9-28-29th Green Turtle Bay Resort Marina

Kentucky Dam Marina was very nice and they had a courtesy car to boot.  Ken stayed to wash the boat and I left for Paducah, KY about 20 miles away to get some provisions.  With my trusty Garmin in hand I found the town.  I wanted to make a quick tour of the historic district to see if it was worth a visit.  The town was charming but all of the roads were closed for the BBQ on the River fest.  I ran to trusty Wal Mart,  which is easier since most of the time the stores are laid out the same.  Majority of Kentucky is dried, so I also stopped at a liquor store for some wine and champagne to celebrate our crossing!!!

Once back on the clean boat we took off at noon to head for Green Turtle Bay Resort Marina just 10 miles away.  We traveled down the Barkley Canal which connects Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake.  This canal created an enormous recreational area and the long peninsula known as Land Between The Lakes.   We pulled into Green Turtle Bay Resort and there were about 15 Looper Boats at the marina.  Jackpot!

Grand Rivers, KY which is less than 5 minutes from the marina bills itself s the “Village Between the Lakes” and fronts both Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake.  In 1880, Thomas Lawson came to the area and established an iron-ore mining business.  He named the little town Grand Rivers, taking the name used by the American Indians as a description of the bounty and beauty of the area between the two rivers that bordered the settlement. We found Grand Rivers to be a busy little historic town where people drive for miles to enjoy the infamous Patti's restaurant.

Kentucky Lake

Behind Patties restaurant was an oasis of shops and a pretty little wedding chapel.

We went to Patti’s 1880 Settlement, which is a winner of many dining awards and is noted for the 2” pork chop dinner and fabulous pies.  Oh by the way, Ken polished off the whole pork chop and had Mississippi Mud Pie for dessert.

Next night we ate at the Yacht Club with Randy and Vicki on Barefoot'n and Jeff and Grace on

Sea Glide.

9-27 Leaving anchorage across from the Olmstead Lock

Two locks and traveling over 53 miles we made it in the dark to Kentucky Dam Marina.
The first Ohio River lock at 52 we waited for 2 ½ hours with 3 other vessels.  We were able to anchor instead of constantly circling around waiting for the lock.  Commercial traffic has the right of way and they were backed up all along the shore!!!  Once on our way again we passed the free day dock at Paducah and decided to take the Tennessee River where the Kentucky Lock just re-opened.  We heard that they were not taking commercial vessels, and had the lock open for pleasure crafts.  Well that information proved to be false, after traveling 22 miles down the Tennessee River we could see a barge pulling into the lock.  We waited there for 3 ½ hours and we entered the lock at dusk.  We were the only ones in the lock with the lights shining on us and looking up the tall 57 foot slimy wall was an eerie feeling.  Once out of the lock we were in the dark and pecking our way to Kentucky Dam marina.  We had some sharp turns to make around the break walls and the marina docks were dark.  I was holding a flashlight so Ken could see to back into the tight slip!! Once hooked up to shore power we were ready to call it a night…after I cook supper.

Olmstead Lock and Dam under construction where we anchored just across the river.

We were told that there were up to 30 vessels waiting to lock at 53 on the Ohio River.  Here is one of the barges pushed up against the bank waiting to lock through with a load of coal.  We waited over 2 1/2 hours to lock with 3 other pleasure boats.

Kentucky Lock

Ken steading the boat and holding her off the lock wall. 

9-26 Second Anchorage, across Olmstead new lock and dam

We let with Barefoot'n after the fog lifted and not more than a mile down the river we ran into a wall of thick fog. We were hoping that the fog was in a small section of the river, but that was not the case.  Ken kept a close eye on the radar and we prayed that we did not encounter any barges.  After traveling for more than an hour in the soup, it finally lifted and it turned out to be a beautiful calm sunny day. Soon we saw the Canadians behind us and we increased the speed with the mighty Mississippi pushing us along.
We came to the junction where two mighty rivers meet, the Mississippi and the Ohio, and  we made a port turn onto the Ohio River. While passing Cairo, IL we encountered a lot of barge traffic and
industry sights.  Lock 53 the wickets were down and we passed over the dam itself. However at lock 52 we had to wait for over 2 1/2 hours because one chamber was closed and the commercial traffic was backed up. We anchored across the construction from the Olmsted Lock and Dam and we were well out of the channel and current and we anchored in 11 feet of water.  Since we did not have a generator to cool down the salon we had a picnic on the bow.  With a glass of wine and spinach salad with beets and smoked fish from Leland, MI, we had a feast.   We tried to conserve energy   in order for the batteries to have enough juice to fire up the boat engines in the morning.  With our port holes opened we had a comfortable night on the Mississippi River.  After traveling 98 miles we were ready to crash.

Leaving our anchorage behind the wing dam at mile marker 78 we encountered a swift current
on the mighty Mississippi.

We got caught in the fog for over an hour, thank goodness for radar!

 

Fog lifting!

 

Leaving the Mississippi River crossing under the Cairo Fixed Bridge.

Entering the Ohio River  approaching the Cairo fixed bridge.

Anchored out of the Ohio River channel and across from the construction site of the Olmstead Lock and Dam at mile marker 964, proved to be a good anchorage.
We found  10 foot of water and 4 Loopers dropped the hook.

 

9-25 Anchoring at mile 78 on the Mississippi

Sept. 25, Anchoring at Mile Marker 78

Everyone left early in the morning and we decided to explore Kimmswick.  Ken was after that infamous levee high caramel pecan apple pie at the Blue Owl Restaurant.  This pie made the list of Opray’s 100 favorite items.   While we walked to town all of the shops were just opening, but we were on a pie mission.  We purchased the pie and sauntered back to the boat and enjoyed the walk.

We left around 11:00AM and headed to the anchorage which was 81 miles down the muddy Mississippi.  We had the current pushing us and we were cruising at 12+mph instead of our normal 9mph.   We arrived in the anchorage and it was OK except for all of the floating trash.  We dropped anchor and Randy came to check on us. We decided it was a movie night. Our treat was the levee high apple pie. Yum!

Docked at Hoppie's  barge

Kimmswick RR bridge
 

Anhauser Horse Ranch on the Mississippi

 

Canoe with two young men flying a Canadian Flag going down the Mississippi!  Adventurous souls!

Logs piled up along the bank from a previous flood.

Look who got his pie and ate it to! 

9-24 Hoppies on the Mississippi

Sept. 24, Mississippi River to Hoppie’s Marina

This is the start of the Upper Mississippi River and it was a beautiful day to travel.   We cruised 63 miles to Hoppies Marina to listen to Fern’s daily Captain’s meeting to get an idea where to anchor on the river since the Mississippi is so low.  We pulled in with the river current running about 4+ MPH and Fern was there to catch our line.  After we topped off we pulled forward behind 3 other Loopers.  They had all walked to Kimmswick to the famous Blue Owl Restaurant.  Everything in that town closes at 3PM so it was too late to explore the town and we visited with Fern while she waited for the gang to get back for the briefing.  She is a legend and we enjoyed hearing her stories about how her family lit lanterns on the river for the tugs.

At the meeting we meet Vicki and Randy, Captain of Barefoot and two Canadian couples that were doing the Great Loop as well.  That evening we went to tour Barefoot'n which is a 55’ Novatec and Ken drooled over all the electrical bells and whistles.   The guys decided on a plan of action for the next day which was to anchor at mile marker 78, behind the wing dam.

 

We were surprised at all o the sandy beaches along the Mississippi River.

 

Cruising by Alton

First Mississippi Lock of two

Approaching St. Louis

 

 

 

Hoppie's Marina

 

 

9-23 Grafton

 Sept. 23, Grafton

Traveled 88 miles to Grafton and this marina offered a courtesy car.   We arrived close to 5PM and since they close at 7pm we took the car and drove 15 minutes to a grocery store.  I needed to get enough provisions to last a week since we were going to be on the Mississippi River and anchoring most of the time because of limited marinas. 

Grafton was a lovely town to walk around, with just one main street which housed many gift and antique shops which were closed.   There were a number of wineries and we just did not have enough time to visit one.

9-22 Beardstown

Sept 22, Leaving Peoria

We left once we got a pump out at Peoria and cruised to Beardstown Logston Tug Service barge to tie up for the evening.  Leaving the harbor we heard a thumping noise…then again.  We both looked at one another wondering what is that noise?  Finally, we discovered it was the Asian Carp thumping against the boat.  They were especially active when we passed a moving barge.  Some were huge and one even landed in our dinghy!  Captain Ken came to the rescue and threw the carp overboard.

We arrived at Beardstown, which is known as the “watermelon capitol of the world.”  The sleepy town was enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon and we scurried back to the boat.  One of the tow Captains offered us a tour of the tug and we eagerly accepted.   That evening we enjoyed a movie on our home theater.  We were rocking and a rolling when the barges passed us.

Peoria Industries along the Mississippi River

 

Ken Pushing off the wall at our first lock on the Mississippi.

 

 Asian Carp jumping!