After 5 Days in Grafton, waiting for the water level on the river to go down. We moved to the Alton Marina and went home to (Evansville, Ind.) for a few days.
When we returned to Ithaka, the water in the marina was low. We were almost sitting on the bottom. We stayed in Alton a total of 8 days.
Anxious to move on, we spoke to the folks at the marina, the Corp of Engineers, the Lock Master at Melvin Price, and we even called Boat US to see if they would tow us out of the marina and into the channel. Boat US basically said, "call us back when you go aground."
In the end we use the photos below to make the decision that it is now or never. Can you see the difference between picture one and two? Has the water risen or fallen?
We pulled away from the dock at 9:40 with 6" of water under our keel. All went well.
A 30 minute wait at Melvin Price Lock with minimal debris. A 45 minute wait at Chain of Rocks Lock # 27. Floated solo in each lock.
The light at the end of the tunnel. The gates are opening and we are on our way.
Soon afterexiting the lock, here comes St Louis.
9-22-14 and still some heavy debris in the water, just before St. Louis.
Now, off to Hoppies. YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!
Hoopies is a great stop! It is a real treat to meet Fern and learn tips and tricks concerning river navigation. Fern and Hoppie and their family have been at this place on the Mississippi River for eighty years. Fern herself has been here for 41 years. Here she is, "holding class" for the five Looper boats at her dock. She covers the best places to anchor and the do's and dont's of the river. All of it invaluable.
Nothing is open in Kimmswick, MO (Hoppies) on Mondays. So, it's dinner on the boat tonight. We are marina people and we eat most of our dinners off the boat. It was fun fixing dinner.
Two nights at anchor and we should be at GTB.
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