More Rivers! Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland

Tuesday, August 29th, Robbie and Tom left Hoppies after the fog lifted.

As much debris as there is in the water, leaving in the fog is just not an option.

The water swirls in the Mississippi caused by the Wing Dams, created to slow the currents, which created a lot of turbulence. 

They went 60 miles in the Ohio River. 

Tuesday night they anchored at Little Diverson Anchorage. This is the sunrise Wednesday morning.

Entering the Cumberland River

Cumberland River

Wednesday night, August 30th, they decided to make a run for Green Turtle Marina, much farther than they would normally attempt to go, but there are remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey headed up there, and they didn't want to spend another night anchored. They had to go through a lock just before the marina, which they ended up going through in the dark. It was a 60 foot rise. Then they spent 30 minutes looking for the entrance to the marina in the dark. They finally made it to the marina at 9:00 pm. They are going to rest for a few days while it rains.

The Mississippi River

Sunday, August 27th, they entered the Mississippi River. Sunday night, they stayed at Alton Marina in Alton, Illinois.

Entering the Mississippi

You must go where the sign directs you around the Chain Of Rocks, otherwise you go over a waterfall.
They lose a boat a year this way.

Monday, August 28, they went through St. Louis.

Entering St. Louis

Leaving St. Louis

Kansas City got 3 inches of rain on Sunday, which is why there is so much debris in the river.

There are some beautiful big homes along the river.

This is where they are staying tonight, at Hoppie's Marina in Kimmswick, Missouri
Monday, August 28th

Hoppie's, the last place to get diesel for the next 230 miles.

Too tired to smile, this part of the trip has been tough.

Illinois River to The Mississippi

Thursday and Friday night they stayed at the Illinois Yacht Club where Robbie changed the oil on the boat.

Sunrise at the Illinois Yacht Club

90 mile days get tiring.

This is Logston Tug Service,  where they stayed Saturday night, tied to a barge.

They are traveling with these two other Loopers.

A silo?

This is a sunrise; they are being forced to start very early because of the locks and because they have to travel so far between places to stay.

An old paddlewheel boat, The Spirit of Peoria

A tow and several barges, they have seen tows pushing as many as 18 barges.

The VIP train to Kansas City

This paddle wheel boat has seen better days.

They are transitioning from the Illinois to the Mississippi River

Down the Illinois River

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017, Robbie and Tom left the marina in Wilmington, Illinois and continued down the Illinois River.

They waited five hours for this tow to clear the lock.

White Pelicans

Going into a lock.

This water is coming from an power plant.

                        Thursday they left Starved Rock Marina in Starved Rock, Illinois,

 to continue down the river.

Robbie and Tom Do Chicago

Tuesday, September 22nd, Robbie and Tom headed for the Illinois River. The first five miles was in Lake Michigan. It was a really dark, rainy start.

Tom's First Lock

Coming out of the lock.

Water Taxis

This is the lowest bridge they had to worry about, 17 feet. Robbie took the radar dome and the anchor light off to make sure they would clear it.

This crane is lifting portapotties to the top of the building for the construction workers.

This is the beginning of the area where there is an electric fence to keep the Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes. This sign warns boaters to stay out of the water. This stretch of water is only open between 12:00 and 2:00 pm daily.

This sign marks the end of the electrified fish fence.

They loved going through such a big city on the boat.
They are continuing on down the Illinois River tomorrow.

Chicago!

Sunday, August 20th, 2017, we crossed Lake Michigan and rolled into Chicago! It was a fairly rough ride, with South winds creating waves that slapped us sideways, but we made it. How exciting it was to see the Chicago skyline from 20 miles out!

The Blue Angels just happened to be flying over the city when we arrived. 

We could see their trails before we could see them.

Tuesday, August 22nd, I am going home to take over cat care. Our lovely granddaughter, Morgan, has been caring for the cats and our house most of the summer. She is going back to FSU this week. Robbie's friend, Tom Roehl, drove our car from Port Huron today and is going to take my place on board for two weeks.
We are so grateful to them both, we couldn't have done this without them!!!

Four bags of groceries for the next leg of the trip. Tom is going to do all the cooking, and he's a great cook!
Robbie is going to get spoiled!

He has already started! Walleye and fresh veggies tonight!

We watched the eclipse from the bow of the boat. Luckily, someone gave us a pair of glasses at the last minute.

We can see the Chicago skyline from the marina. It's so beautiful, and it keeps changing.

Last night on the boat for awhile. It's hard to leave.

Robbie and Tom will head through the city of Chicago tomorrow, then on to the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio Rivers. I will drive back to Florida and will continue to post with the pictures and commentary that Tom and Robbie send me.