  Barkley Lock and Dam had the highest lift we have had so far on this journey.  It has a lift (if going upriver) or drop (if going downriver) of 57 feet.  This lock releases 37.5 million gallons of water every time it is emptied.

Inside lock at Barkley Lock and Dam

  The view leaving Barkley Lock was much different than that before the lock.  The Cumberland River, before Barkley Lock and Dam, is narrow with many bends. After the lock, there is a large body of water called Barkley Lake.  This is a very popular boating area for the state of Kentucky and neighboring states. 

Entering Barkley Lake

  We ended the day at Green Turtle Bay Marina.  We took a swim in their pool to get some relief from the heat.  It has been extremely hot the past several days, with heat index up to 105 degrees.