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Nice day today. I was underway before dawn, and anchored here just before dusk. Ten hours, 98 river miles.

It’s well sheltered here from strong winds forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Heavy rain too. I may not be in a rush to leave at dawn.

I arrived back in Memphis late last night. Had an early morning flight to Chicago and then got stuck at O’Hare because of weather. It’s that time of year.

The boat is ready to go, fueled up and provisioned. Tomorrow morning I head south on the river. Next time I tie up will probably be Morgan City.

The conditions look somewhat challenging. There is a big winter storm coming with strong winds and plummeting temperatures this weekend. So my plan is to try to get as far south as possible over the next couple of days. Tomorrow looks nice, then rainy and very windy Friday, then bitter cold into next week. And the river is forecast to rise about ten feet. Guess I’ll be on the crest most of the way down.

This is a great stopping spot. The marina is quiet and well sheltered, and rates for my 5 week stay were reasonable. Add in easy transport links and it’s a winner. I’ll be back. The manager John was very friendly and accommodating.

Now it’s basically non-stop travel to Florida. I still haven’t checked distances, but I’m expecting it to take about a month.

The next decision will be where I exit the Mississippi. The choices are as follows:

A) Old River or Port Allen, then through Morgan City and Houma to New Orleans

B) stay on the river to New Orleans.

The river gets deep at Baton Rouge and the stretch below is filled with ocean going ships and barges with no good places to stop. Part of me wants to do that section. We’ll see.

I’ve also toyed with the idea of staying on the river to the Gulf. I may consider that if the weather is nice.

But that decision can be put off. For now I’m just going to enjoy the river for a few days.

Wish me luck!

When I left Georgian Bay in September the only real plan I had was to escape winter on the great lakes. I’ve accomplished that.

My original vague plan was to stay on the rivers. Go up to the headwaters of the Alabama River, then down the MS to the Red River, then down through Houma and across to Mobile and north from there. Fun travel, though maybe not in the dead of winter. I wasn’t getting a lot of enthusiasm from potential visitors.

Around the same time that I was arranging insurance during my stay in Peoria my friend David suggested that we head for the Bahamas. And my insurance said no difference in premium. I didn’t need much convincing.

So, new plan.

I’m leaving Escapade here for a month or so. The City of New Orleans train runs overnight from here to Chicago, where I’ll retrieve my car and head home for the holidays.

On return I’ll continue down the MS, then on to FL where I’ll meet David and Laura in early Feb.

Mid-Feb to mid-March we’ll hit the Bahamas.

After that I head north, most likely up the east coast.

I’m excited. I’m not a sun seeker, but it’ll be fun to have company, and I know I’ll eat better and get some needed maintenance tasks done. I spent some time in the northern Bahamas in the 1980s. David was with me for part of that, and he and Laura subsequently cruised extensively in the area. They returned to shore with their three infant children. I know they’re looking forward to returning.

The pictures below were taken today in Mud Creek. The manager here owns Bombay Duck, a USN fiberglass tender built in the 1950s. Small version of Escapade. The cruise ship terminal is interesting, accommodating 50 ft of water level fluctuation. We’re about five feet above record low now, and about 45 feet below recent crests.

Well. That was a lovely trip. What a difference five years experience, 30 ft lower water levels, and a more comfortable and capable boat make.

I got in here mid afternoon. No drama. Am tied up at Memphis Yacht Club.

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.