Chack Chack on the Great Loop Leg 3

We made Grafton today, 160 miles and two locks. Had thought about staying in Havana but they are having an Octoberfest this weekend and the marina was full.

Grafton is a nice town near the confluence of the Mississipi, Missouri, and Illinois River, they had a parade on the river today in rememberance of the 9/11 then a potluck at the marina - nice folks.

Tomorrow we are visiting St. Louis by car, no way to tie up on the river and visit the city. Sunday off to Hoppies.

And Patrick look no double post today - hope to see you while we are in Tennessee

Best
Eric
 
Grin... :lol:

I hate it when that happens Eric!!

Will continue to track and hope to get together. St. Augustine tonight, Daytona Beach on Monday...then on to Coco Beach area...and shuttle to Orlando airport for a couple weeks on land and making some Auburn football games....then, back to the boat where ever it is. Some issues now with the Moorehaven Lock on the cut thru....so... who knows when they will really open it. Some bright work set up in the Stuart FL area for DARLING....

Bad accident at Green Turtle Marina on Saturday. Boat burned, caught some others on fire, one life lost. Bad deal...but damage was reduced due to the efforts of many.

Be safe!

Byrdman...wondering south on the eastern side of ICW
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... Mcp1Cjf3qX
 
Saturday we took a car down to St Louis to see the city as there is no way to dock along the river on you way down the Mississippi. Enjoy going to the Arch and took the tour through the Anneheuser Busch brewery.

Today we left Grafton, entered the Mississipi and made the 70 mile trip to Hoppies in Kimmswick, Missouri. Its a classic place built on barges moored out in the river. Last fuel for 270 miles until we reach Green Turtle Bay on Kentucky Lake. We met Fern on the dock who went over the river charts with us pointing out safe anchorages along the river and dangerous the river makes where you certainly do not want to meet a tow.

Tomorrow its 140 miles or so to Cape Girardeu where we can anchor off river in a diversion canal, then Tuesday its off to Kentucky Lake.
Best
Eric
 
Monday turned out to be a great day. We cruised down the Mississippi from Hoppies with no problems although the current in some of the river bends is amazing - big whirlpools and eddies. Since we were making good time we headed up the Ohio with the idea to stay on the town dock in Paducaha Kentucky which although officially frowned upon people can usually do if they arrive late. We had two locks on the Ohio, the first was ready for us and we locked up and continued North. The second lock was a different story. Its a two chamber lock, one was down and there were tows backed up on both sides of the river from the day prior waiting to lock through. The lock master told us that it would be around 5 hours before we could lock through and since it was 4 pm that didn't sound to appealing. We decided to anchor out of the channel on the Kentucky side of the river where there were two other cruising boats in the same situation. Amazingly one was Freebird who we had traveled with on most of the Trent-Severn. We rafted up with them overnight and the lockmaster put us through at 6:30 AM.

From Paducah there are two routes into Kentucky lake, 22 miles and a single chamber lock, or around 50 miles with a two chamber lock. We were at the end of a 270 mile run with no fuel stops available and chose the shorter Tennessee river route. We waited at the lock for about three hours for a tow to come through and then locked through with Freebird and made Kentucky Lake Dam Marina were we are spending the night.

Saw another CD25 here from Colorado named Rambler but no body on board - any body know them?

Well know we are on Kentucky Lake with numerous anchorages and marinas for the week before we leave our boat at Pebble Isle and head over to Nashville for the weekend.
Best
Eric
 
We are slowly putting up pictures from our trip down Lake Michigan to Chicago. I will get the Inland waterway pictures up soon.
We are just getting ready to leave Pebble Isle on our way to Scipio Creek in Apalachicola
Best to all of you
Eric
 
Eric,
I am enjoying your travel log so very much. Hope to follow in your wake in a few years and I am sure I will benefit from you old timers for blazing the trail for me. :wink:

Keep them coming and if your path brings you to my backdoor here in Naples, please contact me...the welcome matt is always out.
 
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