1st day route of our Great Loop

From Cedar Creek Marina at mile marker (MM) 233 to Old Hickory Lock and Dam, then continued down stream to Stone Creek for the end of day/night anchorage.  28 Statute miles; ETE 4 hours 

Great first day of our Great Loop journey. Weather cold in AM but beautiful for our first day.  Bright sun, clear skies and calm winds.  Warmed up to 54 degrees as we anchored.  Boat and crew did fine.  Want to thank Johnny B, lock master with USACOE who coached us during our 1st lockdown in our first lock.  Very cold and damp at the bottom of the 60 foot descent.  Old Hickory lock and dam (map)  More details here:  lock details No drama. Need to have the fenders in a different spot, but good learning experience. Serenity performed well.  We established cruise parameters of 1850 RPM giving about 7 MPH over the ground.  Once exiting the lock our speed over ground (SOG) increased to 9-9.2 MPH.  Due to recent heavy rains the dam was generating power and has increased flow.  Very nice push.  We are anchored in 12' feet (map) in narrow creek with good depth about 600-1000 feet off of the Cumberland river.  But in flight pattern of BNA.

Early morning

Entering Old Hickory Lock

down the side inside lock

This bollard moves up/down as the water level changes in the lock

Old Hickory Bridge