In Search of the Green Turtles

Day 132  | Grand Rivers   

We knew early in the week that we'd be stopping here at Green Turtle Bay, so we ordered up a new router to meet us here. We went to the ship's store as soon as it opened to pick up our FedEx box. It felt like Christmas as Barry excitedly unpacked the contents. The new wifi receiver is much faster and should make life onboard (uploading this blog and streaming TV) a bit more comfortable. The day started out chilly, but by 10:00 it had warmed up significantly and warranted the first change of clothes. We are on a port tie, so I took the opportunity to clean and wax a portion of the port stern that had some fender rash on it. Once nice and clean, Barry applied a little silicone sealant on our rub rail and we could check another project off the list. A quick walk to the office led to the discovery of an eponymous "green turtle." He was rather small and neither one of us believed the other had enough flexibility to get down, pose with it, and get back up. The marina signage touted the benefits of a Turtle Lifestyle.

The marina has close to 500 slips and many of them are covered -- even the ones for large trawlers and houseboats. They have a cute little logo that seemed to pop up on everything in this sprawling resort. Houseboats, which we haven't seen since the Kirkfield area of the Trent-Severn waterway, are very popular in both Barkley Lake and Kentucky Lake. The one pictured below has a full-sized hot tub on the upper deck.

On our walk through the resort, we saw dozens of deer casually hanging out and unconcerned by our presence. In sharp contrast, we saw a total of two turtles.

We have a full house of Loopers on the transient dock. and were glad to see the power catamaran Felix pull in beside us this afternoon. Following yet another change of clothes, we took the resort's shuttle, a stretch golf cart, to the Thirsty Turtle Tavern for dinner.

We sat on the deck and listened to the band while the sun set over the Barkley Lock and Dam. As soon as the sun fell below the tree line, the temperature dropped about twenty degrees, and we made a quick retreat back to Crossroads in need of sweatpants and a hoodie.

We will leave here mid-morning tomorrow for a short trip up the Cumberland River to an anchorage on the western shore. At this point, we are not in a hurry and are looking forward to some short travel days and peaceful nights on the hook.