The Cosmic C is on the Great Loop at last.

Pat and Mary,

Welcome to Chicago! I wish I had known where you were staying. My son raced in the triathlon that went right past your dock today and maybe we could have hooked up for dinner. Are you planning to spend more time in Chicago? Let me know and perhaps I can arrange something.

Jim
 
Cosmic C":qfsp48b2 said:
A lot of stuff ended up on the floor, and, while not dangerous, it certainly wasn't comfortable!
Patrick
Click to expand...


No foolin'! That only has to happen a few times before you start thinking about how to secure things better. Here are some of our solutions.

Galley_Cabinet_Lock.sized.jpg
Galley cabinets are secured with a simple barrel latch.
Small_Chart_Rack_Lock.sized.jpg
The over-helm chart rack has small hook and eye latch.
Big_Chart_Rack_Lock.sized.jpg
The large chart rack has a modified barrel latch.

We are still working on solutions for the two drawers - it is getting OLD picking up the contents of the drawers off the floor. Patty is thinking a baby latch might work.

 
Hi all:

After two great days in Chicago, the weather changed again and we woke up to 20+K winds and pouring rain on the third day when we had planned to depart. Being the wimps that we are we decided to stay put, but I felt we couldn't leave the boat because the inner harbor around the Columbia Yacht Club where we were staying was surprisingly rough, and indeed we had to move the boat twice to avoid being beaten up against the dock. Sorry we missed you, Old Jim. We would have been delighted to have dinner with you! How did your son do in the triathlon? We were leaving the yacht club after many had finished and we were really surprised at how fresh most of them appeared to be after all that effort.

The last three days we have been meandering down the Illinois river. We seem to have run out of luck at the locks, always seeming to arrive just as a big tow is going in and having to wait two or three hours. On a couple of occasions another pleasure craft has arrived just as the tow was leaving and not having to wait at all, irritating us all the more. Today we arrived at the La Grange lock and inquired about timing. Their transmission was very garbled, but we picked out what we thought was "4 to 5." Since the gates were opening we thought they had said 4 to 5 minutes, but the light remained red for about 20 minutes. Then we looked behind us and there was a big 15-barge tow coming on in. We had passed it and another one moored at the bank a mile earlier. And, you guessed it, the second tow was coming on in behind, and we realised that what the lockkeeper had actually said 4 to 5 HOURS. So we went back a half mile and found a little channel from the main river into a small lake (actually called Little Lake), one of those that only shallow draft C-Dories can get into, and here we are at anchor in Little Lake having Margeritas before supper. Great!!

Patrick and Mary Fowles
25 ft C-Dory Cosmic C
Currently at anchor in Little Lake, IL
www-the-fowles.com
 
Pat and Mary,

Glad to hear you got off Lake Michigan in one piece. The weather really got nasty with those ne winds blowing up the waves on this end. I hope your river trip is smooth and those barges let you have a little bit of room. If you ever have a chance to see the river and canal system from the air, you'll be amazed at how many of those things are packed in there. One wonders how they manage to move at all.

My son did pretty well in the triathlon. He's 32, a new father and works as a flight instructor; all of which make staying in shape a challenge. But he finished in the top 20% so he was fairly happy with that.

Enjoy the rest of your trip and if you ever pass this way again, we can try to hook up.

Fair weather to ya.

Jim
 
We’re at anchor behind Angelo Towhead Island at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. It's a beautiful evening, the fish are jumping, Mary has cooked a meal I wouldn't have thought possible on an alcohol stove, and we're replete and happy.

We were entertained by relatives in Peoria and good friends in St Louis, from where we made use of Southwest Airlines relatively cheap fares to make a 24-hour dash to Kansas City to visit Mary's family in Platte City, MO. Since the last post we have had much better lock luck, and on the two Mississippi locks we were taken in immediately and allowed to float, which we loved.

We've met and enjoyed chatting with several more loopers, including Wayne Roberts on "Opelousas", who happened to be reading our last post at the Alton Marina as we pulled in, and Della and Floyd on their home-made boat "Freddy Freddy", on which they live full-time and with whom we shared the wall at the Kaskasia lock.

Fuel just missed being a big issue for us. In contrast to the well-known stretch on the Mississippi and Ohio where fuel is scarce, we've never seen it noted that there is no gas between Peoria and the brand new marina at Grafton, some 160 odd miles. Had we read Skipper Bob's book closely enough ahead of time we might have noticed the lack of references to fuel, but we didn't and only a chance remark by someone at the Detweiler Marina in Peoria prevented us from leaving with insufficient fuel to make Grafton. We think loopers need as much warning about this stretch as they get for the Mississippi/Ohio River stretch.

Patrick and Mary Fowles
25 ft C Dory Cosmic C
Currently at anchor behind Angelo Towhead Island
Www.the-fowles.com
 
Hey, Cosmic-C, thanks for the warning about gas. I knew of an 80-mile stretch on the Illinois River, but had no idea there was one 160 miles w/o gas. Na Waqa and I are at Harborside Marina. Looks like we're just missing each other.

Also, you're so lucky to have your alcohol stove! I shelled out the extra bucks for a Wallas diesel, and I'd like to throw the @Q$#% thing overboard! I sent it in for repairs last year, and they could find nothing wrong, but replaced some parts anyway. Since then I've started it three times successfully, twice to test it, and once to actually use it. The very first time I turned it on this trip, it squeaked a little, and smoke started coming out from under the galley counter. Fortunately, I brought a Coleman 2-burner propane stove as backup. That, along with a microwave and toaster oven means I won't have to eat raw eggs for the rest of the trip.
 
Smittypaddler-

Sorry to hear about the Wallas problems -- how far do you intend to go on the Loop? And, your boat name, is it from the Fijian? And how did you come by the name?

Good luck to you and have a good cruise.
 
As in this lesson?

"Where is the boat?" - ( E vei na waqa? )

Reminds me of our Turkish lessons...

"Buralarda bir benzinci var mi?" - (Is there a gas station around here?)



El and Bill":1wilrd1e said:
And, your boat name, is it from the Fijian?
Good luck to you and have a good cruise.
Click to expand...
 
Yes, Na Waqa is Fijian. You're the second person since I named her that knew what it meant. The other was a lady from western Africa working at a marina on Solomons Island in Chesapeake Bay. I learned a little Fijian while staying at a surfing resort on the island of Nagigia, just off the southwest corner of Kadavu. Actually, my boat's full name is Na Waqa Lailai Totoka, which in Fijian means "The Pretty Little Boat." That's as close as I could come to "Cute Little Boat," which I heard a thousand times on my trip. I'm *really* curious how and where you learned Fijian.

Regarding the gas situation from Peoria to Grafton on the Illinois river, I made a few phone calls. The Tall-Timbers Marina at mile 120.3 LDB has gas only, and during the week you have to call Bob's cell phone, 309-241-7957, to arrange to have him come down to the dock. The Rivers Edge Boat Club, at mile 97.5 RDB HAS NO GAS, but only because their pump is being repaired. You can get gas at the Illinois Riverdock, at mile 20.9 RDB, by calling David Johnson, 618-576-2256, and he'll bring gas to you in his truck.
 
Postscript: I'll finish the loop when I reach the Mississippi. Actually, I started in La Crosse, to avoid the "Twelve Miles of Hell" as Captain Rick Rhodes describes it in his book. Last summer I returned to Green Bay by way of Key West to New York, Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan. But that little missing segment across Wisconsin has annoyed me for a year, and I finally decided to *really* complete the loop this fall.
 
Don't know a word of Fijian, other than what popped up when I Googled your boat name! Know a little Turkish though (2 years in Peace Corps there...)
smittypaddler":17m1bses said:
I'm *really* curious how and where you learned Fijian.
Click to expand...
 
And if you really dig Fijian, go for it! All you will really ever need to know!


Learn To Speak Fijian
Phrases for daily use...

Hello...2 people... - ( Drau bula )

Hello...group of people... - ( Dou bula )

Hello...large number of people... - ( Ni bula )

See you later - ( Au sa liu mada )

See you later - ( Qai muri yani )

What is your name? - ( O cei na yacamu(ni)? )

My name is Mary - ( O yau o Mere )

My name is Mary - ( Na yacaqu o Mere )

My name is Peter - ( O yau o Pita )

My name is Peter - ( Na yacaqu o Pita )

Pleased to meet you - ( Ia (ni) bula )

Where are you from? - ( O iko mai vei? )

Where are you from? - ( O kemuni mai vei? )

I am from New Zealand - ( O yau mai Niu Siladi )

I am from America - ( O yau mai Merika )

I am from Japan - ( O yau mai Japani )

I am from Samoa - ( O yau mai Samoa )

I am from Tonga - ( O yau mai Toga )

I'm not happy - ( Au sa sega ni marau )

I don't know - ( Au sega ni kila )

Where are you going? - ( O sa lako ki vei? )

I am going to the market - ( Au sa lako ki na makete )

I am going to the dance - ( Au sa lako ki na meke )

I am going to the store - ( Au sa lako ki na sitoa )

I am going to the wharf - ( Au sa lako ki na wavu )

I am going to the village - ( Au sa lako ki na koro )

I am going to the mountain - ( Au sa lako ki na ulu i vanua )

I am going to the bar - ( Au sa lako ki na vale ni yaqona )

I am going to the beach - ( Au sa lako ki na baravi )

I am going to the hotel - ( Au sa lako ki na otela )

I am going to the island - ( Au sa lako ki na yanuyanu )

Where is the village? - ( E vei na koro? )

Where is the school? - ( E vei na koro ni vuli? )

Where is the university? - ( E vei na koro ni vuli levu? )

Where is the chief? - ( E vei na turaga? )

Where is the chief's house? - ( E vei na nona vale ni turaga? )

Where is the road? - ( E vei na gaunisala? )

Where is the church? - ( E vei na vale ni lotu? )

Where is the toilet? - ( E vei na vale-lailai? )

Where is the restaurant? - ( E vei na vale ni kana? )

Where is the boat? - ( E vei na waqa? )

Where is the post office? - ( E vei na positovesi? )

Where is the bank? - ( E vei na baqe? )

Where is the plane? - ( E vei na waqa-vuka? )

Where is Suva? - ( E vei ko Suva? )

Where is Vanua Levu? - ( E vei ko Vanua Levu? )

Where is Beqa? - ( E vei ko Beqa? )

Where is Nukulau? - ( E vei ko Nukulau? )

Where is Bau? - ( E vei ko Bau? )

Where is Nadi? - ( E vei ko Nadi? )

Where is Tamavua? - ( E vei ko Tamavua? )

Where is Korolevu? - ( E vei ko Korolevu? )

Where is Nausori? - ( E vei ko Nausori? )

Where is Cumming Street? - ( E vei ko Cumming Street? )

Where is John? - ( E vei ko Jone? )

Where is David? - ( E vei ko Tevita? )

Where is Peter? - ( E vei ko Pita? )

Where is Marian? - ( E vei ko Mereoni? )

Where is Mary? - ( E vei ko Mere? )

Over there - ( Oya )

There...near you... - ( Oqori )

Here...near me... - ( Oqo )

What is this? - ( A cava oqo? )

What is that? ..near you.. - ( A cava oqori? )

What is that? ..away from you.. - ( A cava oya? )

It is a house - ( E dua na vale )

It is a sleeping house - ( E dua na bure )

It is a stone - ( E dua na vatu )

It is a kava bowl - ( E dua na tanoa )

It is a pot - ( E dua na kuro )

It is a comb - ( E dua na i-seru )

It is a net - ( E dua na lawa )

It is a turtle - ( E dua na vonu )

It is a tree - ( E dua na vu ni kau )

It is a fish - ( E dua na ika )

It is a bird - ( E dua na manumanu vuka )

What is this? ..please.. - ( A cava beka oqo? )

What kind of fish is this? - ( Na mataqali ika cava? )

What kind of house is this? - ( Na mataquli vale cava? )

What kind of bird is this? - ( Na mataqali manumanu vuka cava? )

What kind of turtle is this? - ( Na mataqali vonu cava? )

What kind of canoe is this? - ( Na mataqali waqa cava? )

What kind of tree is this? - ( Na mataqali vu ni kau cava? )

What kind of flower is this? - ( Na mataqali se ni kau cava? )

What are you doing? - ( A cava beka koni cakava tiko? )

I am working - ( Au sa cakacaka tiko )

I am resting - ( Au sa vakacagu tiko )

I am killing time - ( Au sa moku siga tiko )

I am wandering around - ( Au sa gade tiko )

I am drinking kava - ( Au sa gunu yaqona tiko )

What is the price? - ( E vica na kena i-sau? )

How much is the fare? - ( E vica na i-vodovodo? )

When will the dance begin? - ( E na tekiva e na gauna cava na meke? )

It will begin at four o'clock - ( E na va na kaloko )

When did he go? - ( E a lako e naica )
 
CosmicC/Patrick.... Love wathing your post and your progress. Have sent your web link to another Alabama friend of mine who had purchased a new Grand Banks 37.... and just two days after starting his trip in FL area... got an emergency phone call about his mother... Trip stopped, and he has just now sold his boat. I am attempting to convience him to get a C-Dory for WAY...WAY less money... and just do the loop in sections..and stay at hotels along the way... but....do go do the loop which is also a dream of his.

Keep me posted on a "projected"....within a month or few weeks of where you will be. I got some folks scattered about the Cumberland river area.

Byrdman
 
We’re now home in Pennsylvania, and the Cosmic C is moored at the Midway Marina on the Tenn-Tom Waterway. We’ll be back on board in November to start the second leg of our Loop, heading for the Tampa area.

Some loopers are noting that the anchorages along the Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland rivers are either disappearing or becoming much more difficult. The anchorages we tried were all much shallower that listed in Skipper Bob, partly because of silting, but also it seemed that the water is pretty low – all the bridge clearances are 2 – 4 feet more than listed. C Dories can, of course, get into fairly shallow locations, and we did anchor behind Angelo Towhead Island on the Mississippi and in Birdsong Creek on the Tennessee river. We found 8 feet for about a quarter of a mile up the Angelo Towhead chute (actually no longer a chute because the upstream ends of this and other chutes have been filled in by the Corps), but the channel in is now very narrow and has shifted, so now one must favor the island and turn in between the tree stump and the island. I’d hate to try it in a bigger vessel, but it’s still possible. The bay at Birdsong Creek is now hardly recognizable, and the depth is no more than 4 – 5 feet, OK for us but not for bigger craft.

Lock 52 on the Ohio is currently a problem. The main chamber is closed for maintenance, and this is causing huge delays for the commercial traffic. Tow after tow is nosed into the bank awaiting passage, some for days. We were lucky. Our wait was only three hours before they squeezed us in. And we do mean squeezed; when the gates opened to let us out, the tow waiting to get in had nosed up so close to the gates that we had only about a 10ft opening to squeeze by. They also let us float in this lock, which was very helpful since they have only fixed bollards which make it quite difficult for small craft.

We enjoyed our stay at the Green Turtle Bay Marina on Lake Barkley and yes, we did go to Patti’s and yes, we did have their two-inch thick pork chops (which provided enough meat for two more meals on board!). On Kentucky Lake we saw the sternwheeler Mississippi Queen, which was a grand sight coming down the lake.

As we were approaching Clifton, Tennessee we heard on the radio that the 24th Annual Horseshoe River Bend Festival was starting that night, so we decided to make an early stop there and join the fun. We listened to the Kentucky Headhunters and other bands, downed fried catfish and hushpuppies, watched a wrestling bout (talk about theater!), and wandered through stalls selling all sorts of Southern memorabilia. A fun evening.

We made the Midway Marina the next day largely because the locks on the Tenn-Tom are no longer opening only every two hours. In fact they acted like locks on the Erie Canal, calling ahead so that the next lock was ready and waiting for us, and the operators were among the politest and friendliest we've met. And all free. Amazing.

We like the Midway Marina. The folks are really friendly, it's far enough off the channel that wakes really aren't a problem, and we feel quite safe leaving the Cosmic C there for a month or so.

Patrick and Mary Fowles
25 ft C Dory Cosmic C
Currently moored at the Midway Marina on the Tenn-Tom
Www.the-fowles.com
 
We should correct erroneous information we posted aearlier about fuel (or lack thereof) on the Illinois River. In fact there are two places to obtain fuel between Peoria and Grafton, but one may have to call ahead to get it.

40 miles downriver from Peoria, Tall Timbers Marina at Havana, IL, mile
120.0, has gas only; no diesel. They are only open Friday through Sunday but if you want fuel during the week, call and someone will meet you (309/543-2562).

Rivers Edge Boat Club at Browning, IL, mile 97.5, no longer has fuel, either
gas or diesel.

At mile 20.9 Illinois Riverdock/Restaurant at Hardin, IL, a truck will deliver fuel to boaters. Call David Johnson (618/576-8080).

Patrick and Mary Fowles
25 ft C Dory Cosmic C
Currently moored at the Midway Marina on the Tenn-Tom
Www.the-fowles.com
 
Well, we're back on the Cosmic C and heading for Ft Myers FL.

We had a great Thanksgiving celebration with Mary's family near Kansas City - 51 people in all. Only problem was that a 24-hour stomach bug was going around and many of us caught it, including Mary and me. Because of the bug our 2-night stop in Nashville wasn't as full of sight-seeing as it might have been, but we did take in the Grand Ole Oprey. We got back to the Midway Marina in Fulton, MS on the 26th and were on our way the next day. Midway is a very nice and friendly marina, and the people there are great!

We've had warm weather as we cruised south on the Tenn-Tom, but shortly after we docked at the Grand Mariner marina on the Dog River just south of Mobile a front came through and it is now sunny but COLD. We'll spend a day looking around Mobile and doing some housekeeping, and hope to cross the bay on Saturday, weather permitting. If the forecast is correct we won't get another chance until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Patrick and Mary Fowles
25' C Dory Closmic C
Currently docked at the Grand Marina Marina, Dog River Mobile, AL
www.the-fowles.com
 
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