Relaxing in the Land Between the Lakes

"The Group" at Patti's

Capt. Larry's 2-inch pork chop

Jane's steak

The "river" crowd

Don't forget dessert

Jane and Linda

As we mentioned in our previous post, our first night at Green Turtle Bay Marina the group that we had been running with for the past 3 days decided to go to Patti's Restaurant for dinner. We bring this up again so we can share the pictures of the company and food that we enjoyed that night. The next night we invited Floyd and Linda over to Bavarian Cream for docktails. We wanted to go to the yacht club's restaurant for dinner, but when we arrived it was closed. We returned to our respective boats and scrounged up something a lot less appealing. We wanted to get a rental car the next day and Floyd and Linda wanted to also rent a car so they could return to Wichita. Although they are located 20 miles away in Paducah, Enterprise sent a van out to pick the four of us up to get our cars. We said goodbye to Floyd and Linda and took our car for a grocery run and lunch at a Chinese restaurant. We returned to the marina, unloaded our goods, and got ready for happy hour. Capt. Larry made a batch of homemade hummus which was a real hit with everyone. We returned to the boat and had a light supper before watching some TV and turning in.

At the Quilt Museum

The next day we went to the National Quilt Museum in Paducah. Because of this museum and the visitors it attracts, there are several businesses and schools dedicated to the quilting craft. The museum and the quilts were really awesome. It is unbelievable the artistic inspiration and technical expertise that are represented in these quilts. The museum featured the national competition winners over the past 20 years, and the quilts were truly amazing. Unfortunately, they allow no photography in the museum so we have no pictures of these magnificent creations. However, we have no doubt that anyone who visits this museum will enjoy it.


We wanted to spend some time off the boat. Milana and Millette had given Jane another night in a hotel for a bubble bath for her birthday. We just didn't know where we wanted to go. Jane went to the marina office and picked up several brochures about area attractions. We finally decided to visit an area of Amish craft shops in the Marion, KY area, then drive into Paducah to get a motel for the night. Then the next morning we would go to the River Heritage Museum before returning to the marina. We had difficulty with the Amish shops. We stopped in Marion and rode around for almost an hour, before Jane finally asked someone where the Amish shops were. Turns out they were 5 miles out of town. So off we go. We got to the road we were told to go only to find that the shops were not concentrated in a mall-like area, but were located at individual homes strung out over a 3-4 mile section. Being a Thursday, there was little tourist traffic and we thought it awkward for us to drive up to these establishments when it seemed we would be disturbing their routines. We went back to Marion and had lunch at the Marion Cafe, an establishment that was older than dirt. Then we headed on a leisurely drive to Paducah, stopping at each little town and river overlook that we came to.

Jane with Mr. Bubbles

Murals by the Paducah riverfront

I can be a tow captain!

We got our motel room after contacting several and doing some major negotiating. Jane had her heart set on a Jacuzzi spa tub, but didn't want to cost the girls too much for the privilege. We finally finagled an upgrade to a room with a spa tub which normally would have cost $165, but cost her daughters only $99. She was just giggly! She got her bath and then we went out to a mexican restaurant for dinner. The next morning we went to the River Heritage Museum. It was a nice museum compared to all of the others we've been to and focused on the development of commercial river commerce on the inland rivers. At the end of the tour, Capt. Larry got to do a computerized tow simulator, driving a tow up the Ohio River, which he found to be really difficult, but was successful in his attempt. We returned to the marina and bought tickets to a live variety show that was playing at a Grand Rivers theater that evening. The show was really entertaining and we had a fun time.

The next morning we returned our rental car and Jane went to the marina's spa to get a facial. We watched some college football on TV and grilled some salmon for supper. Tomorrow we leave Green Turtle Bay and head up the Tennessee River for our next chapter. It's all good!