LONG DAY ON THE RIVERS

The rain NEVER materialized until Wednesday evening when we were anchored just off the I-57 Bridge on the Mississippi, about four miles north of the Ohio. There are no marinas from Hoppies for the next 257 miles so you must anchor out. Of course, the swift current of the river (four to five knots) plus the continue barge traffic all night makes it a real challenge. Craig and Mary Lou Anderson, we joined you in the ‘bad anchoring experience club” with the Captain and first mate exchanging unfriendly words! We had to move four times before the anchor would hold in the muddy bottom –even with almost 150 feet of chain out. The long anticipated rain came that evening along with exciting lighting. Thursday was a looooong day on the Ohio and Cumberland rivers with a gazillion tows and barges. It was capped by a three hour wait at one lock. Try holding a boat in one place for three hours in a swiftly moving river. Finally, we arrived at Green Turtle Marina, a very nice marina on Barkley Lake, part of the Kentucky Lakes. It was after dark when we came in and Ned did a masterful job of getting us into a strange marina. Another boat was following us and after docking, we all quickly changed and went to the Yacht Club for a drink (or two) and dinner. Today, Friday, we remained at Green Turtle to have a minor plumbing repair but they did not have the needed part, so forget the repair for now. We will leave in the morning, continuing South. This Gulf Turtle Marina is filled with Loopers who are all heading south to the Looper Rendezvous in northern Alabama…… Don’t plan to attend. We are not sure what kind of cell phone service we will have down through Tennessee and Alabama but we will blog when we can. Keep those e-mails coming so we know what is going on in the real world.
Posted by the First Mate, Cook , Launderer and all around utility person! HEY, someone has to blow my Horn!





Captain's Note...
Just had to add the adjacent picture of queer little boat that stayed a night or two at Hoppie's. It's a homemade "boat" about fifteen feet long with a 10' x 10' box with roll down canvas sides and a very small outboard motor. A young couple left Minneapolis and planned to go all the way to New Orleans. The sides were down when I took the picture because it was starting to rain. They were brave souls !

ON THE WATERWAYS AGAIN!

Like ole Willie Nelson, we’re on the road again…….. ……….
We pulled the boat out from under it’s shady resting spot in the Alton marina and into the Mississippi River on Sunday morning September 23rd. After traveling through the two St. Louis locks (Mel Price and Chain of Rocks), under Eads Bridge, past the Arch, and down river for forty two miles, we reached our destination, Hoppies Marina (marina is stretching it) in Kimswick where we sat for the next two days. It seems that our first week underway is always exciting, but this first week wasn’t as bad as the first week last spring. Upon arrival Sunday afternoon, we received a phone call from our neighbor’s daughter saying there was a leak in her Mothers unit that was coming from above, which was our condo. SO, on Monday we got a rental car and drove back to check things out. There was nothing we could find to indicate it came from our place and we made arrangements that would reassure our elderly neighbor that things were O.K. Back to Hoppies! By then the weather forecast wasn’t sounding at all promising, with strong winds and rain expected, so we delayed our departure until Wednesday morning. Because all cruisers talk about their stay at Kimswick and the friendly folks that run the marina, we were most anxious to meet them in person. Fern and Hoppie are a couple who have been greeting and helping cruisers on the Mississippi for many years. Hoppie was injured a few years ago in an accident at the marina, and Fern has almost single-handedly been running the whole operation. She holds briefing sessions about the river and various potential anchoring points. Since their marina is one of the very last spots for fuel and shelter before Kentucky Lakes, her information is important. By the way, Hoppie is the last surviving river man who lit lamps as a young man, for night navigation, as did his father before him. They are an amazing couple. The pictures are of their marina which consists of three old barges near Kimswick, and that’s Fern.

Grandchildren

O.K. …. Like all grandparents, we had to show you pictures of the grandkids and why we wanted to spend plenty of time in St. Louis.
Megan started kindergarten on August 22nd and Mimi was very glad to be home for that big day. Little brother Evan even wore a backpack to help send Megan off on her first day. They are pictured with their parents Todd and Julie.
Grandsons Trevor and Austin came to the boat one afternoon. Trevor thought it would be “cool” to drive AWEIGH. Their parents, Jeff and Kristen are not pictured here.

Kirkwood Coffee Group checks out AWEIGH

Twenty one members of the historic Kirkwood Coffee Club today, made a special trip to Alton, Illinois to inspect and verify that AWEIGH was still afloat and able to continue it's journey South.

Although the primary reason for the visit may have been the anticipated lunch at the famous or infamous, Fast Eddie's Bon Air in nearby downtown Alton. After driving the thirty miles from Kirkwood and visiting the boat, they pronounced AWEIGH seaworthy and able to proceed.

The boat visit went better than the trip to Fast Eddie's when it was discovered that they didn't open until after 1 pm, which was almost an hour away. This group was too hungry to wait and so returned to the safe confines of Kirkwood and a group lunch at Graham's Grill. The time mixup can be blamed on the author who has only been to Eddie's on Fridays when they open at 11 am.

The Kirkwood Coffee Club is group of almost fifty business and retired members who have met daily for conversation, fellowship, golf and other activities for over sixty plus years.

Remember you can double click the picture to enlarge it.