OUR GREAT LOOP ADVENTURE BEGINS!! FRANKLIN FURNACE, OH TO MANCHESTER ISLAND, KY

Tuesday, August 5th, 2014

Day 1
Miles Traveled Today: 57
Total Miles Traveled: 57


  Our Great Loop journey has begun.  It has been 1 month since our return home from the "Shake Down" cruise to Pittsburgh.  One difference with this trip is the new burgee (flag) that is flying from our bow (front of the boat).  It is the white AGLCA (America's Great Loop Cruisers Association) burgee which indicates that we are currently doing "The Loop".  

New "Loopers"

 


  We arrived again at "the gateway to our adventure", otherwise known as Greenup Lock and Dam.  This time we went through it and the journey has begun.

Exiting Greenup Lock and Dam

The next time we see these gates will be on our return trip home in about 14 months and then we will be known as "Gold Loopers".

Gates closing at Greenup Lock and Dam

  There are not many towns along this section of the Ohio River.  The largest is Portsmouth, OH and is where Angie worked for over 6 years.  It is home to Roy Rogers and Branch Rickey.  We all know who Roy Rogers is, but as for Branch Rickey, he was a baseball executive who created the framework for the modern minor league farm system and hiring the first African American and Hispanic players.

Flood wall at Portsmouth, OH

  We also passed by Shawnee State Forest.  It is the largest of Ohio's forests and has been known as "The Little Smokies".  Can you see the blue haze?  These forests have this in common and it is caused by moisture in the air which is generated by many trees. 

Shawnee Forest

  We ended this day at a beautiful anchorage around Manchester Island.  This is a common place for boats to anchor, especially on the weekends.  It is also part of a National Wildlife Refuge.  We hoped that no wild life would seek refuge on out boat during the evening.  

Manchester Island anchorage

  This day was a great start to a great adventure!!