Grand Rivers, KY

September 26, 2011

This morning was cool, but thankfully there was no rain and only a little bit of fog.  Even that lifted quickly. Yeah!

We are only travelling 30 miles today to the only lock, and our marina is just beyond that.  It should be an easy day.

I am now on the Cumberland River.  It is pretty rural and pretty.  There are some industrial areas where they are staging tows.  We only saw one or two tows all day.  There was no wait at the Barkley lock and we went right in.

Barkley Lock and Dam

Fishing on the Cumberland River

After a pump-out I was tied in my slip by 1:15 PM.  Now I have all afternoon to relax!

The people have a cocktail party with other Loopers, and then go to dinner at Patti’s.  Patti’s is famous for it’s 2” thick pork chops and “mile-high” meringue pies.  They all came home stuffed!!

Hope they sleep in tomorrow!

Cumberland Towhead Island, KY

September 25, 2011

We had heavy rains most of the night and a bit of rocking from passing tows.  Greg woke at 3:35 AM and was up and down after that checking to make sure I wasn’t dragging.

We all got underway about 7:45 AM.  Greg was driving from below again because of the heavy rain.  We have picked up another boat – Molly J – a C-Dory.  She travelled with us all day.

When we got to Lock & Dam 53 the wickets were down – this means I can cruise right over the dam because the river is so high!  No Lock!

However, we paid for it at Lock & Dam 53, where we waited about an hour and a half in the poring rain to enter the lock.  The lock took a while because the lock tenders have to get your lines and put them around bollards to pass back to you.  All told it was a 2 – 2 ½ hour ordeal in the rain, with lightning and thunder all around.  Fun, fun, fun!

I got to the Cumberland Towhead around 4:35 PM.  We were going to raft and triple anchor again.  Jeremiah and I were able to get together, but Seamoore and Molly J decided to anchor separately.  We were still dealing with lightning and thunder as we anchored.

Hope tomorrow is better!

Ballard Co., KY

September 24, 2011

It was cloudy and drizzly when we got up today.  It started raining heavily after we got the anchor up and Greg had to drive from below until about 10 AM.  Then the sun came out and it turned into a pretty day.

I left the Mississippi and turned onto the Ohio after lunch.  I lost my push from the current as we are now traveling upstream.  I slowed down to 6.5 mph as opposed to over 12 on the Mississippi!  We saw a paddle wheeler on the river -- really neat!

Small paddle wheel on the Ohio

We all anchored at mile 966 outside the channel on the Kentucky side.  We have 2 anchors upstream, 1 downstream, and we are rafted again.  This worked well last night, hope it works as well tonight.  Tonight we will feel the wakes from passing tows!

Cape Girardeau County, MO - LIttle River Diversion Channel

September 23, 2011

Another pea-souper!!!  We wanted to leave around 7 Am but it was very bad!  I couldn’t see 2 feet in front of me!

Tied to Kaskaskia Lock

I was finally able to get going a little after 10 AM.  Of course I had to meet a tow trying to come into the lock as I was trying to leave!

It was cloudy and chilly most of the day. I passed a number of northbound tows, but only one southbound.

Tow coming into Kaskaskia

I didn’t have to do any locks today (thank you!) – none tomorrow either.

Tonight I’m anchored in Little Diversion Channel.  My hook was down at 4:30 PM, followed by Jeremiah and then Seamoore.  There are only the 3 of us here tonight.  Last night we heard that there were 15 boats anchored here!

Anchored in Little River Diversion Channel

Greg, Carlton, and Jeff at work

Tomorrow will be a short day (I hope!) and then Sunday I will hit the Ohio River.

Kaskaskia Lock, IL

September 22, 2011

Oops!  I wrote that Kimmswick was in Illinois when I should have written Missouri!  Must have been a blonde moment (it certainly wasn’t a senior moment!)!

When we got up around 7 AM almost everybody else had already left.  Seamoore, Jeremiah, and I were left with 3 other boats  (and 2 of those were staying for another night)!

I am only going 41 miles today so we didn’t need to leave very early.  We were tied to the Kaskasia Lock wall by 12:20 PM as it was. 

It’s been cold and rainy all day.  Kate was complaining of no feeling in her hands and feet.  I agree with her – it’s time to get to warmer weather!

Kimmswick, MO

September 21, 2011

It was a cool morning, but no fog! 

My friends Coconuts and Tourist left about 7 AM and didn’t wait long for the first lock at all.  Kate called and they told her it would be a ½ hour turnaround time, so we didn’t have to rush to get out.

We got lucky with both locks today – very little wait time.

Jeremiah coming out of the Mel Price Lock

I went past St. Louis today and we got to see the Gateway Arch.  It’s pretty impressive from the water.

Gateway Arch

We all got in and docked at Hoppie’s Marina by 1 PM.  All the people walked into the little town of Kimmswick for lunch and dessert.  They looked a bit stuffed when they returned!

Seamoore, Jeremiah, and Grianan docked at Hoppie's Marine

Fern, one of the owners, had an information briefing at 4:30.  Everybody had a lot of questions and got a lot of info on what we’ll meet down the river.  I will be anchoring the next couple of nights!  Can’t wait!

Alton, IL

September 20, 2011

Well, I was up at oh-dark thirty again but we weren’t going anywhere.  There was a pea soup fog all around us.  We had to wait for it to lift before anyone could move.

Oh – by the way -- I made an oops yesterday – I don’t have stabilizers, I have trim tabs!  Sorry about that!

Anyway – we couldn’t move on until almost 10:30 AM.  Everyone decided to cancel going to Hoppie’s and just go to Alton instead. 

Illinois cliffside

My first 20 miles on the Mississippi went rather smoothly.  There was some beautiful scenery and it didn’t take long at all.   I hope the rest is just as smooth!

tow on the Mississippi

Grafton, IL

September 11- 19, 2011

So Greg & Kate deserted me for 5 days.  I was left alone, feeling very sorry for myself.  They were in NJ and then DC seeing kids, grandkids, and Kate’s mom.  I was just twiddling my stabilizers until they got back on Thursday night.

I thought we might do something on Friday, but noooo – they had to go grocery shopping.  Then they realized that my friends Jeremiah, Sweet Pea, and Salt ‘n Sand were here.  Well, then they were all over the marina talking to people!

On Saturday there was a boat parade (I didn’t get to participate) that was kinda fun.  And then fireworks at night – which they almost missed entirely!

We were waiting for my friend Seamoore to get her propeller fixed and get back to Grafton Harbor.  So Sunday, they made a trip to Wal-Mart.  Today I finally moved – but only to a different slip!  At least Greg washed me today so I feel much better. 

Tomorrow I finally get to head down the Mississippi!

Grafton, IL

September 9, 2011

Again with the 0-dark-hundred!  And it was raining!

Seamoore and I left at 6:30 AM this morning.

We got to the La Grange Lock & Dam at 7:20 and only had to wait 15 minutes for a northbound tow to come out.  We were out and underway again by 7:55 AM.

It was another pretty easy day – except for the rain.  It rained on and off all morning, and then steadily the whole afternoon.  It got a bit foggy too.

This is really a pretty river down at this end.  Very rural.  Lots of parkland.

I got into Grafton Harbor around 4:45 PM.  Seamoore was right behind at about 5:15 PM.  I feel special because I’m in a covered slip!  I’m not getting wet anymore!  Yeah!

Greg & Kate are leaving me for a few days.  They are going to drive to New Jersey to see their grandkids (and the parents, too!).  Don’t know what I’m going to do yet.  I’ll have to think of something!

Beardstown, IL

September 8, 2011

They had me up this morning at o-dark-hundred!  We went 80 miles today!

It started out cool and breezy but warmed up as the day went on.

Seamoore and I left at 6:40 AM.  We had to wait about an hour at the Peoria Lock & Dam for a southbound tow ahead of us.  It really didn’t affect our schedule too much though.  We had a pretty easy day after that.  We did pass a bunch of northbound tows and one more southbound.

The scenery was pretty – lots of trees and fields.  We have started getting into more walls and levees on the river now.  You really can’t see too much over them.

Seamoore coming around a tow

We arrived in Beardstown around 4:30 PM and tied up at the Logsdon Tug Service Barge.  They are really nice here and I feel kinda neat!

Seamoore and Grianan tied to a barge!

Tomorrow will be another long day – 88 miles to Grafton!

Peoria, IL

September 6 & 7, 2011

It was very cold when we got up Tuesday morning.  Greg even put on long jeans!

We left early to try and make time but ended up waiting at the only lock we had to go through.  There was a northbound tow coming up and a southbound waiting to go.

Northbound tow coming out of lock

After an hour wait, Crossroads and I went in with the first half of the southbound tow.  Interesting!

Coming downriver we met another tow and as we passed he radioed us to watch the carp jumping off his stern.  What a sight!  Unfortunately, Kate wasn’t fast enough to get a picture.

We also passed a refurbished WWII LST at Henry.  There were a bunch of school kids swarming all over it.  Cool!

LST at Henry Harbor

I pulled into the I.V.Y. Club about 4:40 PM.  Ron, the dock master, met us (even though it was his day off!).  Nice marina, small but well maintained.

Cool and breezy again on Wed. morning.  Glad we’re staying put today.  Kate’s doing laundry and Greg changed the oil in my generator.

Jeremiah, Seamoore, and Dream Catcher arrived about 11:30.  They will be spending the night here too!  Fun to see friends again!  They all went to dinner together and Kate said they had a really good time (hmmm?).

Early day tomorrow to see how far we can get. 

Ottawa, IL

September 4 & 5, 2011

It was cool and breezy Sunday morning.  Greg cleaned out my AC strainer first thing because of all the gunk and wind and water yesterday.

They spotted a down bound motor yacht and boogied to get out of the slip so as not to have to wait for the lock.  The boat was named “Taken for Granite”, reminded them of Joe & K Uras

After the 1^st lock we saw a boat that had been caught in yesterday’s storm.  She was partially on her side on the bank.  Her people were still there.  Taken for Granite tried to pull them off, but it didn’t work.  I hope she and her people are ok.

We passed my friends Jeremiah and Dream Catcher at Spring Brook Marina.  I went through another lock and ended my day at Heritage Harbor Marina in Ottawa, IL.

It was early enough that Kate & Greg could go to town to the grocery. When they returned, they tried the restaurant at the marina.  They said they had great burgers.  And there was a band playing!   I could hear it too!

They slept late on Monday.  Had breakfast and then got down to chores.

Greg gave me a really good bath and got a lot of the chalkiness off.  Kate did laundry and cleaned my cabins.  Greg later installed anew antenna for my AIS system.  I’m good to go now!

Spent the evening just hanging out.  Heading to the Illinois Valley Yacht Club tomorrow.  Only 1 lock, thank goodness.

Wilmington, IL

September 3, 2011

We woke to a nice morning.  There was a slight breeze from the west and it wasn’t too hot yet.

I was through the Chicago Lock by 7:00 AM this morning.  Heading through the numerous bridges I need to go under in Chicago.  At 7:40 I was waiting with a barge in tow for the Amtrak Bridge, which was having computer problems.  We were finally underway again at 7:55 AM.

View of industrial areas of Chicago River

We met up with barges under tow by Bill Arnold, who led us thru a very tight area and then let us pass.  It was getting hot and sticky! 

Fish barrier to keep Asian Carp from Great Lakes

When I got to the Lockport Lock, We had to wait with another pleasure boat for a tow locking up.  It was only about 15 minutes.

The sky was looking worse.  I got to the Brandon Road Lock about 2:00.  We had no problems going through.  But then – 2:30 PM we got hit with a thunderstorm!  They tied me off on a barge on the river – a Benzene carrying barge no less – and 15 minutes later I was being hit with hail!!  This is not fun!!  We were about 8 miles from our stopping point for the evening.  I was finally able to tie-up for the evening at 3:50 Pm @ Harborside Marina. 

The “marina” is very small, mostly houseboats and floating cottages.  They don’t get many transients.  There is a very good restaurant here.  My people enjoyed their meals tremendously.

I just hope there are no more thunderstorms in the near future!

Chicago (Days 2 & 3)

Sept. 1 & 2, 2011

Everybody finally had a good night’s sleep!

My friend Godspeed came in yesterday afternoon.  Greg & Kate talked to them about what happened to me.

Kate & Greg walked to the stores today.  They went to an “upscale” grocery, Walgreen’s, and a liquor store.  They didn’t have to walk that far.   Then they walked to “O’Brien’s” for lunch (you knew Kate would find it, didn’t you?!).

After lunch they walked Michigan Ave. (the Miracle Mile), did some window-shopping, and some “real” shopping.

Marilyn on the "Miracle Mile"

The repairman came about 6 PM and cut up my railing.  He taped off the ends so nobody gets hurt.  Greg put the pieces in the lazerette for insurance (??); I guess in case they need to see them.  I felt really bad while this was happening.

So sad!

Kate & Greg walked into the city for dinner and then back to me.  We might have company tomorrow – Kate’s best friend and her husband might come to see me!  I’m excited!

Kate & Greg’s friends Ruthanne & Bill Hoppe got here around 7:30 AM and they all went out to breakfast.  When they got back to the boat all they did was talk!  Gosh – they talked about everything!

Bill & Ruthanne were very nice – they drove Greg & Kate to Wrigley Field for the baseball game.  I’m sure they were glad they weren’t sitting in the sun for hours – I know I’m glad I was on the water!   

R

ooftops outside the field!

Greg & Kate only stayed through the end of the 4^th inning – the Cubs were losing 3-1 and not playing well at all.  They were finally in the shade, but still roasting.  They did get to ride on the “L” to get back to the harbor.  Of course they still had to walk part way.

Greg lowered my mast and filled my water tanks in preparation for the trip downriver.

The people from my friends Sweet Pea and Godspeed came over.  They sat on my fly bridge and had drinks and talked.  I’m glad they were all together again. 

Oh well, hope tomorrow is a good day to head downriver!