Hello fellow cruisers,We stayed at Green Turtle Bay for 2 days, resting up after the 101 miles on the Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers. We then headed across the canal that connects Lakes Barkley and Kentucky, and headed down(south) and up(upriver) the Tennessee River.
The TN River(aka Kentucky Lake) is w-i-d-e here, and very calm the day we were there... a glorious day to be on the water. And, after the mud of the MS, we celebrated the clearer water.
But, there wasn't much of it: the water was already at winter pool level (ie down 5-6'), thus making entrances to marinas very shallow, and beaches all along the way. At 1:25 on Thursday, we turned into Cuba Landing Marina at Mile 115.2, 'crossing our wake' after 49 weeks and 343 days of travel. As we drove up, we could see our truck parked on shore, brought out by daughter Joy and Mike last Sunday. Good to see it, but a sign of the end of the trip.
Inside the marina office was a bag waiting for us: the key to the truck, and the package containing our AGLCA Gold Burgee... flown only by those who have completed the Loop. Besides feeling sad that the cruising was over, we were elated at the accomplishment. 
Jack quickly took down the white burgee and put up the gold. 
Still, our faces show how we felt as we prepared the boat to travel over the road, and as we waited for
the truck and trailer to arrive. The low water levels put the trailer wheels (4 axles) in the mud off the end of the ramp, and the water shallow at the approach. But we were able to get it
secured for the 100 mile trip back to Nashville and 4 Corners. Here's the view from the boat and trailer as we backed down the ramp and into Percy Priest Lake at 4 Corners on Friday 
afternoon. Throughout the weekend folks at the marina greeted us, many who had followed us throughout the trip via this blog. We have already told many stories (which we love), and answered the question: would you do it again? Our unison response: in a heartbeat! We are already promising each other to at least get a trailerable boat and return to areas we missed or didn't visit as much as we'd like. But for now, we're connecting with family and friends and all the business of life. We're thrilled to be able to take this Great Adventure and to have this way to share it with you. We don't know who all of you are, but would like to hear from you by name so we'll know who traveled with us. If you'd like, contact us by email: nczolr@gmail.com or jack3680@gmail.com.
Here's some of the stats:
Miles traveled: 5210 by water plus 200 by road
Days: 343 (49 weeks)
Engine Hours: +- 700
Average fuel consumption: 1 mile/gallon except on the MS (+- 1.5mpg)
Most we paid for gas: almost $5/gallon in Canada :(
Locks: +120
States: 17 plus Ontario, Canada
Nights in anchorages: 38
Nights at free docks: 15
Nights on mooring balls: 15
Nights on lock walls: 12
Mechanical issues: water pumps 2x, head 1x, tuneup 1x, plus regular maintenance
Turned back: 2x for mechanical issues, 2x for wind and waves (1 more we should have)
Off-boat trips: 2x to Tennessee, 1x to New Hampshire
Once again, Be safe, know God is with you, and keep in touch.
nan and jack
