Great Loop: Goose Pond to Shellmound to Chattanoogo
Free Dock at Shellmound Park When travelling the river system your location is by reference to the "mile mark". We spent a night at the Shellmound Park free dock, adjacent to Nickajack dam and lock. It is at mile mark 424. Shellmound was a quiet and tranquil spot to spend the night. We had departed Goose Pond earlier in the day in the company of 2 other boats. Sweet Day, a Camano Troll and Mirth, a nice 40 foot trawler. We got an early start as we wanted to beat a storm front, which was following right on our heals, to the Shellmound anchorage. We were not anxious about the rain, it was the forecast of winds gusting to 30 knots that we wanted to avoid. The Tennessee river must be a major source of electrical power. The dams generate hydro-electric power and we have seen two nuclear power plants along the shore. The river water is used for cooling and the river water temperature is monitored to insure the water temperature rise in less than...