Hoppies Marina, Kimmswick, MO - 9/6/12

Finally ... we can get our air card to work and I have posted the last 3 days.

Kathy and Mike

 We are moving on today and leaving Mike and Kathy so we invited them to the boat for our farewell breakfast.  We have so enjoyed traveling with them these past few weeks and will miss their company.

Grafton Harbor

 We left Grafton at 8:30 a.m. and headed for Hoppies marina some 60 miles away.

Mississippi River (left) and Illinois River (right)

 Within the first half mile we entered the mighty Mississippi.

Along the Mississippi

Our Lady of the River

 This is a stature to honor their town not being destroyed by a big flood a few years ago.

House on the Hill

 I spotted this big home overlooking the river.

Passing Alton

Approaching Mel Price Lock

 As we were passing Alton about a mile from the dam I heard radio traffic between a work barge and the lock.  The lock master actually contacted the "big white personal water craft" heading toward the lock to see if we wanted to lock down with the barge.  This was a first since normally the boat must initiate the contact.

Sharing the Lock

Casino Boat

Repair Barge

 As we went further down stream we passed several interesting sights.

Chain of Rocks Canal

 A canal has been established to bypass the rapids in the river.

Approaching Chain of Rocks Lock

 We did not have to wait for the doors to open and went right in.  The lock master gave us permission to just float without tying to the wall since it was just a 12 foot drop.

Submerged Upstream Door

Door fully up

A real steam engine

 Approaching st. Louis we heard what sounded like a steam engine horn and then noticed it crossing the river.

New Bridge at St. Louis

River Debris

 The river has only shown us 12 to 14 foot levels most of the time with many readings around 9 feet.  As you can see it is really low.

Old Miss Current

The current has picked up and we went through St. Louis at 13 mph at 1400 rpms.

Quest at Hoppies

 We got to Hoppies Marina at 2:45 p.m. and with Fern's direction docked upstream in a very stiff current without incident. Only 2 looper boats are here, Quest and Blue Heron.

Hoppies Marina

 Hoppies is nothing more than a series of barge flats in the river. This is the only stop for the next 158 miles to the Ohio River.

Fern's Charting Party

 When loopers are at the marina, Fern always has a charting party where she gives us her experience on where to stop and places to watch as we go on down the river.

Another Storm

 A terrific storm passed through with very strong winds.  The TV said we had gust approaching 60 mph.

Barb and Craig (Blue Heron) with Fern

Tomorrow is supposed to have storms again but we will check in the morning to see if we will leave and go part way to the Ohio.

N 38  21.513   W 090  21.602