Fall 2023

10/25/23  Yep, it's again that time. Without a destination, here we go!

We're not in a hurry, so we don't need to put in long days. Today's goal is about 8 hours, and that means we don't have to leave real early. An 8:00AM lift was scheduled for the Stillwater Bridge, but oh, oh ... no lift operator is there! After a few calls, it was determined that "someone" forgot. Eventually, an operator was sent and we got to look at the Bridge for an extra half hour ...

Whew, we made it through! The weather wasn't too cold, so the ride was nice. We snuck through the shallow spots at the Kinnenick River, and made it through the Prescott Bridges, on to the Mississippi. We didn't have a wait on Lock #3, and were out on to Lake Pepin. There were some nice colors ...

Prior to departure, we knew of a little part that needed fixing. The spring to one of the push rods was broken and needed to be changed. We had the part and decided to put it in while moving, but upon installation, one other part broke. Oops! So ... family to the rescue!! Marcia drove to pick up that part and Eric and Bear drove it all the way to Alma, WI. It saved our bacon! Here's the location ...

Here's the broken part ...

And here's the Delivery Team ...

Mission accomplished!

        

10/26  We tied up at the Alma Courtesy Dock. It's a great spot, and just below the Lock. It's a misty, rainy, foggy morning, and it looks to be that way all day. But, we zip right in to Lock 5 with no wait ...

There's many cameras and posters along the way ...

Another train for me to watch ...

10/27  Off to another rainy, foggy morning.

It was another good day for locking without waiting, and that sure makes things easier. Dubuque is the destination, and an early arrival is nice.

10/28  In the Spring, we were detained by flooding and closed Locks. We had to park it at Clinton for a few weeks while we waited. Jean and the Crew were so very nice, and we talked as we went past and she sent a few pics ...

It was too early in the day to stop, but it'll be a definite on the way home! We pass a ski hill ...

And the prettiest little town on the River ... Lansing, IA ...

Once again, the Locks had no wait and we made it to the Quad Cities ...

10/29  It's getting colder! Brrr! We're off prior to the tow traffic backing up at Lock 15, and down to Burlington ...

The City has put in a great floating dock. We'd like to get off and in to town, but it's cold and rainy, so it's a Football Sunday!

Our view of the Burlington Bridge ...

10/30  We don't have every far for today's travel, so it's an easy 7:00AM start time. Keokuk Yacht Club and Robbie Means is the destination ...

Spring 2023

 It's Springtime in Mobile, Alabama! It's been a great five months in Mobile, and there were many accomplishments on the maintenance punch-list, but the ice and snow are melting in Minnesota, and we can head north. There was a lot of time spent in the paint shed. The transom was painted ...

All of the hull windows were painted ...

A bunch of other work was completed, and here, we're leaving the shed to go back in the water ...

The old transom graphics were getting pretty bad, so a new one was applied ...

I've not ever tried this, so it was a learning process. It could have been better, but it's not bad for a rookie!

After a day of grocery shopping and loading fuel, we're ready for departure. Here's one of the Crew after knee surgery ...

It's a beautiful, warm evening before our 5:00AM departure ..

And a little relaxation with the Crew ...

4/2/23  We're off to a beautiful morning. It's light winds and a comfortable ride across the Mobile Bay to Downtown Mobile ...

The first 216 miles of this stretch can be a bugger. When it rains, the River level can go up 10 feet in a couple days, then back down in a few more. When the level increases, all of the old fallen trees and branches float into the River, and then we'll have to play "dodge-em". It can make for a long, stressful ride. Knowing the the River was up and on it's way back down, we waited an extra day on our departure. We don't know if it helped, but our time on this section was pretty good. We travel up to the first Lock at Coffeeville, AL, and find a spot for the evening. Ahhh ...

4/3  It's awake to a rain storm. Although the rain was hard at times, at least we didn't have the tornados that occurred farther north. Today is 100 miles in relatively slow current and little debris, so it was pretty nice. The weather was nice and warm, too!

Here, we're approaching the Demopolis Lock, our only one for the day ...

Fortunately, there wasn't any delay and we made into Kingfisher Bay Marina. Because the price is a little less, we'll fill up. 

4/4  We typically are in a hurry to get back to Minnesota, and to do that "hurry up", we'll do pretty long days. This time, we're not in so much of a hurry, so we can take some shorter mileage days. This gives us a reasonable stopping hour for today, just above the Lock.

4/5  Another easy day (pretty cushy!) We need to travel about 90 miles in 2 days, so we thought that we'd  anchor about half-way. Well, the weather started coming in with wind and rain, so we thought it better to travel a little further and ties to the upper wall at a Lock. The staff there was so accommodating and allowed us to do so. Thanks! Here, we can eyeball some of the commercial traffic using the Lock ...