I’m anchored here at mile 904 on the lower Mississippi. The last two days have been pleasant and uneventful.
The difference in the river between now and my first trip down is dramatic. I remember anchoring in a chute just to the right of the island shown below.
This is really pleasant travel. I’ve figured out how to communicate with the tows, which was a challenge last time. Yesterday was sunny, today less so, but temperatures are up.
I should be in Memphis Saturday.
I’m anchored here well inside the marks on a bend. Nice spot, with mobile data. 80 miles today.
Today was very stress free. I went straight through the lock shortly after dawn and into the flow. Coming out of St Louis I caught a downbound tow and followed them for the rest of the day. We were going about 8 mph, and I was running at 800 rpm.
The water is very low. What a difference from previous trips. My first time through here five years ago was at just below flood stage, with the water about 30 feet higher than it is now. When I came north through here last year it was about 17 feet higher. It’s certainly easier, with less turbulence and no debris in the water.
Today was sunny and cool. Full moon tonight. One more night below freezing tonight, then sunny and warmer tomorrow. Beautiful traveling weather.
I’m anchored here at mile 1 on the Misouri River between two wing dams. Upriver I could travel 735 miles to Sioux City. Another time.
Yesterday was gloomy, but today sunny. The snow and ice on deck is now gone. Weather looks great for the next few days. As planned I stopped in Hardin last night. I anchored in the river across from Mel’s Diner and dinghied in to the town courtesy dock.
Today I was underway before dawn and had a relaxed trip down to the bottom of the Illinois. I went over to St Charles Harbor Marina, a couple of miles upriver, to fuel up. 91 gallons since Hammond. Probably 1/3 for heat.
Tomorrow I’ll go through the Chain of Rocks lock, then off down the river. I expect my next stop to be Memphis, which is 410 miles downriver. Probably five days, maybe six.
Everything on the rivers is in statute miles. Tonight I’m anchored here at LDB (left downbound bank) 94.3. It’s like an address. Mile 0 is the confluence with the Upper Mississippi. That’s 220 miles above the confluence with the Ohio River at Cairo IL. Then the Lower Missisippi starts counting down at mile 953. New Oreans is at mile 93. So I’m 1175 miles from New Orleans.
Today was a nice day. No drama, Tomorrow I’ll stop at mile 20, where there’s a great riverside restaurant. Then on to the Mighty Mississippi on Monday. There’s a bit of snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow, but nothing serious.
I’m still in Peoria. That’s me on the left. Tomorrow we roll!
I have a new winter itinerary. Florida and the Bahamas. That sounds better than skulking on the rivers, right?
I’m now set to go on insurance, so will be underway at daybreak down the river. I’m well stocked, so it’ll be pretty much non-stop travel to the Gulf.
Peoria is a nice stop. The area around the free dock is very quiet. No power, so I’ve been running the engine for about two hous a day to keep the batteries charged. That keeps me in heat and power.
There are several decent restaurants nearby, and I got back to the Caterpillar Museum.
I love this piece of history. During WW2 submarines were built in Wisconsin and transported through Chicago and down the rivers in semisubmersable barges. They had to lower to clear city bridges then pump out to get farther down the river. Cool project.
I’ll be checking in regularly.
It’s been smooth sailing. I anchored at Henry Island at yesterday at dusk. Nice spot, I’ve stayed there before. Today was a leisurely cruise down to Peoria. Clear, calm and sunny. Rain is forecast for the next day or two, then another nice stretch is here. Nights below freezing but sunny days. I can happily live with that.
I may stay here for a day or two. I visited the Caterpillar Museum five years ago and could happily return. But it and the nice restaurant close by are closed until Tuesday. We’ll see. I’m still waiting for insurance coverage to go south, and am nearing the limit for my standard policy.
One project I may take on while here is getting the generator operational. I’m not getting much from solar, and use a lot more power running the furnace. I figure I can stay put right now for 36 hours before I have to charge the house battery if I’m frugal. I don’t expect to be plugged in this winter. Last time I ran it properly was over three years ago. Then I installed it on Escapade and never ran it. I need an electric water pump I think, as it’s above the waterline and I couldn’t get the water pump to prime. If I’m ever going to use it now is the time.
Today I was running at my slow canal speed, a little under 7 mph, with less than 1/2 mph tail current. The river is low and slow. Not leaving any wake, burning about 2l/hr. I think I’ll stick to that pace.
What else? A new bridge, a height guage on a bridge – record flood is about 18 ft above current levels. A post that in my imagination got taken out by a tow, and others reinforced against collision. The tows here are 15 barge max. Big enough to do some damage.
Weather today was beautiful. Sunny and crisp. I was underway before 0700, and anchored here at about 4:00. It’s dark by 5.
That’s a pretty good run. Three locks with minimal delay. At Marseilles I went down between a split load. A towboat with 15 barges puts the first 9 in the lock, and at the top of the lock they winch that block out then return for the towboat and remaining barges. I snuck in after they pulled out the first block.
I’ve seen a few critters – bald eagles, heron and a deer.
It’s going down below freezing tonight, then decent until Tuesday when serious cold sets in.
I’m underway, if slowly, on the Illinois River. I’ve been tied up at the Joliet Wall for the last day or so. Nice spot, and gorgeous weather.
As planned I returned to Chicago on Sunday by car, and spend a couple of days provisioning and getting ready to move on.
Yesterday I came down here, arriving just after dark with a couple of new problems. My head stopped working, and my chart plotter started acting up halfway here. Looking back I think it was just after I went through the electric fish barrier.
Today was spent fixing those issues, which I did successfully. The issue with the plotter was frustrating and took most of the day. Part of the chart file was corrupted.
I haven’t been in a huge rush as the weather is nice and I’m still waiting for confirmation on insurance for the winter. My current coverage is for 40 degrees north latitude and I’m not much above that now. Trading messages with my broker, at the last minute as usual…
Tomorrow I’ll move on.
These photos were taken yesterday.
Here are a few more pics from my stay at Crowley’s. It’s always fun visiting.
Boating Adventures 