Iuka, MS to Grand Rivers, KY

Total Miles Traveled 3039.2

We departed Aqua Yacht Harbor Marina at Iuka, Mississippi on June 15^th.  It was a busy month catching up on preventative maintenance and a little waxing on the boat.  We really enjoyed our visit with our boating friends on Priorities and The Lower Place during our stay. 

Our last lock on our cruise north from Florida was only about 6 miles from the marina.  As we entered the Tenn-Tom waterway a tow was only a half mile behind us.  By the time we arrived at the lock, the tow was about two and a half miles behind us and we were able to lock through ahead of him.  We traveled a total of 68 miles and anchored behind Double Island on the Tennessee River.

We have seen the results of major flooding from the excessive rain earlier this year.

But we have also passed some very nice homes along the river.

We passed this tow loaded down with sand and gravel.

A few miles later we passed the dredge, each conveyor loads a different size of material to each barge.

Great cruising conditions on the Tennessee River.

Someone must have purchased a new dock....or someone is missing one?

On June 16^th we traveled 60 miles and anchored in a large cove on Richland Creek.  This is an open body of water exposed to wind from most directions, but we have had great weather with highs in the 80’s, lows in the 60’s, and calm winds at night.  We weighed anchor on June 17^th and traveled 54 miles to one of our favorite anchorages on Kentucky Lake, Sugar Bay.  We anchored here for two days.

Although we could have stayed at Sugar Bay a week, we were anxious to get back home to see our family and friends and traveled our final 15 miles to Green Turtle Bay Marina where we’ll spend the summer.  Since leaving Green Turtle Bay Marina September 30, 2019 we have traveled 3039.2 miles.

The Commonwealth Yacht Club at Green Turtle Bay conducted their annual American Flag Retirement Ceremony on June 19^th.  This event normally takes place Memorial Day weekend but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the event was delayed.

The US Flag code states that, “the flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”  Thus, when a flag is torn and tattered beyond repair, it’s time for it to be retired.

A flag ceases to be a flag when it is cut into pieces.  In addition, it is easier to completely incinerate the flag, if it is cut into smaller pieces.  A flag should never be torn up like an old bed sheet.  It should be cut up with scissors or shears in a methodical manner.  The corners of the flag should be stretched out over a table top and someone should cut the flag in half, vertically, careful not to cut up the blue star field.  Then, place the two halves together and cut them in half, horizontally.  You will end up with four pieces of flag, one being the blue star field.  The reason the blue star field is not cut is it represents the union of the fifty states and one should never let the union be broken.

We replaced our worn flag while in Florida and kept the old one for proper retirement, I’m glad we were able to participate in the ceremony at Green Turtle Bay.

The Yacht Club Members, marina residents, local Cub Scouts, and a local Veterans motorcycle club participated in the ceremony.

This will be our last blog for our 2019-2020 adventure.  We will be in this area until October 1^st, and then we will start our new adventure south for the winter.