Visiting Old "Haunts"

Chickamauga Lake Sail - October 23-24, 2025

Due to my gallbladder surgery, I hadn't sailed since early August when I drove out to west Tennessee to meet up with Peter Frank (BTW: he finished his Great Loop a week ago). My plan was to do a sail/camp trip when the leaves hit their peak. (I had offered to take Robin on a foliage trip - maybe the Cherohala Skyway - but she didn't seem too interested. We did Rock City "Enchanted Pumpkin Patch" instead). Peak happens around here about the last week of October to the first week of November. With Robin's recent diagnosis and some things happening on that very soon, I wound up taking the trip last week which was a bit early. I enjoy going to Ocoee Lake, but all the circumstances (weather, appointments, drive time, etc.) dictated a local trip. The weather was a key factor. The forecast was for SW winds of 10-12 mph on Thursday and NE winds 5-6 mph on Friday. With the orientation of Chickamauga Lake and the ramp I normally use (a 20-25 minute drive), that was about as perfect as it gets. My personal schedule was open too, so I jumped.

My intention was to leave around noon. I got up at 7:00 and started packing. That's a chore if I'm going to camp. Since I don't do it very often, stuff gets scattered and collecting everything turns into a major affair. Kelly Trafford of the Can-Am FB page recently posted a meme that said, "Organize - Don't Agonize". Boy, do I need to heed that!!! The morning went great and I was ready just about on schedule.

But as the morning progressed, I started having problems. With my recent surgery, I've had some "episodes". Do I need to be more specific? My morning required several "trips". Uh, oh! This is not good. Do I want to be on a boat if this keeps up? We'll see how it goes. I headed to the lake anyway.

Once at the lake, I rigged the boat, and transferred my gear. Unfortunately, a couple more "trips" were required during setup. My boat is rigged and in the water and I'm wondering, "do I go or not?" (pun intended).

I waited. Several boats launched while I'm standing next to mine at the ramp. One guy asked if I needed help. Nope - just waiting. I called my wife. Of course, her advice was not to chance it. Come home! I told her I was seriously weighing that option. At 2:30 I decided I felt good enough to go for it. Turned out to be a good decision. No more issues.

It was an absolutely beautiful day.

The winds actually were a bit stronger than predicted. Here's the record from the airport which is just a few miles from the lake.

I had full sails up and was on downwind run. It got pretty exhilarating a time or two. Those gusts in the upper teens had me flying! There was once when the waves that were rolling under me were about 2'. I'm not sure, but I think I did or almost got up on a plane. May even have surfed a bit. It was testy but fun.

I sailed for an hour and a half and was passing a particular cove. I had spent the night there years ago on Little Bit. In fact, it was my first overnighter on her (out of only three). I decided that's where I'd stop. It was only 4:00. I could have sailed farther, but relaxing and reminiscing seemed a good idea. It would make for an easy trip home as well, especially if the wind didn't fill in the next day (that's happened before). It's a pretty place.

                                

                                

                                

                                

                                

Here's a cropped pic of a little "island", at least it's an island when the lake is at summer pool. It's down about 2-1/2' right now so there is a "land bridge".

                                

Here's the island from my trip in 2014.

                                

You can easily make out the various trees though they've grown a good bit over the years.

Since I had several hours til dark, I opened my beach chair and relaxed for a while. Very peaceful. BTW: if you've got a lot of time, the chair is great! I broke down and bought a good, sturdy one. It sits low so works inside the tent very nicely as well.

                                    

While I was relaxing, I turned and looked over my shoulder. There stood four deer at the water's edge. Before I could get a pic, one walked away.

                                

As the afternoon progressed and I swung on the anchor, the sun dipped lower. At times I was in full sun, and then I'd be in shade. The temp difference was noticeable. Before long I was in full shade. I started to add layers as the temp dropped. The forecast for overnight low was 39, so I came prepared. I do not tolerate cold like I used to.
Pretty soon I noticed two more deer coming out of the woods at a different place. They came for a drink and stayed a good while. (look closely - there are two in the pic)

                             

Eventually I had to set up the sleeping platform and tent. Before doing that, I fixed myself a bowl of Campbell's Chili Mac. After my earlier episodes, I was a little hesitant; but my stomach felt ok at that point.

    
                                       

Tent set up. Man, did I bring a bunch of stuff or what! Where's the kitchen sink?
    
                                        

I finally settled in and closed things up. Before the night was over I had six layers on my upper body and two lower. I brought my mummy bag and laid it over my legs while I read. Around 9:00 my wife called and we talked a while. When it came time to turn in, I couldn't get the zipper on the bag to work. It was all the way unzipped. It was one of those two-way zippers. (I figured it out after I got home). I slept with my feet stuck in the bottom of the bag and the rest of the bag draped over me. I stayed comfortable all night long with the exception that I may have over-inflated my mattress; back was a little sore when morning came.

                                        

Of course, it was cold when I woke up, but a beautiful morning.

                                

I didn't plan to get underway early. Just wanted to take my time and enjoy. I fixed a little oatmeal and hot chocolate, read some more, talked to my wife again. Very lovely morning.

                                        

I packed up and set off for home. The wind did fill in and it was northerly - perfect!

                                                    

I had a couple decent puffs along the way back, but mostly just a comfortable, easy run. I did cut a corner and went inside a buoy. I thought certainly there's three feet of water here. I mean, I'm a hundred yards from the shore. Wrong! My daggerboard began to scrap the bottom! I leaped into action! I sure didn't want to trip over the board and capsize. I pulled the board and headed for deeper water. Fortunately, I got out of trouble. Later I looked at my chart; and, sure enough, there was a shallow area. With the lake down, not enough water. Make a note: when in doubt - don't. Or - look at the chart beforehand, dummy.

For the most part, the sail home was easy. The wind was a bit stronger at times than forecasted, but easy. The sail up took an hour and a half; the sail back was about an hour and fifty minutes. The cove is roughly six miles up the lake.

Here we are about halfway back.

                                

                                           

I dropped sail a little upwind of the ramp which pushed me back even with the ramp by the time I was ready to row. Got in, landed, retrieved, derigged and got home about 3:00. A very pleasant trip.