#5 8/19 thru 8/21

8/19 Just a few miles from our last stop at Grafton is the lock we were able to tour a couple days ago. As you can see the day is mild and we are all anxious to be on our way. 

Passing the great Arch in St Louis, MO. - Gateway to the West

We arrived at Hoppie's Marina. Yep, we were surprised also.  But it held all the amenities we needed; fuel, secure tie-up, bath house, bar-b-que and hospitality. Fern and Hoppie run this place; has been in existence for 80 years.  To hear Fern tell it, there has been an ongoing discussion with the Army Corp of Engineers on a number of topics.  The corps would really like to see Hoppies gone but they are "grandfathered". Besides it is the only place for pleasure boats to stop and fuel for 288 miles. ALL Loopers stop here.

Here we are tucked between Time Out, Rolfe and Harriet Wall and Darrf V, Ray and Arline Cutro

This is a covered patio of sorts where Fern gives her seminars on the Mississippi River we will encounter and where to anchor and where strong currents are and general precautions to watch out for.
Left to right - Bill, Rolfe, Fern, Arline, Harriet

And here is Fern.


8/20 We are off to Fern's first suggested spot for the night. The Kaskaskia lock and dam just off the big River on the Kaskaskia River. It seemed daunting at first but we all three spent a quiet peaceful night tied to this "floating wall"!

As I said it was a bit daunting at first.

Notice those tall towers - - that's what the dock or wall slides up and down on, depending on the level of the river.

8/21 we headed out to our last anchorage on the Mississippi. This is a sampling of the types of tows we have been encountering.  It leaves us wondering how they turn these behemoths on tight turns of the river.

This Diversion Cut, just off the Mississippi at mile marker 49.  Quiet and out of the current. Picture looks funny because it was taken through my mosquito net. :)

Pretty soon, here come the fishermen.  Look closely.  they are  fishing with bows and arrows and spearing the carp. They must have gotten a dozen while we watched.  A fellow came by on a sea-do and told us that this method has been used for years and they even have tournaments. The fish come to the surface and POW - - its all over!


8/22 49 miles to the Ohio River.

This is the last bridge before leaving the Mississippi. It has been a grand voyage so far.  The current is about 4 to 4.5 mph which has enabled us to travel around 11 to 12 miles and hour without using much fuel.

There's our friends having just made the turn onto the Ohio, we are still on the Mississippi.  We will be leaving a 4-4.5 mph current going with us allowing a speed of 11 - 12 mph.  to a 3 mph current against us for the next 60 miles til we reach the Cumberland River.

It is mind-boggling how many barges are moored here at the confluence of these two rivers.  There are hundreds of them parked both sides and in the middle of the Ohio being hooked together in 5 by 6's. That's 30 barges together for their trip down the Lower Mississippi to New Orleans.

It is not recommended route for pleasure boats as there are few places to fuel and fewer marinas. So we have said Goodbye to the Mississippi today.