Adventures (and Misadventures) of Elliott and Mary

Issue 23 - June, 2006: Back up the Big Muddy

 

In the grand scheme of things, the 290 miles of the Mississippi/Ohio/Cumberland leg doesn't look like much compared to the 6,500 miles or so of the full loop but it creates much more than its fair share of anxiety.  Some 'features' of the trip: The only marina between Alton, Il and Green Turtle Bay Marina at Grand Rivers, Ky is a collection of barges tied to the shore at Kimmeswick, Mo. - 'Hoppies Marine Services'.  The only fuel stops are Hoppies and a fuel barge tied to the flood wall at Cape Girardeau, Mo.  The current on the Mississippi has to be taken into account. We saw 3-3.5 mph for the most part in June of a dry year. For Letitia with  her neck-snaping max speed of 9.2 mph we felt good when we could make 6 or more mph. Our longest run of 70 miles would have been really long with something like a 6 mph current, a not uncommon event in some times of year. The depth of the river can change fairly substantially. Anchorages we used this year were not usable last year.             But, I have decided that the biggest problem is: In their own minds, folks (at least I) let travel on the river(s)  BE a problem. The second time was much more enjoyable than the first.  I reserve the right to change my mind in the spring when the river is at least 20 (yes, twenty) feet higher and the current is running 6-7 mph.

For other pictures, chartlets, and descriptions see our 2005 trip down in Issue 19.

We headed  down the Cumberland River through Barkley Lock from Green Turtle marina. The trip is a little longer than if we went through the canal to the Tennessee River and  Kentucky Lock but you can wait for the lock at the marina and any delay at all evens out the time for the leg.

We had to wait almost two hours at Lock 52 below Paducah. Just as we finally got in the chamber and started down a thunderstorm swept through with 45 mph winds. Glad we were tied to the lock wall!.

• We anchored in the river in front of the dam a mile below L/D 52. We had anchored here coming up and I like it.

• We anchored in the mouth of Angelo Towhead at about mile 1 on the Mississippi at Cairo, Il. We were far enough off the river that we were out of the channel and sheltered (I hoped) from errant tow boats by a highway bridge abutment. Must have worked, they didn't hit us. The water had been too shallow here in 2005.

After a while we got use to towboats (they actually 'push' the barges on the river) and their cargos. This guy is 6 barges wide by 6 long. You just stay out of their way! Downbound boats have the right-of-way so you will see upbound tows this big waiting below tricky curves for the downbound tows to come by. The towboat captains were a treat to listen and talk to, very professional.

• We anchored in the Little River Diversion Canal at Cape Girardeau again.
• We tied up  in back of  the lock approach wall at Kaskaskia Lock
• We stopped at Hoppies for a welcome rest and dinner on the town in Kimmswick.

 

 
 
 

• Finally!! we got to Alton Marina in Alton, Il. We had a trip or two here and picked up our friend Chris for the next leg up the Illinois.

The Captain and Mary