The Mighty Mississippi

On Sunday we started our 218 mile journey down the mighty Mississippi. The best way to describe the Mississippi is a mighty mess! Talk about debris, muddy water and bouys out of place or missing or floating down the river! The best analogy for describing what the debris fields were like is to imagine scattering all different size legos all over your driveway and then taking a bicycle and trying to ride through the legos without hitting anything. That's what it was like except it goes on for miles and miles. Just when you think your in the clear another wave of debris is in front of you. Not to mention the weirs and wing dams that create a whirlpool effect so you are fighting the current, whirlpools and debris that shows up out of nowhere. We decided only tows and loopers were crazy enough to take on the Mighty Mississippi. The silver lining is the higher water level, we are getting an extra 5 - 6 mph from the current, which means we got through the Mississippi quicker. While on the rivers I never thought I would have to worry about high waves but the tows sure throw a wake - it's like being on the great lakes in a windstorm. The rivers are definitely an area where you need 2 sets of eyes.

We had 8 boats going through the Mel Price Lock and The Chain of Rocks Lock on Sunday.  Lots of tow traffic and debris as we navigated past St. Louis and the Arch. Our day ended in Kimmswick, Mo., home of the infamous Hoppies Marine Services and Fern Hopkins. Fern gives a daily "river' briefing to all the loopers regarding best anchorages, river flow, lock information, etc. She is really a wealth of information and she had the undivided attention of 6 looper boat crews. The docks are made from three 100 foot barges tied into a cliff with cables.

Monday morning we woke to unbelievable fog on the river. Fern had mentioned fog on Sunday and stated they hadn't had many bad days but to make sure we didn't leave unless we had at least 1 mile of visibility. So the wait was on until we felt comfortable and 3 boats headed out. Irish Lady Too took the lead as they have AIS, which allows them to see where the tows are, what direction they are going and their name. We debated on getting AIS before leaving and can see where it really comes in handy with the curving, snake-like Mississippi. We've also come up with a new reality show idea..Tow Boat Captains and the Rivers. Just listening to them on the radio is pure entertainment...the drawls, the chatter and how good they are at their job...pushing all those barges through narrow channels, pleasure craft getting in the way, locks...these guys are way more entertaining then tuna fishermen.
On Monday night we stayed on the wall at the Kaskaskia Lock and on the way into the Kaskaskia River the fish were jumping. What a riot to watch! It made my day! We ended up with 9 boats at the lock over night and a bunch of us met up for "locktails".

Tuesday we were on our way to Little Diversion Channel (near Cape Girardeau, Mo), about 70 miles down river. We didn't see as many tows as the previous day but the debris was everywhere making for slow and cautious travel. A Blast had the lead on this leg of the journey. Once anchored 4th Quarter, A Blast and us took a dinghy ride down the channel in search of a store to buy ice. We found it but with the 90 degree weather, the walk to the store and dinghy ride back...well we had ice but not as much as we started with. We ended the evening with a wonderful dinner on 4th Quarter, thanks again Syl and Jim!

Wednesday morning we experienced some more fog but it cleared rather quickly and we completed the 49 miles of the Mississippi and headed into the Ohio River. What a difference...we are out of the mud water and hardly any debris! The captain has done a great job! The Ohio and Mississippi meet at Cairo, Illinois and there are barges parked everywhere. It just seems crazy how they park them right in the middle of the river, on the banks, just everywhere but there isn't anywhere else to put them. I never realized how much commerce took place on our nations river systems. Next up the Olmstead Lock where they are building a new lock (started in 1995 for a cost of approximately 3 billion and is not finished yet) so you have to wait to be escorted through the area. We were 1 of 5 boats that followed a tow through. We started out at 7:30am today and by the time we got through the escort it was about 3 pm so as soon as we saw the Bean Branch anchorage (near Joppa, Il) all of us dropped our anchors and called it a day. This anchorage is right along the river bank and we could watch the tows go by. We did have a slight scare as there was a security call saying 80 barges had broken lose, thankfully it was on the Mississippi and not the Ohio! Fern warned us about runaway barges, but 80! Yikes!

The Mel-Price Lock

Approaching the Arch, love the looks of their bridges

 

Lawn art on the way down the Mississippi

Fern giving us the "river briefing"

Mississippi mud!

 

Debris floating down river, along with a green buoy

"locktails" with 4th Quarter, A Blast, Dr's Orders,

Sandy Bottom, Irish Lady Too

Syl, Heidi and I waiting for the guys to get back

from the ice run

The Asian carp were sunning themselves instead of jumping

Our dinner hosts, Syl and Jim with Jeff from A Blast

Sunrise on the Diversion Channel

Barges anchored in the middle of the Ohio River

Getting in line to be escorted through the lock

 

Following the tow

 

Sunset at Bean Branch anchorage