Going down the Mississippi

theflyscot · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject: Going down the Mississippi

Hi, folks - I have just joined C-Brats!

I own a 22 foot C-Dory Cruiser and have taken it from Albany to New York and back on the Hudson. I am thinking of doing the Mississippi, from Minneapolis to New Orleans. I know that going to Mobile might be calmer and more interesting,
but I am determined to do the proper Mississippi, all the way to New Orleans.

Is there anyone out there who has done this, or can give me advice?

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you - theflyscot

Fishhawk · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:19 pm Post subject: Welcome aboard Scotty

Flyscotter,

I'm sure you will hear from Brats that have done it and they will share their thoughts. This is the greatest boating forim that I know of, welcome aboard.

I've not done the whole trip but have some experience with the MN part of the river. Time of the year and water elevation can make some big differences. Ole Miss. can have a lot of large debris (whole trees 100' long) when it's high.

Be Careful.

Regards,

Capt Dan

toyman · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:42 pm Post subject:

Welcome ! I'm so new I don't know if I'm allowed to welcome or not yet - but WELCOME ! I'll be in your area this summer - maybe we'll cross paths.

thataway · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:29 pm Post subject:

Welcome aboard. I have done only some of the lower Mississippi. It is not perticularly pleasure boat friendly. You can get fuel in Memphis and hopefully Vicksburg. Beyond that you may well be jerry jugging fuel. If you keep the speed slow and use lots of drift you might be able to do it without getting fuel until in Ponchatrain--or the ICW.

Consider that there are lots of tows, not many places to anchor, and shifting sand bars, with murky water. The current can be tricky. I would probably consider doing the Atchafalaya River for the last part--it starts just South of the Red River, and joins the ICW at Morgan city about 160 miles South of its confuence with the Mississippi.

There is a chap in a pontoon boat who is going to try and do it from Minnesota this summer. He figures 2 months about minimum time.

There is a good reason that the vast majority of boats do the Tennessee to the Ten Tom Bigbee waterway, rather than the Mississippi river. In fact the Great Loop only became popular after the Ten Tom opened.

I believe that there is at least one C Dory which has done the Mississippi to New Orleans, but the details escape me.

El and Bill · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:37 am Post subject:

We second Bob's suggestion of the Atchafalaya for the bottom stretch. If you want to do the entire Miss, head out into the Delta country at the bottom end below N.O. - some interesting channels to explore (just avoid the big salties heading into N.O.)

We understand the desire to do the whole thing, but lack of fuel, high levees blocking the views except of Corp levees , wing dams jutting into the river at intervals, much commercial traffic ... there sure are good reasons folks head over to the Tenn/Tom - winding, more narrow, through the cypress trees, few tows, natural beauty lining the shores, much more wildlife, great little towns ... you'd miss, in our opinion, some mighty fine cruising water.

Not For Hire · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject:

Flying, welcome aboard.

Great idea for a trip. Lives in the imagination of lots of folks thanks to Mark Twain and others. There are several threads if you search for them. I did a small segment Minn, Wis, a bit of Iowa, a couple of years ago and put up some pictures - Mississippi Trip. There are several books out about solo trips down the river in prams, cruisers, sail boats and so on. When I went I ran into Smitty Paddler completing his Great Loop and had help and a visit with Minnie Swan and good advice from other brats as well. So it is a great idea. I look forward to the loop in four years.

Regards,

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journey on · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject:

Mark, that was a great trip. The scenery was great, though it took me a while to see the palisades. Loved the barges and tugboats. Gone through a lot of locks, but not sure I would want to share one with a set of barges.

How did you figure out where the river was deep enough?

We drove over and around the Mississippi, especially Winona on our trip to the great lakes, and for us from the desert, that scenery was beautiful. Again loved the towboats.

Boris

Bill and Brenda Russell · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject: Mississippi River

The Mississippi River Adventure 1,160 Miles

On February 21, 2006 my twin brother and I launched "Falcon" in the snow and ice at Little Rock, AR. on the Arkansas River and cruised the Mississippi to New Orleans, ICW, Atchalafalaya, Red River to Shreveport LA.

Fuel...We found fuel on the water at Greenville MS, New Orleans, Morgan City, Clark's Marina south of Shreveport, and Shreveport. All other times we used our 4 five gal cans to transport fuel.

The adventure was great even having to hussel fuel made the cruise one for the hardy among us.

I have a hard copy of our 15 days of this adventure and will mail you a copy if you wish.

Bill and Brenda Russell 870-533-2663

Fairbro · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:21 am Post subject:

I live in Prescott Wisconsin right at the confluence of the Mississippi and the St. Croix rivers. We have only gone about 200 miles between St. Paul Minnesota and Marquette, Iowa but plan to go farther in the next few years. The upper Miss. is very boater friendly and scenic. Many bluffs and nice river towns. Lots of marinas that will loan you a car to get supplies. You'll have a great time from here to St. Louis.

Joni Lynn · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:55 am Post subject:

FlyScot,
We live along the Mighty Miss by Dubuque, Iowa and do most of our boating on the river between Prarie du Chien/Marquette area and Dubuque. Like all of the Upper Miss, it's a beautiful float trip with lots of services and much to do. When you get close, make contact and we can shuttle you to some local stores to replentish your supplies.
Paul & Joni aboard the Joni Lynn

texasair · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:26 pm Post subject:

We did the Mississippi in 2007 from the start to New Orleans.
We did it in a Catamaran Cruisers small houseboat. Outstanding trip, Will do it again. Maybe next time will be in a C-Dory 25. We left our truck and trailer at the marina in MN and rode the Amtrack back to MN to get it a month later. We were able to see and do a lot in a month but next time will plan on 6 weeks. Some places we visited for a few hours or 1 day. We stayed several days in Hannibel, Memphis and Vicksberg. A lot to see in those 3 towns. We took a old 1970s moped for ground transportation.

journey on · Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:43 pm Post subject:

Wait a second. Have you done the Eire Canal? Great scenery, going through those locks is a hoot, and friendly people. We came up the Hudson and through the Eire. Absolutely wonderful trip. And you live there.

Boris

Chuck S · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 9:30 am Post subject:

The NYS Barge Canal is a very sedate trip. But unless you circumnavitate Michigan to the Chicago River there's no access to the Mississippi River.

Why not start closer to home?

The Allegheny River is navigable at least up to Pool 9, about 62 miles above Pittsburgh, and there is probably C-Dory depth water up to mile 72. Lock 9 is the upper lock and has no regulaion.

Lots of barge traffic on the Ohio, but also many places to gunk hole as well as clubs and marinas. We may trailer over to the Tennessee River this summer, but don't have weeks to do it!

-- Chuck