09/05 - 09/08 - 2019 Mississippi River Gathering

T

texasair

Member
Save the date,

The 10th Annual Mississippi River Gathering will be held as usual the weekend following Labor Day, September 5-8th. This year we are returning to Alton, Illinois, on the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis.

If you have not visited the Alton Marina, you must do so just to see what a first class marina is all about. All of our slips are covered so it is truly a rain or shine event. The marina has a swimming pool, 2 hot tubs, and the nicest restrooms and showers on the river.
For the gathering, the marina gives us the use of the bar-b-que grills and the pavilion.
There is a very nice casino in walking distance of the marina.
The boat ramp is on site with plenty of parking for trucks and trailers.
There is also RV parking allowed on site (no hookups).
You do not need a boat to join us, there are good accommodations in Alton.

C-Brats and Wanna-bees are welcome.

The core group of Mississippi River Gathering regulars have a huge knowledge of the major rivers and cruising the major lakes of North American. There will be many interesting stories told and much wisdom shared.


Launch at Minneapolis and have a great 2-3 week cruise down river to meet us in Alton, or plan an after gathering trip on one of the many rivers and lakes in middle America.


Although the schedule is flexible, folks usually start arriving on Thursday and most depart on Sunday.


We usually go with the flow on activities. In past years we have toured the Mel Price super lock and Mississippi River museum south of Alton and boated down through the chain of rocks canal to the gateway arch in St Louis. If the river levels cooperate we may have another hot dog and ice cream sand bar picnic. In the past both Mark Twain and Elvis have made appearances at the Gathering.

Ken is currently working on some special activities and will fill us in in the coming weeks.

Hope to see you there,

Tex and Sharon on Bixby's Cub

Ken and Pat on Pelican

Added to Calendar
Signup list
-TyBoo
 
Thataway, with Marie and Miss Angel will be there. Great gathering, great folks, great venue--Thanks Tex/Sharon, Ken/Pat--you always put on a wonderful gathering. We will be dong some river tripping after the gathering for the rest of Sept,
 
We’ll be trailering to Lake Champlain to cruise there (one way) down the Champlain Canal and Erie Canal to Tonawonda, car rental back to Plattsburg, load rig and trailer to Clinton to launch, cruise down to Alton, rinse, and repeat. So hope to see ya’ll there at Alton again this year! Great spot and great Gathering! Thanks for the work you put in on this!

Cheers!
John
 
I'm planning on the Inside Passage of SE Alaska all summer, and likely won't be back in time to make the Meet in the Middle. However, Rosanne will be home and is thinking seriously of coming down to it as she enjoys the company kept. :) If I'm back early, we'll both be there with Midnight Flyer. For the others that have never been to Alton, you won't find a better marina! And the Mississippi is great for cruising before or after the event. Colby

P.S. looks like an event signup is needed.
 
Carol and I plan to attend. Carol shoud be done with her health issues and be good to go. Looking forward to meeting some new C-Brats. Dale
 
Great event with great people. I went last year for one day without my CD16 and got to hitch rides on a 22 and a 25. WOW, what an epiphany. I was amazed how well everyone sets up their boats for cruising.

Bought a CD22 last October of 2018 (now dubbed the FRESH FISH), and will be trailering her down from Springfield, IL to join up with ya'll for a few days.

For those who haven't gone to this event, make the time. The knowledge, training, and experience of the folks on all things boating and CD's is fabulous. I learned so much. Go for the knowledge, stay for the food and fellowship...both are first rate.

Many thanks to the organizers of this great event.

D
 
I signed up and would also be interested in Dr. Bob's post gathering adventure. Cat Claw may have two on board for this trip. Lew
 
We are happy to include any C Dorys which wish to tag along with us post gathering. We will set up a separate thread after we return from Calif. in July.
Two for Lew would be great...! Makes those locks a lot easier!
 
RV parking is not allowed at the actual marina but is allowed in the parking area of the adjacent boat launch, Self contained only, no hookups.
 
Tex knows a lot more about the area the I do. But I would go for a nearby RV park, and drive over to the gathering. I am not sure that a travel trailer, would be comfortable in the boat launch area...We put out boat trailer in the locked trailer storage lot. But some of the C Brats left their trailers out--cars to the Parking lot in the marina. There is some slope to the parking area.

There are several nice RV parts not too far away.
 
The Alton Marina is back open for business after the flood.
They will be ready for us on the 5,6,7, and 8th of September. (The weekend after Labor Day)
The swimming pool and hot tubs will be open as well.
Call the Marina office at 618-462-9860 to reserve a slip
Tell them you will be with the C-Dory group.

There is a boat launch and trailer parking adjacent to the Marina.

Tex
 
Here is the preliminary schedule for the gathering


Thursday September 5, 2019
5:00PM We will depart by vehicle for the short drive to Fast Eddies for dinner where the most expensive item on the menu is a “Big Elwood” for only $3.99. and jumbo boiled shrimp are .39 cents each.

After dinner we will return to the marina for social time. Some may want to enjoy a swim in the pool or a soak in one of the hot tubs.


Friday September 6th, 2019.

10:00AM We will depart by boat for the 15 mile cruise upriver to Grafton, Illinois at the confluence of the Illinois River. We will take the new sky cable lift to the Aeries Winery located at the top of the cliffs over looking the confluence of the two rivers.
After lunch at the winery every one is on their own to explore Grafton. There is shopping, arts and crafts vendors, even a zip line tour. Depart as you see fit for your return to the Alton Marina.

Friday afternoon. Back at the marina in Alton, social time, perhaps a swim or visit to the nearby casino.

5:PM at the pavilion at the Marina, Cocktail hour.

6:PM Grilled White hots and Red Hots prepared by Terry and Jay
Bring you appetite.


Saturday September 7th, 2019

8:30AM Departure by vehicle to the nearby Mel Price super lock for a private tour starting at the lock at 9:00AM The tour should last about an hour.

Following the tour we will continue a short distance down river to the Lewis and Clark interpretive center and museum. On exhibit is a replica of one of the 55’ keelboats used by the expedition in 1804. Nearby is a 150’ tall observation tower with a spectacular view of the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

Those that want to sleep in or have toured the lock before may want to join us later in the morning at the Lewis and Clark center.

Midday back at the marina, you are own you own for lunch, There will probably be some White and Red hots and other leftovers from the previous evening, The snack bar/deli at the marina has a pretty good burger and there are nearby restaurants in Alton.

3:00 PM We will gather in the pavilion area with Ken Frey’s family for a Celebration of his life. After the Celebration Ken’s family will take a boat ride on the River for a private remembrance.

Saturday late afternoon and evening we will wing it. Some may want to hang out at the pool, some may want to try their luck at the casino. Some may want to visit the nearby jazz and beer festival. We could do some more grilling at the pavilion, perhaps a little pot luck or revisit Morrison’s Irish Pub. We will just go with the flow.



Sunday September 8th, 2019

See you next year.
 
Thanks for posting the schedule. So far our plan is to arrive sometime on Thursday afternoon. We are looking forward the gathering.
See you there
Jim and Jeanine
 
Back from a great trip on the Inside Passage of SE Alaska, and finally catching up around home, slowly getting my schedule figured out for the next few months.

Rosanne and I will be at the gathering with Midnight Flyer, arriving Wednesday evening (Sept 4th) and departing the following week, Wednesday morning, Sept.11th. Not sure what we'll do the couple of days after the gathering. Perhaps spend a few nights beaching out in the evenings, or see if there are any other folks planning to stay a few extra days.

Colby
 
Golly, Marie asked for a copy of the "Sign up list"--and I found out we had not signed up. Wondered why I have been working on the boat for the last month?
We are now signed up!

We usually arrive at least a day early-finding that Labor Day is not a bad day to travel, as long as we get out of Pensacola early--and avoid the 100,000 or so people who went to the beach! We stay in Corinth Ms (where Marie grew up) the first night, and an easy drive to Alton. In the past Ken and Pat were already there, plus a couple of others? We do have to stop by our farm while in the "area"-which is about 200 miles North of Alton. May do that before the gathering, if no one else is going to be early.

After the gathering, we are still planing an upper Tennessee River Cruise. We can talk about the details, at the gathering for any who wish to tag along. The Cumberland only has 50 miles we didn't cover last year--and we will probably do it next year, along with the Ohio River. Alton to Chattanooga is 455 plus miles. That is a long day's boat drive for us. We would launch the next day, if we did it in one day. We may stop and see our relative in Nashville on the way, and stay there a night. (Alton to Nashville is 326 mi)

Starting at just above Chattanooga, TN, (or we could schedule a stop at Chattanooga, and aquarium) where we terminated the cruise last year, We hauled out on Lake Chickamauga, just above the lock. There are several marinas there, and we are working on a safe place to leave our rigs for several weeks. As well as the 176 more navigable miles of the Tennessee River, there are several very scenic tributaries: (Hiwassee River 22 miles),( Big Sandy 15 mi), (Duck River 15 mi) and we will probably explore them. Our plan is to move at displacement speeds in the interesting areas, and then up on a plane in some. We generally anchor out 2 or 3 days, and then a day in a marina. We usually eat aboard, but when a good restaurant is available, eat there. We will finish in Knoxville, where we have relatives who will take us back to the rigs.

Any who wish to join us, please feel free. No formal schedule! If you want details on charts, guides etc, please send me a PM or e-mail.

We also hope to see some of the "new C Brats" at both the gathering and on the after cruse.

See you all at Alton--thanks again TEX!!!
 
Does anyone have any ideas for a potential cruising itinerary for a week or two before and/or after the gathering? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I know Thataway is going to Tennessee, but I don't want to tack on another 9 hour drive.
 
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