06 October 2025 – Monday
Catching up on last fall’s travel.
Day two of five on our way home from Branson, MO to Durham, NC. We finish crossing Missouri and snag a perfect campsite on Lake Barkley.
0943 76,206 70°F Leave Wappapello Lake, Missouri in light rain.
Noticed cotton fields for the first time on this trip. Passed a BNSF Freight Train paralleling us on 60.
1020 76,235 73°F Dexter, MO
Stopped for gas
At Cairo we crossed the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers on narrow (20′) bridges to reach Kentucky. Missouri, a tiny point of Illinois, and Kentucky all come together here as the Ohio joins the Mississippi.
This cantilever bridge over the Ohio River opened in 1938. The speed limit is 20 mph and we were happy that we weren’t crossing with large trucks.
Barges and a pusher were heading north as we passed over the river.
1220 76,323 77°F Paducah, KY
Stopped for groceries, then made lunch in the parking lot. Paducah is a fun riverfront town, especially if you enjoy quilts or murals. Check out posts from prior trips in 2016 and 2018 when we spent time exploring the town.
1341 76,341 74°F Kentucky Lake, KY
Stopped at Kentucky Dam to see what we could.
The Tennessee Valley Authority has an extensive system of dams and lakes that connect from here all the way east to Virginia.
Driving across the dam gave us an appreciation for the length and thickness of this massive structure.
Originally completed in 1944, construction is ongoing. The project underway is for a new 1200 foot long lock that will be double the size of the lock shown here on the right.
With rain continuing to fall, we decided to get back on the road and head for our campground.
1415 76,352 75°F Lake Barkley near Kuttawa, Kentucky
Eureka Campground is another wonderful US Army Corps of Engineers Campground. The nightly charge is $32 ($16 with a senior pass).
Site #5 is about as close to the lake as one could be. With open back doors, we might be able to fish from bed!
Water views are delightful, even in the rain.
The cell signal is 2 bars LTE from AT&T.
A playground and the bath/shower house are centrally located.
Bathrooms and showers were okay. We are just thankful that they and the campground are open during the government shutdown.
There was zero demand for the beach today.
Campground Map
Site #11 looked like the ideal waterfront site with trees on both sides for a little privacy.
This is a delightful COE campground we are happy to add to our map so we can return when we are towing our sailing kayak.
For more to do in the area, including visiting a Bison Prairie, click on this post from 2018: “Bison Between the Lakes.”
Goodnight from Eureka Campground as we fall asleep to the sound of raindrops on our metal roof.
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