Before we got back to Port Charles, we had noticed that the bow thruster sounded kind of sick and the batteries were showing low voltage. Joe was concerned that the battery charger and the batteries for it had gone kaput. The charger…
Tag Archives | Great Harbour
St. Charles, MO to St. Petersburg, FL (Sept. 25 to Nov. 11, 2014)
Before we got back to Port Charles, we had noticed that the bow thruster sounded kind of sick and the batteries were showing low voltage. Joe was concerned that the battery charger and the batteries for it had gone kaput. The charger…
Heading South
Oct. 30. I choose to leave the following paragraph in place, as this blog is a record of our travels, and breaking the screen of the laptop certainly impacted my enjoyment of the trip!!! I’m happy that all is well now, thanks to a relatively major donation to the coffers of the Computer Repair Store!
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Oct. 28. NO PHOTOS at this time. A few days ago, this MacBook Pro leapt from the table, made some deep gashes in the floor, and rendered the lower 1/2 of its’ screen unusable. While in Mobile, the plan is to find someone to make it whole again. And then the box to click ‘add’ will magically re-appear and the blog page will be complete!
—————————-O——————————
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Oct. 28. NO PHOTOS at this time. A few days ago, this MacBook Pro leapt from the table, made some deep gashes in the floor, and rendered the lower 1/2 of its’ screen unusable. While in Mobile, the plan is to find someone to make it whole again. And then the box to click ‘add’ will magically re-appear and the blog page will be complete!
—————————-O——————————
St. Louis, going south, is
the gateway to the ‘goofy 200’. We were
told at Hoppies’ Marina that the River had crested (wouldn’t be rising any
more) at 20 feet above normal. We
decided to give it a day to slow down, and so stopped at the Kaskaskia River Lock,
an easy 35 or so miles from Hoppies.
the gateway to the ‘goofy 200’. We were
told at Hoppies’ Marina that the River had crested (wouldn’t be rising any
more) at 20 feet above normal. We
decided to give it a day to slow down, and so stopped at the Kaskaskia River Lock,
an easy 35 or so miles from Hoppies.
We’ve never seen anyone
working at that lock wall before, but this time, Charlie was pumping water out
of the floating cells that make up the long lock wall. Twice a year, he
says, this is necessary due to condensation as well as rain collection and, of
course, leaks. Of course. Charlie, bless him,
checked with Matt, who was in charge of the lock. Result? We were invited to climb the ladder and visit
the Visitors’ Center.
working at that lock wall before, but this time, Charlie was pumping water out
of the floating cells that make up the long lock wall. Twice a year, he
says, this is necessary due to condensation as well as rain collection and, of
course, leaks. Of course. Charlie, bless him,
checked with Matt, who was in charge of the lock. Result? We were invited to climb the ladder and visit
the Visitors’ Center.
‘Twas an interesting
adventure. Made more fun by two
facts—one is that the lockmaster always says
“Don’t climb the ladders” when we arrive. tee hee. The other is that we could be considered by some (certainly not us!) to be slightly less than
spring chickens, and we wonder whether or not the invitation would have come,
had Matt known…
Kaskaskia is a narrow lock;
it only accommodates tows that are two barges wide. Southern Illinois coal was its’ major
shipment out before federal regulation sharply diminished the use of high sulfur
content coal. Now, limestone goes into Southern Illinois via the Kaskaskia Lock,
and is used to remove the sulfur dioxide from the emissions at the local power
plant, where the local coal is burned.
Business and industry are very complex.
it only accommodates tows that are two barges wide. Southern Illinois coal was its’ major
shipment out before federal regulation sharply diminished the use of high sulfur
content coal. Now, limestone goes into Southern Illinois via the Kaskaskia Lock,
and is used to remove the sulfur dioxide from the emissions at the local power
plant, where the local coal is burned.
Business and industry are very complex.
Later, we were joined at the
lock wall by Brian and Terry aboard POSH.
They quickly left us in their wake the next morning when we both set out
for the debris-filled scoot to Cairo.
And a scoot it was. High speed
(for us) and hand-steering (vs setting the autopilot and watching…) as the logs and
lock wall by Brian and Terry aboard POSH.
They quickly left us in their wake the next morning when we both set out
for the debris-filled scoot to Cairo.
And a scoot it was. High speed
(for us) and hand-steering (vs setting the autopilot and watching…) as the logs and
trees coming at us were constant. We reached the turn into the Ohio River at Cairo, IL at
5:05 pm, and 8 miles (at a sudden speed drop to 8 miles per hour) later were
peacefully anchored for the night. We
averaged 10.5 mph for the 11 hours we were underway!
Two days later we tied up
once again at Green Turtle Bay, and caught up with CAROLYN ANN, Joe and Punk Pica.
once again at Green Turtle Bay, and caught up with CAROLYN ANN, Joe and Punk Pica.
Concern about the deluges of rain became a
thing of the past, as we’re now in waters
whose levels are managed by dams with locks for us to pass through.
Funny sights along the
Tennessee River—a Cyprus tree growing several feet from the shoreline (today,
at least—shorelines are quite movable!) whose knees make it appear to be
sitting on a table.
Tennessee River—a Cyprus tree growing several feet from the shoreline (today,
at least—shorelines are quite movable!) whose knees make it appear to be
sitting on a table.
We marveled at the
difference in housing on the two sides of the river. On our left (the Right Descending Bank—rivers
are so designated as they do not run cleanly from north to south. But they are always flowing downstream, so we
are ‘upbound’ on the Tennessee, as it is hurrying toward us as fast as it can go,
so it can spill into the Ohio and then add to the fun on the Mississippi) is a
manicured, high maintenance, lovely home with multiple garages and a multi boat boathouse. On the opposite shore, a flood-protected
dwelling—built on very high stilts, also with outbuilding–for an RV, not a BMW.
After pausing at Aqua Harbor, a few miles from
the Shiloh battlefields of the Civil War, we entered the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway for our seventh excursion to Mobile.
the Shiloh battlefields of the Civil War, we entered the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway for our seventh excursion to Mobile.
The morning was misty at
first, then downright foggy,
first, then downright foggy,
but we were able to proceed with confidence as we
were motoring (with radar) up the 20+ mile long Divide Cut—the largest undertaking to date
by the Army Corps of Engineers. The cut
is just that. A chasm sliced through the
land and dug to a water depth of at least 9’ to accommodate towboats. A major project where only land had to be
moved, a huge undertaking to allow the trains to continue on their tracks…
This Waterway changes every
time we traverse it, and the 12 Tenn-Tom locks (the “Not-so-dirty-dozen” according to Fred Myers’ guide
book) seem like a breeze after the 27 ‘less user friendly’ locks of the Mississippi!
time we traverse it, and the 12 Tenn-Tom locks (the “Not-so-dirty-dozen” according to Fred Myers’ guide
book) seem like a breeze after the 27 ‘less user friendly’ locks of the Mississippi!
We made the ‘usual’ stops at
Columbus, MS—once again spoke with but didn’t see Jan and Dan Barnett, my Aberdeen,
SD classmate and her husband– and Demopolis, AL, where the new Kingfisher Marina
was pretty full of Loopers, and those hanging out above 32 degrees of Laittude until the hurricane season ends on Nov. 1. (Our insurance allows us to be wherever we dare to be). The phase two portion of the Marina is also well underway!
Columbus, MS—once again spoke with but didn’t see Jan and Dan Barnett, my Aberdeen,
SD classmate and her husband– and Demopolis, AL, where the new Kingfisher Marina
was pretty full of Loopers, and those hanging out above 32 degrees of Laittude until the hurricane season ends on Nov. 1. (Our insurance allows us to be wherever we dare to be). The phase two portion of the Marina is also well underway!
 |
| Rafted ‘gate to gate’ with CAROLYN ANN |
Marinas don’t happen much in
the 216 miles between Demopolis and Mobile. We found two great anchorages
before the Mobile skyline appeared on
the horizon. We covered about 80 miles per day! Fast for us!
In Mobile, the Austal Company has the usual big, ugly boat out in front, but close inspection
showed it to be number 6, not the number 4 we photographed a year ago.
the 216 miles between Demopolis and Mobile. We found two great anchorages
before the Mobile skyline appeared on
the horizon. We covered about 80 miles per day! Fast for us!
In Mobile, the Austal Company has the usual big, ugly boat out in front, but close inspection
showed it to be number 6, not the number 4 we photographed a year ago.
Guess they are working! Work is progressing on the new Maritime Museum, and the Cruise Ship dock. We’ll have to be tourists and go see!
So here we are at Turner
Marine in Mobile. Will again leave YOUNG
AMERICA here for a few days while I have a reunion with Nursing buddies Maureen
and Freddie in Albuquerque. Fred will go
to Newburgh to hang out with daughter Linda, who is recovering at home from a knee
replacement.
Marine in Mobile. Will again leave YOUNG
AMERICA here for a few days while I have a reunion with Nursing buddies Maureen
and Freddie in Albuquerque. Fred will go
to Newburgh to hang out with daughter Linda, who is recovering at home from a knee
replacement.
Until we talk again, be well,
and do continue to breathe!
and do continue to breathe!
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Heading South
NO PHOTOS at this time. A few days ago, this MacBook Pro leapt from the table, made some deep gashes in the floor, and rendered the lower 1/2 of its’ screen unusable. While in Mobile, the plan is to find someone to make it whole again. And then the box to click ‘add’ will magically re-appear!
—————————-O————————-
—————————-O————————-
St. Louis, going south, is
the gateway to the ‘goofy 200’. We were
told at Hoppies’ Marina that the River had crested (wouldn’t be rising any
more) at 20 feet above normal. We
decided to give it a day to slow down, and so stopped at the Kaskaskia River Lock,
and easy 35 or so miles from Hoppies.
the gateway to the ‘goofy 200’. We were
told at Hoppies’ Marina that the River had crested (wouldn’t be rising any
more) at 20 feet above normal. We
decided to give it a day to slow down, and so stopped at the Kaskaskia River Lock,
and easy 35 or so miles from Hoppies.
We’ve never seen anyone
working at that lock wall before, but this time, Charlie was pumping water out
of the floating docks. Twice a year, he
says, this is necessary due to condensation as well as rain collection and, of
course, leaks. Charlie, bless him,
checked with Matt, who was in charge of the lock. Result? We were invited to climb the ladder and visit
the Visitors’ Center.
working at that lock wall before, but this time, Charlie was pumping water out
of the floating docks. Twice a year, he
says, this is necessary due to condensation as well as rain collection and, of
course, leaks. Charlie, bless him,
checked with Matt, who was in charge of the lock. Result? We were invited to climb the ladder and visit
the Visitors’ Center.
‘Twas an interesting
adventure. Made more fun by two
facts—one is that the lockmaster always says
“Don’t climb the ladders” when we arrive at the lock wall. The other is that we are slightly less than
spring chickens, and we wonder whether or not the invitation would have come,
had Matt known…
adventure. Made more fun by two
facts—one is that the lockmaster always says
“Don’t climb the ladders” when we arrive at the lock wall. The other is that we are slightly less than
spring chickens, and we wonder whether or not the invitation would have come,
had Matt known…
Kaskaskia is a narrow lock;
it only accommodates tows that are two barges wide. Southern Illinois coal was its’ major
shipment out before federal regulation sharply diminished the use of high sulfur
content coal. Now, limestone goes into Southern Illinois via the Kaskaskia Lock,
and is used to remove the sulfur dioxide from the emissions at the local power
plant, where the local coal is burned.
Business and industry are very complex.
it only accommodates tows that are two barges wide. Southern Illinois coal was its’ major
shipment out before federal regulation sharply diminished the use of high sulfur
content coal. Now, limestone goes into Southern Illinois via the Kaskaskia Lock,
and is used to remove the sulfur dioxide from the emissions at the local power
plant, where the local coal is burned.
Business and industry are very complex.
Later, we were joined at the
lock wall by Brian and Terry aboard POSH.
They quickly left us in their wake the next morning when we both set out
for the debris-filled scoot to Cairo.
And a scoot it was. High speed
(for us) and hand-steering (vs setting the autopilot and watching…) as the logs and trees were constant. We reached the turn into the Ohio at Cairo at
5:05 pm, and 8 miles (at a sudden drop to 8 miles per hour) later were
peacefully anchored for the night. We
averaged 10.5 mph for the 11 hours we were underway!
lock wall by Brian and Terry aboard POSH.
They quickly left us in their wake the next morning when we both set out
for the debris-filled scoot to Cairo.
And a scoot it was. High speed
(for us) and hand-steering (vs setting the autopilot and watching…) as the logs and trees were constant. We reached the turn into the Ohio at Cairo at
5:05 pm, and 8 miles (at a sudden drop to 8 miles per hour) later were
peacefully anchored for the night. We
averaged 10.5 mph for the 11 hours we were underway!
Two days later we tied up
once again at Green Turtle Bay, and concern about the deluges of rain were a
thing of the past. We’re now in waters
whose levels are managed by dams with locks for us to pass through.
once again at Green Turtle Bay, and concern about the deluges of rain were a
thing of the past. We’re now in waters
whose levels are managed by dams with locks for us to pass through.
Funny sights along the
Tennessee River—a Cyprus tree growing several feet from the shoreline (today,
at least—shorelines are quite movable!) whose knees make it appear to be
sitting on a table. We marveled at the
difference in housing on the two sides of the river. On our left (the Right Descending Bank—rivers
are so designated as they do not run cleanly from north to south. But they are always flowing downstream, so we
are ‘upbound’ on the Tennessee, as it is hurrying toward us as fast as it can go,
so it can spill into the Ohio and then add to the fun on the Mississippi) is a
manicured, high maintenance, lovely home with boathouse. On the opposite shore, a flood-protected
dwelling—also with outbuilding.
Tennessee River—a Cyprus tree growing several feet from the shoreline (today,
at least—shorelines are quite movable!) whose knees make it appear to be
sitting on a table. We marveled at the
difference in housing on the two sides of the river. On our left (the Right Descending Bank—rivers
are so designated as they do not run cleanly from north to south. But they are always flowing downstream, so we
are ‘upbound’ on the Tennessee, as it is hurrying toward us as fast as it can go,
so it can spill into the Ohio and then add to the fun on the Mississippi) is a
manicured, high maintenance, lovely home with boathouse. On the opposite shore, a flood-protected
dwelling—also with outbuilding.
We’ve caught up again with, and are
now cruising in tandem with CAROLYN ANN, Joe and Punk Pica. We paused at Aqua Harbor, a few miles from
the Shiloh battlefields of the Civil War, and then we entered the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway for our seventh excursion to Mobile.
now cruising in tandem with CAROLYN ANN, Joe and Punk Pica. We paused at Aqua Harbor, a few miles from
the Shiloh battlefields of the Civil War, and then we entered the
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway for our seventh excursion to Mobile.
The morning was misty at
first, then downright foggy, but we were able to proceed with confidence as we
were motoring (with radar) up the 20+ mile long Divide Cut—the largest undertaking to date
by the Army Corps of Engineers. The cut
is just that. A chasm cut through the
land and dug to a water depth of at least 9’ to accommodate towboats. A major project where only land had to be
moved, a huge undertaking to allow the trains to continue on their tracks…
first, then downright foggy, but we were able to proceed with confidence as we
were motoring (with radar) up the 20+ mile long Divide Cut—the largest undertaking to date
by the Army Corps of Engineers. The cut
is just that. A chasm cut through the
land and dug to a water depth of at least 9’ to accommodate towboats. A major project where only land had to be
moved, a huge undertaking to allow the trains to continue on their tracks…
This Waterway changes every
time, and the 12 locks (the “Not-so-dirty-dozen” according to Fred Myers’ guide
book) seem like a breeze after the 27 of the Mississippi!
time, and the 12 locks (the “Not-so-dirty-dozen” according to Fred Myers’ guide
book) seem like a breeze after the 27 of the Mississippi!
We made the ‘usual’ stops at
Columbus—once again spoke with but didn’t see Jan and Dan Barnett, my Aberdeen,
SD classmate and her husband– and Demopolis, where the new Kingfisher Marina
is a welcoming place, with great floating docks and a large, clean
laundry-hang-out room!
Columbus—once again spoke with but didn’t see Jan and Dan Barnett, my Aberdeen,
SD classmate and her husband– and Demopolis, where the new Kingfisher Marina
is a welcoming place, with great floating docks and a large, clean
laundry-hang-out room!
Marinas don’t happen much in
the 216 miles between Demopolis and Mobile. We found two great anchorages
before the Mobile skyline appeared on
the horizon. 80 mile days! Fast for us! The Austal company has the usual big, ugluy boat out in front, but close inspection
showed it to be number 6, not the number 4 we photographed a year ago. Guess they are working!
the 216 miles between Demopolis and Mobile. We found two great anchorages
before the Mobile skyline appeared on
the horizon. 80 mile days! Fast for us! The Austal company has the usual big, ugluy boat out in front, but close inspection
showed it to be number 6, not the number 4 we photographed a year ago. Guess they are working!
So here we are at Turner
Marine in Mobile. Will again leave YOUNG
AMERICA here for a few days while I have a reunion with Nursing buddies Maureen
and Freddie in Albuquerque. Fred will go
to Newburgh to hang out with daughter Linda, recovering at home from a Knee
replacement.
Marine in Mobile. Will again leave YOUNG
AMERICA here for a few days while I have a reunion with Nursing buddies Maureen
and Freddie in Albuquerque. Fred will go
to Newburgh to hang out with daughter Linda, recovering at home from a Knee
replacement.
Until we talk again, be well,
and do continue to breathe!
and do continue to breathe!
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Moline to Moline and beyond
We’re Baaaaaackkkkk. Literally. Left you as we left the Quad Cities, heading for the Twin Cities, and we now have been to Minneapolis/St. Paul and back. The River is an 853 mile long dead end, and the only way out is the way we came in.
To recap, Bombfire Pizza in Sabula, IA was a hoot. Great pizza, and owner Tom picked us up at the Marina—-in his truck, not in his ’60’s VW bus. After we’d eaten our pizza and enjoyed the piano players—hired and impromptu, Tom had disappeared, so another patron returned us to the Marina in Tom’s truck. The keys were in it—“I sold it to him, guess I can drive it!”, said he. Small town America!
Both boats, CAROLYN ANN and YOUNG AMERICA were able to find dockage at marinas every night but one. And that day we simply moved out of the channel and dropped our anchors into the stickiest mud we’ve seen in many moons. Watched the tow boats pass at a respectable distance and felt safe and secure.
As we approached St. Paul, our Looper pals Liz and Steve Kemper came out onto their waterfront to wave and take pictures. Big lifesyle change going on with them! Their house is rented, emptied, and the van is packed, ready for them to move south and become full time live-aboards. Their boat, SHINGABISS, awaits them in Florida, and we were happy to arrive in St. Paul in time to spend a fun evening with them.
 |
| almost twins, steaming up the Upper! |
We docked at Watergate Marina in St. Paul. For Punk and Joe, it was a base for sightseeing. For us, a place to leave the boat. We flew to NY on Sept. 2. This time we were happy to be able to support daughter Ada as she prepared for and celebrated the grand opening of her dream—-Salon Lucere! A couple of spots of rain did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm. About 100 folks from in and around Chester, NY gathered under a tent for the official ribbon cutting, and then were treated to ‘runway walks’ by 4 models from New York whose hair had been ‘done’ by Ada’s staff in the newest Fashion Week styles. Food and drink were great, and tours showed off the fabulous job Ada has done of co-ordinating the renovation of the building with rentals to two related services upstairs! Congrats, Ada, we’re proud of you, and happy that our granddaughter, Devyn is a part of the staff!
www.salonlucere.com Let your hair shine!
Next stop, Washington, DC for 5 days of US Power Squadron National meeting, coupled with spending time with daughter Jen and Christopher, who live in Burke, VA.
Back to NY for Dr. visits (Fred’s melanoma site is clean and he got an
A+ from MemSKCaCen in New York.) and back to the boat!
Had a fun afternoon at Target Stadium watching a Twins’ Game. We totally missed the end of the Yankees season, and the retirement of the Captain. Sigh. Derek is definitely one of the good guys!
 |
| 3 Nurses from the Swedish Hospital Sch. of Nsg. Way back when! |
Jane and June, two of my nurses’ training buddies who live in the Twin Cities, came for lunch on Monday, and then we tossed the lines and motored over to the Bohemian Flats where we tied up on the Excursion dock and had dinner with Captain Dave. We opted not to go thru the Upper and Lower St. Anthony Falls Locks—we’ll rely on our run to the end of navigation last year for the memories.
Federal legislation has mandated the closing of the Upper Falls Lock at the end of this season. The rationale behind the closure is to stop the spread of our old ‘friends’ the Invasive Carp (no longer called ‘Asian’ as they were when we encountered them in the IL River on our 2009 Great Loop trip.)
For an interesting (to me, at least) article about the situation, you can go to: http://www.minnpost.com/environment/2014/06/downtown-minneapolis-lock-closure-means-portages-whitewater-park-still-possible
Our longest stop on the way south was again in Moline. My brother Gene’s daughter and son-in-law, Sandi and Lou, brought Gene and ‘Frank’s Pizza’ to the Marina on Saturday the 27th of Sept. It was 90 degrees on the back deck, but on the bow of the boat we found shade and a lovely breeze, so we had our pizza party there.
The next day, my sister Betty, her husband Gene and their dog, Daisy (recuperating from shoulder surgery) drove in from So. Dak. It was the first time we three sibs could recall just hanging out together as adults—-with no excuse (such as wedding or funeral) for a get together. We’ve always been a very close family, said she with tongue in cheek.
 |
| For sure Norwegians! |
We took an extra day in Moline to have a doctor remove what my mom would have called a ‘hurt bump’ from my right elbow. OK, not quite the same… if I didn’t behave, she would offer to “put hurt bumps on your head faster than you could rub them!” But this bump did hurt, and I’m glad it is gone!
“Keep ‘er coming Cap—we’ll have it ready for you!” 23 out of 27 times these were the wonderful words we heard from lock masters as we called to say we were approaching a lock as we moseyed down the River. A pretty amazing record! There has been a LOT of rain in the past few weeks, and the extra water ends up in the river. So locking was also speeded by the fact that the water is again so high (crested at 20 feet above normal here at St. Louis today) that the lock drop might be 2 feet instead of 10, or 5 instead of 28. As the river level rises the debris on the shores gets picked up, and pushed downstream. Weaving through logs, manny the size of telephone poles, as well as assorted branches and trunks is challenging and tiring. We;re told that the water level will drop 2-3 feet per day for the next 5 or 6 days, and the flotsam will return to the banks.
But the current is great! We were going 12+ mph today! Whiplash!
The Mississippi is like no other river we’ve cruised. It definitely has a personality all its’ own, and we have thoroughly enjoyed making it’s acquaintance. Twice.
Tomorrow we’ll race through the minefield as we get pushed down the ‘goofy 200’ at high speed.
Onward and upward……….we’ll be back soon. Do remember to breathe!
St. Charles, MO to Mississippi River end of Navigation and back (Aug 15 to Sep 25)
It was finally time to leave Port Charles Harbor, so Young America and Carolyn Ann headed out. The high water, carrying lots of debris, that we saw when we arrived had passed on by. As a matter of fact, we were concerned that the water mi…
St. Charles, MO to Mississippi River end of Navigation and back (Aug 15 to Sep 25)
It was finally time to leave Port Charles Harbor, so Young America and Carolyn Ann headed out. The high water, carrying lots of debris, that we saw when we arrived had passed on by. As a matter of fact, we were concerned that the water mi…
St. Louis to the Quad Cities
As I mentioned when last we met, the traffic below St. Louis was a zoo, but once into the City, we slid easily into the Material Sales Corp.’s H shaped barge array, and Jimmy helped us both tie up on the barge named Robert E. Lee. We were too pooped to accept his offer of the car for sightseeing, but really enjoyed the stop!
 |
| SEA DREAM’s bow and YOUNG AMERICA at MSC, St. Louis |
Locks and dams can be the bane of our existence. The main chamber of the Melvin Price Lock (#26 of the 27 locks between St. Louis and MSP) was closed for repairs, so only the smaller, auxiliary chamber was open. That means that tows that can’t fit have to lock in stages—-take apart, lock up or down and reattach. That can mean long waits for pleasure craft like us, as the paying customers definitely take priority. In the case of Mel Price, the wait was 4 hours. Sigh. Once through, we parted company with SEA DREAM. Mike and Linda went on to Grafton, IL to enjoy the pool and spa there, and we crossed the river to Alton, IL where I caught a cab to the St. Louis airport.
From August 5-8, I was in Burke, VA with daughter Jen and grandchildren Matthew, Casey and Rebecca while Christopher did a US Forest Service gig (his job,that is) in Ketchikan, Alaska.
 |
| Walking around the lake with Casey, Becca and Ruby. |
While I was away, Fred moved YOUNG AMERICA to the Port Charles Harbor Marina, and there she remained until August 15.
 |
| So long, SEA DREAM! |
They say boaters plans are written in the sand—-very near the shore— and often get washed away. So it was to be for this trip. Joe and Punk, who’d visited their daughter on the West Coast after coming around the Great Lakes to Pt. Chas. Harbor, returned to CAROLYN ANN on Thursday; SEA DREAM returned from an hour north of the marina on Thursday, and I returned from Burke on Friday, August 8. The three of us had planned to be in MSP by Aug. 21 but Mike and Linda decided to return to GreenTurtle Bay instead, and do day trips with friends there this summer. So we bade SEA DREAM adieu and spent the next week acting like retired folks without a care in the world. Well, why not? We are, after all, just that! (The real truth is that CAROLYN ANN was having work done, and Fred and I waited around until it was completed).
 |
| Two N-37’s in the Muscatine, IA harbor. |
USPS Port Captains Ed and RoseMary Bielike came for a visit and Joanne and Doug, Great Loop Harbor Hosts for the area, set up a dinner for 10 at a nearby restaurant, so we were far from lonely.
We finally sallied forth, and have been doing 50+ mile hops—-to Two Rivers Marina near Louisiana, MO, the Quincy Boat Club in Quincy, IL, Keokuk and Muscatine, IA and a lovely anchorage on the side of the River when the next marina was too far away and too silted in anyhow. The River is LOW, Go figure, after we had to wait and wait for it to settle down.
Just above Keokuk, we attempted to assist a Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski) that was powerless in the water. The JetSki had no steering and no place to tie a tow rope. When it tipped over, the operator, Kristin, swam it toward shore, where she found, much to her dismay, that the powerlessness was caused by failure to engage the fuel. Once the switch was turned on, she returned to us to collect her passenger and they headed home. It is never dull.
Finally reached the Quad Cities of IL and IA—Moline and Rock Island IL; Davenport and Bettendorf IA.
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| Rock crushes scissors….Joe got the 50 amp. plug–we had to use two 30 amp cords. |
Had a late lunch with my big brother Gene, always a treat!
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| Jet pilot and Submarinerr. A very special pair! |
He lives about 20 min. away, in Geneseo, IL.
An amazing squall blew through on Friday morning. Winds went from 0-40 in a heartbeat, and my, how the rains came down! And then it was gone. Sun came out and Punk and I began to walk to the grocery—-2.3 mi. according to the iPad. Happily, we got a call that Gene, bless him, had returned (by car, of course) and was on the way to our rescue with Joe in the co-pilot’s seat. A quick grocery shop and a pleasant evening followed.
More rain this morning, and bless him, Mike the harbormaster rescued our forwarded mail from the postal person who’d been unsuccessful in his attempt to leave the package at the Marina’s Restaurant. Hmmmm.
By 11 the skies were clear, and we were underway. As we arrived at Lock #14, we were told to use the Auxiliary chamber. New experience. Coming out of the lock, we sidled past a serious storehouse of Corps of Engineers equipment, and then re-entered the main channel by way of a narrow cut between the wing dams. Veddy interesting, and tricky!
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| CAROLYN ANN is through the wingdam gap. Our turn. Note the wind blowing the yellow flag. |
The alternative was a long wait at the main chamber as a backup of towboats come downriver after being held up by dredging of a shallow. impassable (for them) spot several miles north. We were happy with the Auxiliary Chamber and all of its’ extras!
Today’s destination is expected to be Sabula Iowa, (home of the Bombfire Pizza) and thence to the Twin Cities, one day at a time!
Hope your days are extraordinary and that you remember to breathe!
St. Louis to the Quad Cities
As I mentioned when last we met, the traffic below St. Louis was a zoo, but once into the City, we slid easily into the Material Sales Corp.’s H shaped barge array, and Jimmy helped us both tie up on the barge named Robert E. Lee. We were too pooped to accept his offer of the car for sightseeing, but really enjoyed the stop!
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| SEA DREAM’s bow and YOUNG AMERICA at MSC, St. Louis |
Locks and dams can be the bane of our existence. The main chamber of the Melvin Price Lock (#26 of the 27 locks between St. Louis and MSP) was closed for repairs, so only the smaller, auxiliary chamber was open. That means that tows that can’t fit have to lock in stages—-take apart, lock up or down and reattach. That can mean long waits for pleasure craft like us, as the paying customers definitely take priority. In the case of Mel Price, the wait was 4 hours. Sigh. Once through, we parted company with SEA DREAM. Mike and Linda went on to Grafton, IL to enjoy the pool and spa there, and we crossed the river to Alton, IL where I caught a cab to the St. Louis airport.
From August 5-8, I was in Burke, VA with daughter Jen and grandchildren Matthew, Casey and Rebecca while Christopher did a US Forest Service gig (his job,that is) in Ketchikan, Alaska.
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| Walking around the lake with Casey, Becca and Ruby. |
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| Matthew awaiting surgery for a shattered heel. |
While I was away, Fred moved YOUNG AMERICA to the Port Charles Harbor Marina, and there she remained until August 15.
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| So long, SEA DREAM! |
They say boaters plans are written in the sand—-very near the shore— and often get washed away. So it was to be for this trip. Joe and Punk, who’d visited their daughter on the West Coast after coming around the Great Lakes to Pt. Chas. Harbor, returned to CAROLYN ANN on Thursday; SEA DREAM returned from an hour north of the marina on Thursday, and I returned from Burke on Friday, August 8. The three of us had planned to be in MSP by Aug. 21 but Mike and Linda decided to return to GreenTurtle Bay instead, and do day trips with friends there this summer. So we bade SEA DREAM adieu and spent the next week acting like retired folks without a care in the world. Well, why not? We are, after all, just that! (The real truth is that CAROLYN ANN was having work done, and Fred and I waited around until it was completed).
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| Two N-37’s in the Muscatine, IA harbor. |
USPS Port Captains Ed and RoseMary Bielike came for a visit and Joanne and Doug, Great Loop Harbor Hosts for the area, set up a dinner for 10 at a nearby restaurant, so we were far from lonely.
We finally sallied forth, and have been doing 50+ mile hops—-to Two Rivers Marina near Louisiana, MO, the Quincy Boat Club in Quincy, IL, Keokuk and Muscatine, IA and a lovely anchorage on the side of the River when the next marina was too far away and too silted in anyhow. The River is LOW, Go figure, after we had to wait and wait for it to settle down.
Just above Keokuk, we attempted to assist a Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski) that was powerless in the water. The JetSki had no steering and no place to tie a tow rope. When it tipped over, the operator, Kristin, swam it toward shore, where she found, much to her dismay, that the powerlessness was caused by failure to engage the fuel. Once the switch was turned on, she returned to us to collect her passenger and they headed home. It is never dull.
Finally reached the Quad Cities of IL and IA—Moline and Rock Island IL; Davenport and Bettendorf IA.
|
| Rock crushes scissors….Joe got the 50 amp. plug–we had to use two 30 amp cords. |
Had a late lunch with my big brother Gene, always a treat!
|
| Jet pilot and Submarinerr. A very special pair! |
He lives about 20 min. away, in Geneseo, IL.
An amazing squall blew through on Friday morning. Winds went from 0-40 in a heartbeat, and my, how the rains came down! And then it was gone. Sun came out and Punk and I began to walk to the grocery—-2.3 mi. according to the iPad. Happily, we got a call that Gene, bless him, had returned (by car, of course) and was on the way to our rescue with Joe in the co-pilot’s seat. A quick grocery shop and a pleasant evening followed.
More rain this morning, and bless him, Mike the harbormaster rescued our forwarded mail from the postal person who’d been unsuccessful in his attempt to leave the package at the Marina’s Restaurant. Hmmmm.
By 11 the skies were clear, and we were underway. As we arrived at Lock #14, we were told to use the Auxiliary chamber. New experience. Coming out of the lock, we sidled past a serious storehouse of Corps of Engineers very heavy equipment, and then re-entered the main channel by way of a narrow cut between two wing dams. Veddy interesting, and tricky!
|
| CAROLYN ANN is through the wing dam gap. Our turn. Note the wind blowing the yellow flag. |
The alternative was a long wait at the main chamber as a backup of about 14 towboats come downriver after being held up by dredging of a shallow, impassable (for them) spot several miles north. We were happy with the Auxiliary Chamber and all of its’ extras!
Today’s destination is expected to be Sabula Iowa, (home of the Bombfire Pizza) and thence to the Twin Cities, one day at a time!
Hope your days are extraordinary and that you remember to breathe!
Peoria, IL to St. Charles, MO (July 12 to August 14)
The IVY Club was a great stop for us. We got a car from Enterprise and drove to Abingdon, IL where Joe’s aunt Kay is currently living in a nursing home – after several broken bones and two hip replacements. She corrected Joe on her age …
