Paris, Tenn.–Even the most enthusiastic boaters on the Tennessee River rarely float the entire waterway, but Captain Bob Cherry of Paducah recently completed the journey, stopping in Paris and Henry County along the way.
The voyage, entitled “Any Man’s Trip”, seeks to raise awareness of the river’s reach, as well as its scope of unique experiences, according to Cherry, a retired merchant marine. “The Tennessee River is our region’s best outdoor attraction, but it’s underused by most enthusiasts. They don’t take advantage of the fact that it can transport them more than 652 miles to hundreds of unique destinations,” according to the Captain, who traveled by pontoon with the help of his friend, Sterling Edwards.
On day seven, the adventurers were hosted by the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce as they docked at Buchanan Resort and enjoyed river-front lodging, a boat slip and legendary Henry County hospitality. Joined by their wives for the last night of the trip, the group traveled by boat to The Breakers for dinner with Chamber CEO Travis McLeese.
“It was such fun to show off our area to these men who had just seen more than 580 miles of the river. They were incredibly complimentary, and I had a blast hearing stories about their journey,” McLeese said.
“We also were able to fulfill a special request from Mr. Edwards, who had promised to take his wife to Paris; he just never said which one. We drove them into town to see our lighted Eiffel Tower in the evening and took great photos. They were especially interested in the splash pad and plan to return with their grandchildren to enjoy Eiffel Tower Park,” McLeese said.
From the inception of “Any Man’s Trip,” the captain’s travel message resonated with two, river centric initiatives, the Tennessee RiverLine (tnriverline.org) and the Tennessee River Valley Geotourism MapGuide (ExploreTRV.org), both of which Cherry promoted during his journey.
“The vision for the Tennessee RiverLine (TRL) is a continuous system of paddling, hiking and biking experiences along the Tennessee River from Knoxville, TN to Paducah, KY,” said Brad Collett, director of TRL.
The second organization, Explore TRV, seeks to “preserve and protect the natural places and assets of the region while helping create sustainable communities that honor the history and heritage of the people who call the Valley home,” said Julie Graham, director.
“Capt. Cherry and his crew have discovered the joys and challenges of traveling the length of the river, experiencing the vibrant river communities, history, food and people, and documented much of their trip for ExploreTRV.org,” said Graham.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, whose mission is to protect, preserve and improve the Tennessee River System and its public lands, appreciates the spotlight that Capt. Cherry is shining on the river and the recreation, tourism, energy and economic development that it provides.
“Seeing someone take this trip on a pontoon might encourage folks to learn more about navigating the river, using the locks at our dams and locating launch ramps,” said TVA’s Bucky Edmondson, Director of Natural Resources. “I think this could inspire people to get out and enjoy the river from Knoxville to Paducah, whether it’s a quick trip in their hometown or a longer adventure.”
Additional organizations assisted Cherry along the way. Visit Knoxville, Visit Loudon County, 9 Lakes of East TN, Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association, Northern Alabama Mountain Lakes, Tennessee River Trails Association, Visit Humphreys County, Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, the Paducah Sun and Cruising Guide have partnered to create a wider audience for the trip via social media.
Cherry’s journey is chronicled on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest on ExploreTRV.com. For more information, email
TennesseeRiverValleymapguide@gmail.com.
Photo: First Mate Sterling Edwards (right) of Paducah describes part of the Tennessee River journey, “Any Man’s Trip”, with McLeese. Captain Cherry’s wife, Cheri (right), visited the adventurers on the last night of their journey. (Susan Jones photo).