209 Miles in Two Days

Monday 10/26/09     We pulled away from the Kaskaskia Lock around 8am and entered the fast moving, debris filled channel of the Mississippi. Our destination, the Little River Diversion Canal just below Cape Girardeau, Mo. One of only a couple spots between Alton, Il. and Kentucky Lake to get out of the swift moving currents. Once again as it was in June when we came North, the river is only a couple feet below flood stage in Cape Girardeau. The travel was uneventfull but tense due to the amount of debris and we happily pulled off the channel at around 1:30pm to anchor for the evening. Cocktails, cigar, and a nap consumed the rest of the afternoon. Fortunately I avoided playing cribbage, which Pam seems to think I need to learn. AGAIN!
Tuesday 10/27/09     Up early and underway. I expected to hit the channel and find even more debris than before since the river is still rising. Even the Diversion Canal had quite a bit of junk floating down it into the channel. Much to my delight we found very little compared to the previous days. Just to keep us on our toes though it was raining and somewhat foggy limiting visibility to less than a mile. Thank God for radar! The front of a barge doesn't exactly jump out at you because of it's bright colors (rusty brown), but the radar picks them up before the eye can see them.

We continued down river passing this guy about 4 miles above the junction of the Mississippi and the Ohio. If you've ever been through this area on the water you know it is very busy with several horseshoe bends and plenty of current. Again. NUTS!

The junction of the two rivers provided plenty of current and making the turn was cause for keeping a good grip on the wheel and enjoying the ride. Once on the Ohio we passed by Cairo, Il., a very busy port for barge traffic and headed upstream. Our luck was with us as we were able to pass over Locks 53 and 52 (pictured) and continue on to the Cumberland River.

Still raining, we arrived at Barkley Lock and Pam had to get on her foulies and head out on deck to hang fenders and lasso the bollard once in the lock. What a trooper! We rose about 40' and exited the chamber. 10 minutes later we pulled into Green Turtle Bay where we will spend the next couple of days and dry out.