Percy Priest / Hamilton Creek Marina

I thought I should start with the place I row most often. My scull is kept at Hamilton Creek Marina along with several other boats. The Nashville Rowing Club, Vanderbilt & MBA all row out of the marina. I've logged 100,000's of meters on this lake and know it well (traveling backwards). Most mornings during the summer I am launching along with the fishermen and occasional kayaker or fellow rower. I've encountered NASCAR bass boats, ducks & many birds as they approach me with curiosity and yes even swimming deer. I enjoy the fall, spring and moonlight rows the most.

Percy Priest has many recreational opportunities! Besides the sailors out of the Percy Priest Yacht Club, I share the cove with scullers, sweep rowers, canoeist, kayakers, swimmers (sunday mornings) and boaters of all types. We have a nice area for launching boats off the rowing dock or wet launching (this is having to walk the boat in the water then straddle to get in).

Percy Priest is definitely a 5 oar rating. New rowers are always welcome and similar to the spirit of Nashville, everyone is friendly. So if you are ever in e Nashville area and want to check out Hamilton Creek Marina, come on! It's a great place to start rowing adventures.

The black skinny thing in the middle is my boat.  I've named the boat Take Flight and he rests here every day waiting for our next journey out of his slip.

This is a view from the rowing dock I launch off of at Hamilton Creek Marina.  I've seeen many sunrises and this morning is just as spectacular.

Another shot from the rowing dock looking out past the sailboat marina.

Stern shot.  I've made it to the end of the cove and am about to turn and head back out.

Why this blog?

I'm fairly new to the world of rowing (even newer to blogging).  Since my first row (which happened by chance almost 4 years ago) I was hooked.  I find sanity in rowing and it's a bonus that it keeps me in shape!  Recently, I came up with a crazy idea to see what other lakes are like in TN.  I could not get this idea out of my head and after talking with both my rowing partners, Bob & Amanda, I've decided to have some fun. Since I row a single, it's fairly easy for me to transport my boat and hit the road for explorations.  Tennessee is beautiful and the lakes are plenty.  I'm certain this will take me a couple of years to complete!

Other than sharing personal experiences on each lake, I thought I would provide a rating system along with photos & description about access.  If you are a fellow rower, you know you don't throw the boats on a car or in the lake like a kayak or canoe.  It's a little more complicated than that.  Since there are so many bodies of water in TN, I plan on rowing only those that allow me at least 1,000 meters of rowable water.  I'll row a minimum of 2,000 meters per adventure.  I'll also note if the lake is private, crowded, full of debris, etc. 

You may also find the occasional blog about regattas, training camps, rows in doubles or quads.  I do not want to limit this blog to a lake by lake experience.  Believe me, I've had some fun experiences just with regattas and rowing with both the Nashville Rowing Club & All American. 

I'm looking forward to sharing my adventures & photos as the weather, travel time and health cooperates.  Feel free to comment, suggest, or join in on the fun!