Day on the Cruise: 152
From: Hoppies Marina, Kimmswick, MO
To: Anchored on The Mississippi River at MM 77.85
Statute Miles: 81.2 SM
Time: 7.33 Hrs
Cumulative Miles: 3,806.4 SM
On Board: Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut
Tonight we are are anchored in the Mississippi River near Mile 78. We are 78 miles from the Ohio River, and don't have internet.
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| Where we are anchored along the River behind a wing dam tonight |
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| Anchored about 110 Miles South of St Louis |
Our departure today was at 7:05. After a 5:00 wakeup call, we were already tired when we hit the river. We did top off our water before we left. We will be anchoring out for at least the next three nights in God knows where.
No locks today, just winding river, tow boats, dangerous currents and eddy's and a long day. The two bad places that Fern warned us about have strong currents, whirlpools, and confused water. They are both in sharp turns in the river where the width narrows. Do not pass a tow in these areas! This is the mantra in these parts! The Gospel according to Fern!
The first turn one was OK. We got bumped around some. Lots of whirlpools! No tows. The second one was rough also, especially the whirlpools. And we came up on the back of a tow! Surprise, surprise. I had been tracking him on my AIS and had calculated that we would catch him (we were both downbound). Sure enough we did. I elected to slow down and follow him. He took us right to our anchorage for the night!
After clearing the second dangerous curve, we started looking for the anchorage that had been suggested to us. We had the GPS coordinates, but less than two miles before reaching this place, we came upon three areas of wing dams on the left descending bank. The middle one was two dams forming an "L" shape. It was a protected harbor. I volunteered to go into the place and check it out.
I went downstream below a red buoy and then turned and came back up against the current. I ducked into the "L" and went into the harbor very slowly. The water was calm, no current, and was generally 18-30' deep. This looks like a place where they might have dug rock out for the wing dams. Like a quarry. I put my anchor out and it held, so the other three boats came in and also anchored.
Bill from "Entree' " came over with his dingy and took Maggie to shore. This was much appreciated. Later, we put our dinghy in and put the outboard engine on it. We ferried Maggie ashore just before dark. The beach was very muddy near the water, but it was a good place to walk the dog.
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| Susan and Maggie going ashore at our Mississippi River Anchorage |
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| Bill from Entree' and Susan and Maggie |
Dinner was on board tonight. There is a beautiful sunset. Tomorrow we will go about 95 miles to an anchorage on the Ohio River. We hope to tie up to some mooring cells near the Olmstead Lock which is under construction.
Thanks for Reading!
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