April 20 & 21
Dave and Andrew had a couple of days of fine paddling, with little river traffic and beautiful weather.

As of Monday night at camp #2, Dave reported that he had paddled over 40 miles and boasted of seeing an Osprey, “all the Blue Heron you want,” one barge, and one sailboat. We expect to see Dave coming through Chattanooga sometime next week.

Here's what he had to say:

"Andrew and I left about a mile up on the Holston River. Came down and hit mile marker 652 at about 11:30. Paddled 18 miles, this was on Sunday. Made our first camp."

"This morning, we headed out. We're at our second camp as I'm speaking. Which is 8:00 on Monday evening and today we've gone about 20, 22, 23 miles, something like that. Great weather, light winds, good temperatures night time and day. Looking forward to this holding true for the rest of the week."

"I'll be checking in with you in a couple of days. We've seen osprey, all the blue heron you want. Today we saw our first barge and our first sailboat."

"So there's you an update and stay tuned for more activity on the Tennessee River. Signing off, Andrew and Dave."

Wednesday, April 23 - Mile Marker 577. On Watts Bar Lake, headed toward Watts Bar Dam. The men got low on water. They found a boat dock at Ft. Loudon Bridge, where they were greeted by a woman that Dave called, "an angel named Beverly." Beverly took Dave and Andrew's water jugs, and drove her car to go fill them up. That night, the men made camp on an island below Ft. Loudon Bridge.

Thursday, April 24 - This evening, they camped on another island below Ft. Loudon Bridge, where Dave admitted honestly that he and Andrew were, "both pretty beat." They were hearing of a good restaurant downriver.

Friday, April 25 - A short day paddling into Ten Mile, near Decatur, TN, where they found the Euchee Marina. There they found what Dave called a "wonderful restaurant," run by Ed and Donna Zimmerman, who bent over backwards to help the men out. Dave highly endorses Ed's "fallin' off the bone" baby back ribs.

Saturday, April 26 - Hard push to Cottonport Marina, mile marker 513. Again, finding great people. "Kim Trevathan wrote about Cottonport," noted Dave. "I've camped here before. Fabulous hamburger and french fries."

Sunday, April 27 - Rainout and rest day at Cottonport Marina. Dave and Andrew have completed 139 of their planned 652 miles. They anticipate being joined by several friends as they come closer to Chattanooga. "After Chickamauga Dam," says Dave. "We'll pick up the pace a bit. We're still putting feelers out to find somebody that loves us enough to come and get us [in Paducah]." They are joined by friends in kayaks and a sailboat for the next couple of days.

Monday, April 28 -  Stopped just north of Sale Creek Marina, where friends on the sailboat cooked them supper.

Tuesday, April 29 - Proceeded to John A. Patten Island, where Dave has camped frequently.

Wednesday, April 30 - Joined by friends to lock through Chickamauga Dam and head into Chattanooga. "It blew a little wind out of their sails," said Dave, with seeing friends and family and realizing the lonely trip still ahead. At dark, they camped on Maclellan Island on the Tennessee River Blueway Campsite in downtown Chattanooga.

Thursday, May 1 - Proceeded downriver, and took an early camp on Williams Island. Mile Marker 456. Dave blames their lethargy on all the good food they ate in Chattanooga. Camped on Williams Island. Dave was tickled with Williams Island's easy access for paddlers.

As they proceeded downstream from Williams Island, Dave and Andrew were cheered on by complete strangers from riverbanks and passing boats. The people had articles and T.V. stories about the men when they passed through Chattanooga. A TVA officer pulled up beside them when they were taking a break at Sullivan's Landing (river mile 440) and asked, "Which one of you is Dave and which one of you is Andrew?" He had also heard about the trip.

Friday, May 2 - Encountered the worst wind and waves of the trip, due to a big storm front. "Got down to Edwards Point and into the [Tennessee River] Gorge, paddling hard, head down, big winds," said Dave. "When we got to Raccoon Mountain, the waves were 3-foot high. Wind shears so great they would try to rip your paddle out of your hand."  After making a couple of urgent phone calls, Dave and Andrew found shelter at a friend's house in Mullins Cove, where they spent the night, safe and secure, watching the storm. The friend had been a paddler on a trip that David led in the Everglades with Outdoor Chattanooga.

Thursday, May 8 - Near Huntsville, Alabama
At Ditto Landing the men were once again hampered by "incoming storms, and nearby tornadoes, etc. cloud to the ground lightning,  here we go! Hang on!" chants Dave. They sat down to look at facts and both decided that they could not complete the trip in the time allotted. They would have had to paddle 14-16 hours a day to get Andrew back to work on the 21st of May.

Dave's wife and daughter picked the men up at Ditto Landing.

Dave sends his heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped them along the way, especially his daughter who provided shuttle service at the Holston River put in and at Ditto. It was a letdown to abort the trip, but Dave plans to return to Ditto Landing at a later date to complete the second half of the Tennessee River.

The overwhelming impression that left the river with Dave and Andrew were the generosity and open hearts of all the people he met along the way. There were no strangers, only helpful hands, wherever he went.