Friday, August 15, 2009

Yesterday was a beautiful
day on the river but it was

windy - we were against it

all day so it was a little tough. It was a busy barge day also, so we had to wait

at two of the locks about three hours total. That's still really not too bad but between the wind, and locks, we only went 56 miles. One thing a little strange is we tried anchoring outside one of the locks to wait and the wind was blowing us North, the river current was flowing South but it reversed with the lock and the descending anchor got in the current, went North and was flowing faster than the boat was going. It shows the strength of the current!

We ended up in Mark Twain, Huck Finn, and Tom Sawyers' town of Hannibal, Missouri. It's a quaint, nice little town and this morning we are going to sightsee a little before taking off. We ended up staying at a Best Western (which is just fine) and going out to eat at a great place called LuluBelle's. It was an active brothel til the 1950's (very active) and is now a restaurant, actually a Bed and Breakfast too which we didn't know. We probably would have stayed there if we had.

Well another day is here and we need to do more miles per day in order to finish our trip in the allotted time. On we go!! til later, love to all, bye.

Wednesday, August 12 - Been gone a week!

Things are going really great. We've been going about 80 miles a day and that seems to be the magic number: any more than that and it seems too much. Weather has been wonderful the last two days again and that makes it so much better. I have to admit it's really hot though. Well in the 90's.

No matter where we go, we meet very nice people. All are helpful and full of information.

Tuesday night we stayed on the boats overnight - it went well but we learned a few things: put up the enclosures before the bugs come out! Our place was full of mosquitoes and these little moths. As least the moths don't bite. Also a no brainer is make sure you know where the flashlights are before it get's dark! Believe me, we do now.

Sunset was beautiful on the river (hopefully when I'm done here the picture attachment will work - I know it's operator error but......) and with it being August the meteor showers are active so there's lots of shooting stars to watch for. What more could a person ask for?

I have to tell you they grow stuff big down here - just before dusk the 'Japanese summer beetles' began buzzing and it got louder and louder surrounding us in the woods. We all looked at each other and said 'holy s...'. They didn't bother us though, they were just really loud.

During the night, about three or four times, it sounded like a log coming out of the water and splashing back in - it was some BIG fish jumping out . I wouldn't want to meet it;them. Two barges went thru during the night. They just purr by even though they're sooooo big. They have one mighty bright light on the front of the tug that goes back and forth from shore to shore continuously, that's the most obvious way you know it's coming. Not much sleep but the bugs were keeping me busy anyway.

Wednesday night we slept at a Fairfield Inn in Keokuk, Iowa. It was laundry day too. Well, here we go into a new day and a new state: Missouri. We'll be sleeping under the stars again tonight.

Talk to you all later. Love to all. Bye.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

We finally figured out to add pictures! I'll try to add some onto previous days blogs. This is leaving Clinton, Iowa, we stayed at the Best Western. Early to bed, the days are full with leaving by 8:00 and on the water til about 5:00/or as late as 7:00. We're going to sleep on a sandbar tonight.

Monday, August 10,2009 Day 6

We had a very nice time in Dubuque with visiting the Mississippi River Museum and Aquirium. We certainly learned much about the river. One of the interesting things was that a normal barge tow has 15 barges connected together infront of the barge tow boat. Those 15 barges can haul the same as 840 semi trucks! That's a bunch. The horsepower on a tow boat ranges from 4,800 to 6,480 hp and it can take them a mile and a half to come to a stop when the barges are full. You do not want to get in their way!

We met some very nice people at the Marina by Catfish Charlies (very neat place) Thanks for letting us park amoungst your beautiful 50 ft. Express and the 65? ft. Carver. They certainly are gorgeous boats. Wish we could have spent more time with you!

Al Kracke, thank you for letting us know of Catfish Charlies. It is right with the American Marina. We heard your message after we were already parked there! Again, thanks for the help you did give us - we stayed at the Hilton the last two nights (really roughing it!!)

Storms hit when we were at the Museum but the boats fared well. It was a good day to take off from being on the water (preplanned) so that worked out well because we would have had to take off the day anyway.

Now we are on the way to Clinton, Iowa. We celebrated Don's birthday today (10,080 minutes late, his birthday was last Monday) right after we went thru Lock and Dam #12. Memories in the making!

We just hit our 300 mile mark! We've used 65 .591 gallons of gasoline, With the eleven of twelve locks we've gone thru, the river has dropped 94 feet and last but not least so far we've used 88 pounds of ice! (these little facts are for our boat alone)

One of these days, we'll be loading a bunch of pictures!

Love to all. Talk to you later. Bye

Saturday, August 8, 2009

We found the Best Kept Secret on the Mississippi last night - accidentally even! We were looking for this one Marina and more or less gave up, ending up in McGregor, Iowa. What a great little town! Most of the shops were like an old Western town, the streets were brick but should have been dirt with horses on them. If we can ever figure out how to put pictures on here (which we will) we'd show you - anyway, McGregor Marina had some spots for us. The first hotel we saw we would not stay at but we ended up at the Pocket Pub with Melissa the bartender who led us to Bethwhohad the greatest twobedroom Bed and Bath suite. It really was great,just newly redone withg a wonderful kitchen, great,comfy beds, living room and the works. The guys went there first, Jan and I stayed at the bar for awhile. It was raining out. Anyway, Don and Rich were sitting in the living room when here flies in a big bat - good thing we were at the bar - They just let it fly around a while and it went down the stairs to the basement. The guys went to bed, Jan and I come in, she went to bed and I stayed up and read. Nope the bat did not come to visit me and I'm really glad cuz I didn't know about it til morning - I would have not liked that.

The river is beautiful, the skies are partly cloudy, the sun feels good, we're drying eveything out because we got several inches rain over night but all in all everything is VERY good. We are now entering Lock and Dam #10. Talk to you later as we head to Dubuque, Iowa. Love to all, bye.

Third day - Friday, August 7, 2009

It decided to rain and rain it has. Actually, when we left, it had quit and we were quite thankful but then it started. Until Rich got the enclosure up, it was pretty nasty, but this enclosure has made travelling quite pleasant. We cannot go the usual 12 miles an hour, but 10 today. Fueled up in the small town of Lansing, Iowa and are heading for Prairie du Chein. We'll stay there the night and - got to go now - entering Lock and Dam 9. Talk to you later. Love to all.

Thursday, August 6th - Happy Birthday, Jocie!!!

Hope you had a great birthday, Jocie!! 32! hard to believe already.

This computer has been more than difficult, but I think I have it sort of figured out now.

Thursday was another picture perfect day with perfect weather, water, sunshine and friends. We had a great day traveling, going about 70 miles, today, 80 miles yesterday, and staying in LaCrosse tonight at the Best Western Hotel on the banks of the Black River, just off the Mississippi. Locks are going well, waiting the longest of 1 1/4 hour. Quite the 'road system'. Seeing many eagles all along. Here we go into Friday...........