We’ll Be Back!

Tellico Lake / Lenoir City, Tennessee

We continued our exploring of the beautiful Tellico Lake and headed to Fort Loudoun Historic State Park. It was just around the bend from our marina on Tellico and they had a dock so we could take our dinghy over for a visit.

We were greeted by two Park Rangers as we came off the dock and saw one more in the park. A grounds keeper named Earl, walked with us to the visitor center, pointing out some of the wildlife at the park and telling us the names he has for all the squirrels. He pointed to Nutsy, who he could identify as the squirrel with a nipped tail, lives mostly in the picnic area. He indicated Nutsy’s momma tried to castrate him and bit off a part of his tail instead. He indicated most squirrels are castrated by their mothers. So, Tasha went back and read up on this, it is an old wise tail and not true according to the experts. We aren’t sure if Earl really believed it or wanted us to think about it and look it up like we did. The visitor center had a nice collection of memorabilia found on the property, displays, giftshop, and short film. We asked to see the film, and wouldn’t you know it, Earl popped into the screening room to give the introduction. Earl was very passionate about the park and the creatures and seemed to be a jack of all trades.

From the Tennessee State Parks: Fort Loudoun was built in 1756 on 1200 acres and was one of the earliest fortifications on the western frontier. During the French and Indian War (1754-1763) the British Colony of South Carolina felt threatened by French activists in the Mississippi Valley. To counter this threat, the colony sent the Independent Company of South Carolina to construct and garrison what became Fort Loudoun. The move helped to ally the Overhill Cherokee Nation in the fight against the French and guaranteed the trade would continue between the Cherokee and South Carolina.

• 

• 

• 

During the fort’s four-year existence, relations between South Carolina and the Cherokee Nation broke down. In August of 1760, the Cherokee captured Fort Loudoun and its garrison.

After the surrender in 1760, Fort Loudoun was never used again for any military purpose. It is thought the Cherokees destroyed the fort sometime shortly after the English marched away. Nature reclaimed the site and there was no public recognition of the fort until 1917. In November of 1917 the Colonial Dames of America placed a commemorative marker at the Fort Loudoun site. The fort was reconstructed during the Great Depression. In 1933, the Tennessee General Assembly purchased the site and created an association to run in until 1977 it became a Tennessee State Park. It was added to the National Historic Landmark registry in 1965. The Fort has the best view of Tellico Lake and the Smoky Mountains off in the distance.

• 

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Tellico, the dock we stayed on was connected to the restaurant. On the weekends they have bands. We were not so thrilled at first to learn the band would be set up right beside the bow of our boat. However, they were a great band playing country and southern rock and we enjoyed sitting on the flybridge while they played.  

• 

• 

The only one not thrilled with the whole scenario was our social, spunky, golden retriever. Remy so wanted to be on the dock and at the bar socializing, though the restaurant management did not allow pups on the dock. She laid in the gunwales and stared pleading for attention, and she got it! The band even came over to see her and the base player petted her while he was playing!

We shared this story on facebook, (Mann Aboard), but we will share it again as it truly is a small world. As we headed out of the marina on our dinghy the first day, we saw the cruiser Knot Kidding, from Louisville. Knot Kidding was formerly owned by a friend who had done the loop a couple of years ago (small world – but not that small). Dustin now is a distributor of Highfield Boats – a dinghy company. David has had his eye on them and even inquired about one with Dustin prior to us leaving on the loop. We have a dinghy, nicer than any others that we have had, though it has its shortcomings. A new one would have been an added expense that we just weren’t ready to take on as we prepared for our cruise. But after our 30-mile trip to the dam (the first mate was a bit uncomfortable), and other trips with Remy that can be challenging with the one we have, the first mate thought the captain should make contact with Dustin and inquire as to if a new dinghy would meet our needs. There are many areas (like the run up to the dam) that you need a dinghy to explore and venture to places that our boat is too big to navigate. A dinghy is the key to being able to thoroughly encompass the breathtaking, memory making, nooks and crannies of America’s Great Loop. Little did the first mate know, David had started researching Highfields that next morning prior to connecting with Dustin. Those that know David will not be astounded to hear that he had a list! David then proceeds to take Remy on her morning walk and to his surprise, in the marina parking lot, a Bourbon City Yacht Tenders truck and trailer drove through with Dustin at the wheel.

• 

• 

• 

He delivered a boat to the area and was coming by to check on his old boat that he just heard was at Tellico. Dustin came to our boat to go through David’s questions and measure our dinghy cradle. The first mate came out onto the deck in disbelief! How did David pull this one off? He had to confess, but was this was pure coincidence or fate? We had the opportunity to visit awhile and take in a vintage boat show and lunch at a close by marina! Discussions are taking place about a possible dinghy showing up at our Looper Rendezvous. Talk about a small world! We are finding a lot of connections in the boating world.

We were saddened that our last day and a half at Tellico was all rain. Luckily, we explored the dam and Fort Loudoun fort before the rain. The rain ran off the patrons of the restaurant, the band was cancelled for the second night, and it was a bit quieter than we hoped. We then headed back to the Tennessee River and Fort Loudon Marina.

Tasha has been involved with an on-going search throughout our trip to find a rental car – they are very hard to come by and at a price that isn’t highway robbery. The stars aligned, prayers were answered, and one was found near our marina, so she packed up and left the crew to motor home to visit with her Momma, Sally.

• 

• 

Tasha’s biggest struggle with being on the boat, is not seeing her mother at least weekly as she did in the life before cruising. Fort Loudon Marina was a great place for the crew to hold over. The marina is popular with other traveling cruisers, it is surrounded by a city park, and they have a courtesy car. This would make the down time more pleasurable for captain and first dog. Tasha departed and cruised North on I-75, stopping in Lexington, Ky to visit briefly with her bestie and her big sis for lunch. She preceded to Cincinnati to visit with Momma Sally, and then on to our home in Indiana to pick up a few things, dine with our weekly chicken night group, and our kids Ryan and Joe, and then a return visit with Momma Sally before heading back to Tennessee.

• 

• 

The first mate was told not to return with any more items than were taken home, but the captain got soft on that order when she returned with beer (our diet beer has been impossible to come by on the cruise), and bourbon!

The captain and first dog worked on projects including routine engine maintenance, took advantage of the park connected to the marina for nice long walks, and met new friends.

• 

• 

• 

• 

It was a good break for all as we three are still learning how to coexist 24/7 in less than 500 square feet with no one else to talk to (most days) and nowhere else to go! Let’s just say it can be a bit too cozy at times! Beer and bourbon are always welcome and lots of puppy treats!

We will begin our way back down river having just fallen short of navigating the entire navigable Tennessee River. Momma Sally trumped our plans to cruise to Knoxville, 46 more miles up. We have plans to meet up with some fellow boaters from our home marina prior to the Great Loop Rendezvous in Rogersville, Alabama in mid-October. The river is calling and more memories are ready to be made. We have absolutely loved the upper Tennessee River (you were right Ed!), we will be back!

Cheers! D, T & R