We spent three long days on the MISSISSIPPI RIVER, traveling 218 miles. That sounds like a lot of miles, but we enjoyed a favorable 3-4 knot current.
After departing Grafton, we traveled about 18 miles to Alton Marina. Alton Marina is at mile marker "0" on the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Alton is a Historic town with a "happening downtown"! We enjoyed two nights at the Marina with many other Loppers, sharing lots of information. The Marina arranges transportation to the grocery store for re-provisioning, and the Casino provides transportation from the Marina to Historic downtown Alton.
We pushed off the dock with 8 other Looper boats at about 7:30am, and soon entered the Mel Price Lock! Our platoon of Loopers traveled together for about 50 miles down the MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
It was a very exciting day passing through two locks (Mel Price, 23 feet down and Lock 27, 12 feet down), going through the Chain of Rocks Channel, seeing the picturesque Gateway Arch in person and finally docking at Hoppies Marina.
The MISSISSIPPI RIVER is muddy and full of tow boats pushing barges. The tow boats are pushing anywhere from one to forty-two barges! They are crazy HUGE? We navigate with an application on our ipads called AIS that allows us see the tow boats over the horizon or around bends in the river...The tow boats typically travel slower than us so we hale them on our VHS radio on channel 13. When passing a tow boat we address them on the Radio: "Saint Peter (Tow Name) this is a PC (Pleasure Craft) passing you...is that ok and how would you like us to pass?" They answer on the ONE or TWO.
When passing the opposite direction:
"See you on the one (whistle) " = pass port to port
"See you on the two (whistle)" = starboard to starboard
When passing the same direction:
"See you on the one (whistle)" = overtake on the starboard
"See you on the two (whistle)" = overtake on the port
The passing is getting rather routine.... but always a bit stressful!
The second night on the MISSISSIPPI RIVER we docked at Hoppies Marina, this is a Looper tradition. The owners give a helpful daily 4:30 pm briefing about future travel days and river conditions.
The next day was a long 110 mile adventure on the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. At sunset we anchored at Little Diversion Channel with six other Looper boats. That night we enjoyed spaghetti dinner as guests on our new Looper friends GH47 Trawler named Mother Ocean (Thanks).
The next morning we headed down the MISSISSIPPI RIVER for 50 miles and turned left onto the Ohio River.
Looper Tip: Hoppies Marina is a must stop !!!!!!! The Marina is located in Kimmswick, Missouri. It is basically three old barges tied along the MISSISSIPPI RIVER and has been operated by the same family for 85 years.
After a week, we are acclimating quite well to Loop life on the river system :)
We are on the MISSISSIPPI RIVER!
Traveling 218 Miles down the MISSISSIPPI RIVER from Alton to the the Ohio River.
Thistle docked at the Alton Marina.
Alton is a Historic Town with the Argosy Casino and reported haunted houses!
Fast Eddies is a must stop in Alton.
Just Desserts is another must stop for strawberry/rhubarb pie.
Alton was the site of the famous 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.
History in Alton.
A sunset Looper get together at the Alton Marina.
The Clark Bridge is a cable-stayed suspension bridge across the MISSISSIPPI RIVER in Alton.
An early start from Alton Marina to the Mel Price Lock with 8 Looper Boats.
The Mel Price Lock.
The Lock was full of huge logs and other debris.
We side-tied to Mother Ocean, with plenty of fenders.
The Chain of Rocks Cannel.
Excited to see the Gateway Arch in Saint Louis.
Thistle under The Gateway Arch.
The muddy MISSISSIPPI RIVER, with a favorable current and lots of tow boats pushing barges.
Docking at Hoppies:)
Apple pie at the famous Blue Owl.
The Anheuser Estate next door to Hoppies.
The nightly briefing by Fern (red shirt)at Hoppies.
Enjoying sunset at Hoppies.
A 110 mile day down the MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Thistle anchored at Little Diversion Channel.
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