History Lesson

So today I am going to fill you in on a little history. So far we have gone thru 7 locks with 7 more to Columbus - our pre-holiday designation. Locks for those who aren't familiar with them are like huge bathtubs that either fill or empty. This lets you down to the next river or up depending on which way you are traveling. Because we are headed south we will always be going down in the locks. There are post - called bollards which float that you tie onto while you take the ride down/up. That is my job - to lasoo a bollard. Paul's job is to get me close enough to be able to do that. So far so good! We started at Ft. Loudon Lock last of the nine dams on the Tennessee River - also the second highest lock on the river. Next we went thru Watts Bar Lake to the Watts Bar Damn. "This complex is unique because it's the only TVA site shared by a hydroelectric dam, a coal-fired power plant(inactive) and a nuclear power plant." It is also the shortest of all the dams on the Tennessee. Then next lock was the Chickamauga Lock. The name came from a warlike tribe that separated itself from the Cherokee Indians. The next lock is called "Nickajack". After that we went thru Guntersville Lock and then Wheeler Lock. Wheeler Dam is named after a general in the Confederate Army who fought in more than 500 skirmishes, commanded in 127 battles, had 36 staff officers wounded at his side and HAD 16 HORSES SHOT FROM UNDERNEATH HIM!!!!! Now that is interesting!

Tonight we are on the Tenn-Tom. More about the history of that tomorrow.

Hope I haven't bored you all but thought the horse part was interesting!