9/29/2010 GIRARDEAU, MO TO OHIO RIVER LOCK 52

ANCHORED AT LOCK 52 ON OHIO RIVER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHERYL HANSON!!!

MILES TRAVELED TODAY:   78 NM

What a blissful night! We again awoke to wisps of fall fog that burned off to a sunny day. Before 9:00 we were done with our morning chores and ready to pull out of our snug anchorage in the Little River Diversion Channel. Kirt and KelLe make great crew, always willing and able to lend a hand and there was a lot of Mississippi mud to be cleaned up from pulling anchor. Dan made his announcement over the VHF that we were intending to exit the hidden channel. When we received no cautions from approaching tugs, we hauled ourselves out and entered back into the Mighty Mississippi.

KIRT AND KELLE PULLING UP THE STERN ANCHOR

SWAB THAT DECK, KELLE

Within a couple of minutes of clearing out of the channel we discovered that, low and behold, we had not anchored in the recommended Little River Diversion Channel!! After investigating, we discovered that Quest had spent the night in Cape La Croix Creek. Too funny! Oh well, we loved our little, private hideaway and had no problems there. Might have been a different story had we run aground or hit something.

We were back in the river “freeway”, passing by more huge barges being navigated up the river by their tugs. This “floating island” was 4 wide by 7 deep.

COMMERCE  ON THE RIVER

Two big milestones today. At 11:30 we had traveled 10,000 nautical miles since commencing our journey. Can you believe it!

10,000 MILES TRAVELED

With Kirt at the wheel, we also made our fasted speed ever this morning. Due to the traveling “”with the rushing current, we were being pushed along at an amazing rate. Our top speed was 16.0 knots while still only at 15 RPMs.

GO SPEED RACER!

A WHOPPING 16 KNOTS PER HOUR!

Image via WikipediaAt noon, the Mississippi River merged with the Ohio River and we experienced an immediate relief from the chocolate pudding like waters in which we have been traveling. We are no longer dodging the floating trees and the channel buoys are not disappearing under the water’s surface due to the drastic pull of the current. I am much happier boater here on the Ohio River!

The mileage numbering system has again changed, starting with MM 981 when we merged into the Ohio. At MM 964.5 we passed by the construction site of what will be the new Olmstead Lock when finished.

CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW OLMSTEAD LOCK AND DAM

We made our anchorage just prior to the Lock 52 at MM 939 and were joined by four other Loopers. It was a perfectly delightful evening with KelLe and Kirt teaching us to play “Butt Darts”. It’s one of those things that you “gotta be there” to get.

SUNSET AT OUR  PEACEFUL ANCHORAGE