The Mighty Mississippi

Three generations enjoying the ride
Kelsey, Missy, Judy

 Saturday, Sept. 20, Ron and Sue Burlison took the car ferry to Grafton to visit.  They drove us to Aerie's Winery high on a bluff overlooking the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi. The weather was perfect and the view was beautiful.

At Aerie's Winery
Rich, Sue, Ron, Tom, Missy, Kelsey, Judy, Gordon

What a view!

We left Grafton around 1 p.m. for the short (17 mile) run to Alton.  We really started to smell home when we reached the Mississippi River.  Sue and Ron decided to join us for this leg, so we had a crew of nine.  The bluffs around Alton are gorgeous as are the homes that sit on top of them.

Sue Burlison in "queen bee" seat.

Alton Bluffs

Raydiance turned over to crew
Ron, Gordon, Rich

Stately homes atop Alton bluffs

Judy pointed out the painting of the Piasa, according to Indian legend a large fierce bird capable of eating men.  The original painting was on a cliff destroyed during mining years ago.  The new painting is just north of Alton by the railroad tracks.

Piasa painting

Arriving at Alton, we found several loopers in port including Free at Last and Sun Gypsy. An environmental fair was in progress at the park next door.  We enjoyed the exhibits and,of course, the kettle corn.

Barred Owl at the fair

Royce and Gail Lemar from Farmington, who keep their boat part-time at Alton, arrived late afternoon and we went to dinner at MAC's in downtown Alton.  They are hoping to begin their loop in the next few years. Alton's marina has a great reputation among loopers and it is well deserved. The view of the suspension bridge from the marina at night is spectacular!

Alton Bridge at night

Sunday morning a St. Louis crew consisting of Kevin and Tina Kilpatrick and Dan and Julie Garland, friends of Rich and Missy's, arrived to ride with us to Hoppies.  They provided wonderful beverages, snacks and lunch as well as being delightful company.  Again we had a beautiful day to cruise past the St. Louis riverfront.

Confluence of Mississippi and Missouri Rivers

Helmswoman Kelsey
being advised by Dad, Rich

St. Louis Crew passing the Arch
(Thanks to John Benckenstein
aboard buddy boat, After Taxes,
for the photo)

Dan, Missy, Julie, Tina, Kevin

Another milestone 

We arrived at Hoppies around 3 p.m.  Hoppies is a "marina" near Kimmswick.  Actually it is a group of anchored barges, but it is the only stop along this part of the river.  They provide fuel, electric, water and a safe tie-up.  And they are only a mile from the Blue Owl, a restaurant featuring amazing pies including the levee high apple pie (as featured on Paula Deen's show).  Who could ask for more?  Wonderful Farmington friends, Linda and Jerry Roberts, Carla and Frank Taylor and David and Alice Johnson,  drove up to have cocktails and wish us well for the last leg of the journey. Dennis and Dorothea Kehm, who live in nearby Festus, joined us also.   David and Alice came aboard here and will stay with us to cross our wake.

Carla, Dorothea,Donna,Cathy and Tom

David, Frank, Alice, Linda, Carla and Jerry
enjoying the plush atmosphere of Hoppies on the River

Hoppies

That evening, a slide show about the history of steamboats in the area was presented to the boaters in the "recreation center", a.k.a. the shack on the last barge.  The program was actually very interesting.  Hoppies is not far off the channel and when tows go by, especially upbound, the boats really rock.  We made sure to have plenty of fenders out.

Monday morning we headed down our home waters--the Mississippi south of St. Louis.  The current there is very strong-- adding 5 mph to our progress.  Here are some of the sights along the river.

Camping on a Mississippi sandbar

Kennett's Castle which has hosted
the likes of Dick Cheney
Check it out on the internet.

Herd of deer grazing

Poor old Ste. Genevieve harbor
now completely silted in

Fall color beginning to show
in the trees on the limestone bluffs

Holcim Cement Plant
one of the largest in the world

Interesting homes on the bluffs

Infamous Mississippi whirlpools

Plattin Rock Boat Club
Our Mississippi River club

River gauge

Tower Rock

We anchored for the night behind an L-shaped wing dam at mile marker 78.  When we arrived four other boats were already anchored.  After Taxes rafted with us in order to save space. Thank heavens for a calm night because swing room was tight!  Not a picturesque anchorage, but secure. The next morning we had a mess of drift between our boats.

Yuck!

Tuesday morning we continued downriver keeping our eye on the weather radar as we were approaching a storm.  We passed Cape Girardeau and several hours later came to the confluence of the Mississippi and the Ohio.  The contrast in water color where the two meet is very apparent--the Ohio appearing to be blue to the Mississippi's brown.  The tow traffic at the confluence is extremely heavy.  Our chartplotter was filled with AIS targets.

Part of the mural on the flood wall at Cape Girardeau.

(Reminder: you can enlarge the pictures by clicking on any picture.)