Rollin' Down the River: October 20, 2015

Hi Friends and Family,
     Well, we are truly rolling down the Mississippi River with Illinois on the left or Port side and Missouri on the right or Starboard side.   It truly is the muddy Mississippi and we can't believe that we used to swim in it when we boated the Mississippi years ago - much less skinny dipped.  Oooh, I can see the faces of my kids being grossed out by that comment!
     We pass many barges - some longer than others.  The correct way to pass:  Harley who leads our team radios the tow to ask if it is alright to pass on the Port or Starboard.  Some of the tow Captains will answer and blow a whistle while others just blow the whistle.  One whistle means pass on Port side and 2 whistles means pass on starboard side.  I think they consider us "Pleasure boats" just a pain they have to deal with. 
     Our 6 days in Alton were relaxing and fun.  Ann and I had our mani -pedis.  Felt so good!  Did grocery shopping at a cute little store.  Had to make a cab trip to Fast Edie's.  It is supposed to be the hot spot.  Cheap food and cheap drinks. Another boat couple went there on the weekend and the line was out the door and around the corner.  I would have fit in if I had my leathers.  Wouldn't that be a picture?!
      We rented a car and had a blast with the Lee's and my brother, Tom and my niece, Klara in Overland Park, Kansas.    Played Farkel and a great new game.  Michael was kind enough to take us to Costco, Auto parts store, Liquor store and we walked to Walmart.  Had so much fun with my sister and her kids and grandkids.  When we left, I did get a little teary eyed for my munchkins in Wisconsin. 
        One thing is for sure, we are truly blessed with the weather.  It is cool in the mornings.  We are leaving each spot at 7 a.m. just as the sun comes up and by noon we are switching to shorts.  We haven't had bad weather.  We do rock and roll at night due to barge traffic but all of us kind of like that.  We continue to meet up with 3-4 other Loopers along the way.  Most are traveling faster than we are. 
     Since Alton we have been to a tiny, picturesque marina:  Hoppie's.  Most Loopers stop here to fill up with gas/diesel and water before having to anchor out for 3-5 days before getting to another marina.
     How do you anchor out?  It usually is a marked anchorage on the charts - like a little tributary.  Monday night, we were tied to the outside wall of a lock with a dredging machine going full speed until 3 in the morning.  Didn't really bother any of us.  When you are out in the air all day, sleep comes easily.  Tuesday, Oct. 20 we are anchored seperately with 4 different boats.  Cook on our grill and dinghy over to either our boat or Harley's.  Water is a precious commodity so we sponge bathe, conserve on washing dishes.  We both have enough to make it for 2 more anchoring out days IF we are careful!  We run our generators to warm up our salon area ( I keep asking Rod what the correct boat terms are.)  Have had no TV for at least 2 weeks except at my sister's.  The generator helps me to get internet with our traveling WiFi - sometimes.  And juice up my phone. 
    Our goal is to finally get on the Ohio River which will eventually get us to the Cumberland River.
     That is it for now.  As I type this we ARE rockin' and a rollin' because a barge just passed and leaves quite a wake.  Makes me sleepy.  Night night.
     An addition:  was hoping that I, alone, could put pictures on this blog.  Nope.  So I was hoping tonight, Wednesday, Harley could instruct me again.  Well, we had a very adventurous day.  We left at 7 a.m. and finally reached the Ohio River.  Barge traffic here is crazy.  Thought we could sail right through a lock under construction but instead we were escorted by a tow.  He escorted us through the unfinished lock and to the beginning of the next lock.  Had to wait awhile before they put us through.  That is what takes so long - not the lock itself but waiting for the huge barges to get through.  Once through, we went on plane and drove as fast as our boats allow to meet at the next lock near Paducah, Kentucky.  Found out we can't get in till dark.  So---  decision made - we are anchored off the main channel and will be rocking and rolling tonight.  It was a long day.  So pictures will be posted with explanations at a later date.  I am sending this so people can read it before Halloween.  Mary

Test

Human Interest Plus

October 11, 2015
       Although this information is a little overdue, I would like to tell you about our experience in Grafton Harbor in Grafton, Illinois.  We arrived at this Marina and were impressed with covered slips.  Because we are transients, we were not put in a fancy covered slip.  The marina also had a pool and restaurant. We wondered what the attraction was to this little community and marina.  No cell phone service and no TV and poor internet service.   There were many boats or like most people call them, yachts, loud music, people driving "go fast" boats with loud inboard -outboard motors (called IO's) - the louder the better.  Favorite activity was to boat on the Illinois River in the dark with no lights!
    We eventually found out that this was a 3 day weekend and quite the hot spot for people coming from Chicago, St. Louis and surrounding Southern Illinois cities.  There was a car ferry bringing dozens of cars from St. Charles area of Missouri to Grafton during the summer months.  Normally the area would be slowing down about now but because of the weekend and the gorgeous weather they were hopping.

    Grafton, Illinois is nestled in the hills overlooking the connection of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.  We took a shuttle to a Wine Restaurant at the top of the highest bluff.  It was crazy busy with many BMW's, Corvettes etc.  We met the owner - a very down to earth former farmer.  He lost everything during the flood of 1993.  So he sold his farmland, invested everything in this land and eventually built up a very thriving wine, hotel, cottage business. 
      Aside from the irritating drunks driving boats at night and not understanding what - No Wake - means, it was one awesome town.
       We have since left Grafton (Monday) and eventually we were finally on the Mississippi.  I am thinking we are finally out of Illinois.  Nope.  Not by a long shot.  I don't know if this is true but Illinois feels a lot longer than Florida or maybe it is because we have averaged 7.7 mph.  Rod and Harley are excited about that because they are using far less fuel than when we travel on Lake Michigan. 
     But to Ann and my amazement we let the engines open on our trip from Grafton to Alton!  Kind of fun to go fast for a change.  Then I DON'T drive!  Another interesting fact is that we are now seeing bluffs just like the Mississippi at home.  We spent 12 years boating on the Mississippi and loved it.  What is interesting is that the Illinois River runs to the Mississippi and the terrain changed so quickly. 

      We are now in Alton, Illinois.  I thought it was Missouri because I want to be in another state.  Not going to happen for awhile.  We are staying at Alton Marina for 6 days right under a huge bridge and Rod and I are in a covered slip.  Ann and Harley are right next to one.  Phones work great but because of the bridge, it blocks reception for TV.  Oh well. 
       We took a cab to a Nail Salon - boys went to Lowe's while Ann and I each had a mani - pedi.  Reason:  when we leave here, we are anchoring out for at least 5 days. Few showers, sponge baths, no ammenities. 
       While here, Rod and I are renting a car and driving to Kansas City, Overland Park, to be exact to spend a couple days with my sister, Kathe, brother in law, Mike, and family.  My brother, Tom, and his daughter, Klara will be there too. 

Hello to all my Family and Friends,

    I am sorry for the delay with stories about our Looping but the marinas that we have been staying at have had weak connection or no connection.  I think my last blog was the explanation of locks.
       Let me tell you the names of each Marina and a tiny description.  We have been to Racine, Joliet, Ottowa, Heritage Harbor, Starved Rock Marina, Henry's (that was an interesting tie up on a very crude rock wall. Next was East Port Marina in Peoria, Ill., followed by Havanna, Ill, Marina which was called Tall Timbers.  The owner had already closed the marina for the season but because there were 4 Loopers coming in, he turned on the power.  Cute Marina.
      After Tall Timbers we had our 1st anchorage.  That means we anchored on an island off the channel.  Places to do that are marked by the charts that Rod and Harley study each night.  We have anchored out many times on our trips in the North Channel on Lake Huron.  We usually tie up together.  If someone ever had video taped us getting the anchors out and tying up together, it would make for a comedy  
   But this anchorage was easy.  Once anchored, Rod and I dinghyed over to Harley and Ann's boat for dinner.  We forgot one major thing:  we didn't leave lights on our boat.  We eat, drink lots of wine, barges pass us with their big spotlights on.  We motored home in pitch dark,  found the boat, but now Mr. 1 sheet to the wind had to climb on the very top of the boat to put the anchor light on as required by law - something he should have done during the daylight.
      Tonight and tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 11, we are at Grafton Harbor in Grafton, Ill.  This is where the Illinois River and Mississippi River intersect.  Monday we will be boating to Alton, Missouri - finally on the Mississippi.  Our plan is to stay there for 6 days which we are all looking forward to.
    I will be glad to get off the Illinois River mainly because of the Asian Carp.  They love to jump close to the boats.  Luckily we have avoided having any land on our swim platform.  They are not as large as the ugly carp on our Lake at home:  Lake Kegonsa.  I call those Pig Fish.  But the Asian carp are far more dangerous.
     Although we have been at several marinas - some have been 2-3 day stays - my wonderful son, Ryan, has commented: "I could walk faster to where you are."  Funny but true.
     I have been at the helm driving several times now and can follow the red and green markers pretty well.   I am also learning how to use the auto pilot.  I also use the chart plotter to make sure 2nd Knot is staying in the middle of the channel.
     The fun part of this kind of trip for me is meeting new people and finding out about different parts of our country or even world.  Our new friends may be following us from time to time:
     Sailboat:  a New Yorker with his buddies from Michigan.  Very friendly.  Ann and I learned all about his life during a trip to the Laundermat.
    Mainship Boat, a Trawler, a couple from Prince Edward Island, Canada - a dream trip for me (lots of whales).  They also have a sailboat that he built and have crossed the Atlantic 6 times!  I love Canadians.
    The last couple are on a Hattaras which is a beautiful boat to Loop with. (Has a living room).  They also have sailed around the world.  When they complete this Loop, they plan to sail to Australia to Alaska!! And we thought that we were experienced boaters!
    Well, that is it folks!  I still can't figure out the picture to blog thing but I have an expert in mind to ask, hopefully.

   

River Locks

October 3, 2015
   It has occurred to me as we are enjoying this comfortable Marina in Ottowa, Illinois - Heritage Harbor while we wait for the Hurricane winds to subside, that some of my family and friends have been asking what it is like to go through the locks on the river systems.
   Rod and I as well as Harley and Ann spent about 12 summers touring the Mississippi River primarily in Wisconsin - so had some knowledge of what to do.  But the last time was around 1998.
    The Locks are primarily designed to help the commercial Barge traffic negotiate the different water levels on the rivers.  The water levels are lowered in the locks if you are traveling South.  Opposite if going North.  Pleasure boats - which we are- use the Locks after the barge or barges have been through.  The amount of time we may be waiting to get in depends on the size of the barge.
   So what happens:  Rod or Harley will call the Lock Master on the radio to get an indication of time  : for instance one Lock was a 4 hour wait.  Back in the day on the Mississippi we would spend that time waterskiing and basically having fun.  This is a little more serious.  Did meet other boaters which is always fun.
       When the Lock opens, it almost looks like a gate to the castle - a water castle.  We then either use our lines or the lock lines to tie up to the lock wall.  We have our fenders out to prevent damage to the boats since the pressure from the water level change will push the boats around.  We then hold the lines tight; girls on the bow and boys on the stern ( I don't know why but we have been doing this for years).   When both sides of the Lock are closed the water levels gradually are lowered.   We have been experiencing 35-50 feet drops!   An obnoxious horn blows to tell us to let go of the lines.  We then pull out.
   We have learned some valuable information so far:   The boat pushing the barges is called a tow.  It is an insult to call them tugs!
    By the time we reach the Gulf of Mexico in Mobile, Alabama, we should be Lock experts!
   And I might add that by that time, many of you will be experiencing a snowfall!!!   I just had to add that.
   Still haven't figured out pictures.  Working on it. Maybe by 2016😁