Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers

After leaving Grafton Harbor marina we went past St. Louis and could see the Arch from a distance.

We stayed at Hoppies Marina for one night. Boaters received a briefing on the river and what to expect downstream.

The water level was high and the current fast from the recent storms. We saw a lot of logs and debris to include a hot water tank that floated on by, as seen in the photo.

No locks today. We anchored out on the Little Diversion Canal on the Mississippi river.

The next day was a long one. It was a cool day. The barges really bounce the boat until you are well past the area. We left the mighty Mississippi and entered the Ohio River. As we approached the Ohio we could see the change in water color from muddy brown to a normal blue (See the strip of blue in the photo).

On the Ohio we are traveling upstream. Today we traveled 110 statute miles (20 on the Ohio River). We anchored out on the Ohio by Olmsted lock. The next morning we awoke to find our boats covered with Mayflies.

We had 70 miles to cover and 3 locks on our way to Green Turtle Bay marina at Grand Rivers, KY. We left the Ohio and got on the Cumberland River. The last lock we had to wait for 2 hours, so we it was nighttime by the time we arrived at the marina.

Green Turtle Bay is aptly named as you can see by my photo.

Grand Rivers, KY is known as the Village between the Lakes. Lake Barkley is on the east and Kentucky Lake is on the west. We stayed at Green Turtle Bay marina for several days and then headed south along the Kentucky Lake and the Tennessee River. 

The first night we anchored on the Kentucky Lake at Dry Fork Creek and we're now in Tennessee.  The next 2 nights we anchored out as well, at Birdsong Creek and Swallow Bluff Island. Tomorrow I am heading to Aqua Yacht marina on Pickwick Lake. This lake is where the boundaries of 3 states meet (MS, TN and AL).

Going with the flow

We ended up staying at the Heritage Harbor Marina in Ottawa for several days, as storms were passing through. When I was going into the marina slip I heard a banging sound and thought I might have hit something, though the dock hand advised it was just the asian carp hitting the boat's hull. In Ottawa, the temperature at night dipped in the 40s.

I went by a park and stopped to read the Commemorative plaque. It was the site were 10,000 people gathered to listen to Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate during their 1858 campaign for the US Senate seat from Illinois.

Fountain in Washington Square

I was joined by a praying mantis at the laundromat while I caught up on my laundry.

Water levels were high from the rains. It was too cold to pilot the boat from the fly bridge. We left Ottawa and arrived at the Illinois Valley Yacht Club (IVEY Club) in Peoria Heights. We stayed here for several days, indirectly from the weather. The weather had finally cleared for us but Loopers were getting backed up due to the flood closure of the Mississippi river. The marinas were full so we could not proceed ahead until some movement started further downstream and boaters could enter the Mississippi.

After 4 days we had an opening and left but had fog, then rain for a good portion of the 41 nautical miles (NM) to Tall Timbers Marina in Havana, IL. We stayed one night as we wanted to keep on moving.

Above is Elaine's photo of our 3 boats at Tall Timbers marina.

We left the next morning and traveled 53 NM. There’s alot of debris in the river. We anchored out by Big Blue Island away from the main river.

The following day we continued on the Illinois River to Grafton Harbor Marina, IL. This is at the point where the Illinois River flows into the Mississippi. We stayed 2 nights before heading out this morning to Hoppies Marina on the Mississippi at Kimmswick, MO.

Windy City

We stayed in Grand Haven for 2 days. On the 2nd day it was rainy and cold and the place was deserted. I had the worst night in the boat at Grand Haven, the boat rocked and bounced around all night long. 

We went on to South Haven, MI for a night and the next day we traveled across to The Hammond Marina in Hammond, IN, also crossing into the Central Time zone. The crossing took over 10 hours. 

The marina is situated alongside a rail yard and near the Indiana/Illinois state line, a heavily industrialized area.The docks were long and the marina is part of the Horseshoe Casino. 

Horseshoe Casino

We had to wait out several storms - we had high winds and thunderstorms that passed through and so we stayed at Hammond for several days.

Chicago skyline from marina

The day we left we headed a very short distance to the Calumet River (Illinois) and took it to the O’Brien Lock and then entered Calumet-Saganashkee, better known as the Cal-Sag Channel. The 16 mile channel brought us to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, a second lock and then we got on the Des Plaines River to Joilet. We saw barge after barge. 

We passed through the electric barrier set up to prevent the invasive asian carp from entering Lake Michigan.

The 2nd lock was over 45 feet. 

   Our group plus other looper boats stayed on the Joilet city wall that night. 

We had a 2 hour wait to get into the first lock this morning due to barge traffic. Commercial traffic has priority. Today we’re heading 45 miles to Heritage Harbor Marina in Ottawa, IL.

Russ & Elaine (blue boat)and John waiting in today's first lock

A shore thing

We're still traveling along the shore of western Michigan. We were in Frankfort for 3 days looking to cross Lake Michigan but we had storms come through and the wind and waves were too much so we decided to continue south and proceeded to Ludington, MI.

Docked at the Frankfort marina, the boat and I got pounded by waves.

Departing Frankfort on our way to Ludington

When we arrived, the city was awaiting the arrival of the Vietnam Traveling Wall. There was a motorcycle escort accompanying it to Ludington’s City Park for a 4 day stay. The city had special events scheduled at the Memorial each day.

We were again waiting to cross the lake to Wisconsin but we remained in Ludington for 5 days because of the high waves and white caps.

I got to see the only coal-fired steamship in operation in the U.S. The S.S. Badger is the largest car ferry on Lake Michigan and runs between Ludington and Manitowoc, WI. The ferry carries up to 600 passengers, 50 crew and 180 vehicles. The 60 mile trip takes 4 hours, with an average speed of 15.6 knots. The Badger is over 400 feet long,7 stories high and her 2 anchors each weigh 7,000 pounds. She’s been in service over 60 years, first transporting railroad freight cars and later switched to passengers and cars. In 2009 the ship was placed on the Nation's Register of Historic Places.

View video clip in full screen with sound on

Meet Paul, he greets everyone on the dock.

We decided against crossing and headed south along the Michigan coast to Grand Haven. We had a lot of fog and 2 foot waves, and covered 68 miles. It was crazy entering Grand Haven, boats were everywhere and going in every direction. We’ll have to stay here due to weather and we were fortunate 3 transient slips were available for our boating group over the busy Labor Day weekend.

Back in the US of A

I know, this past month I failed to update the blog. I was traveling the Trent -Severn Waterway. It was unseasonably cold in Canada this summer, even the locals said it but especially to me after spending the past 8 summers in Florida. I also can say that I have been through enough locks to last a lifetime though I have just about as many left to go by the time I complete this trip. Places we stopped along the waterway: Brighton Rd Bridge, Trenton, Cambellford, Hastings, Peterborough and Orillia, in addition to tying off at 2 locks and anchoring out.

So to catch up, at the end of the Trent -Severn Waterway is a boat lift at lock 44.  It is the Big Chute Marine railway. Below are photos of my ride on the Big Chute.

Outside the final lock 44

On rail car starting the chute

Heading down!

After the Big Chute we stayed 2 days in Midland on the Georgian Bay. We anchored 2 nights in Dauncy Bay, also anchoring in Hopewell Bay, and another day at Green Island. 

Another great photo from Elaine when we anchored out

We stayed at a marina for 2 nights in Killarney on the northern shore of Georgian Bay. We left Killarney (population 500) and entered the North Channel of Lake Huron. We reached the Gore Bay City Marina for an overnight stay. The following day we traveled to Drummond Island, Michigan crossing the border back into the U.S. and going through Customs. From Drummond Island, we crossed Lake Huron to Mackinaw City, MI. I received a grilled hamburger lunch via a net from Russ.

Mackinaw City is located on the Straits of Mackinac, on the northern end of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. We were here for over a week waiting on the weather. Between wind, waves and fog, we were getting antsy to move on. Finally a window, Lake Michigan was flat and we had a good trip to Charlevoix. It is located between Little and Grand Traverse Bays. 

Docktails with Loopers at Charlevoix

Our next stop was Leland and today we arrived in Frankfort. At this point our plan is to cross Lake Michigan and continue down the lake on the Wisconsin side.

O Canada

I'm in Canada. This morning I left Campbellford heading to lock 13 on the Trent Severn Waterway. The Waterway takes you through a total of 43 locks leading to Georgian Bay. Before I crossed Lake Ontario I stopped in Phoenix NY and Oswego NY, two towns on either end of the Oswego river and canal locks.

Here I am docked at the Village of Phoenix's Henley Park

A longer view of the park

We were here for a week, waiting on weather and catching up on things, such as:

laundry

 and

 sleep!

On our last evening in Phoenix, we were entertained by an Elvis impersonator.  A large turnout came out to catch his act.

"Elvis is in the park"

Before leaving the U.S., I had to give away my plant away due to restrictions on bringing plants into Canada. The photo was taken in March when I first got it. It had taken well to the boating life and had doubled in size.

Oswego Marina, our last stop in the U.S.

We had a good crossing of Lake Ontario. The first 2 hours were rough but after that it settled down. We stopped at the Murray Canal Swing bridge and the next day continued to Trenton at the entrance to the Trent Severn Waterway.

Please note that I will have limited access to the internet on the Canadian leg of my trip.

“Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal . . .”

If I had a soundtrack to this specific post I would be playing a song written in 1905 called “Low Bridge”. 

It’s more commonly known as The Erie Canal Song.  It’s been sung by Pete Seeger, the Kingston Trio, as well as Bruce Springsteen. 

Here’s a link to the lyrics and song, http://youtu.be/HcNJ2RMOd3U          

We stayed 2 nights in Waterford NY. It’s on the Mohawk River. I picked up a 10 day lock pass so I have to get through by Jul 7 or purchase another pass. The Waterford visitor center has 2 live cameras facing their city dock. http://www.town.waterford.ny.us/harbor-visitors-center.html

Waterford holds an annual tugboat festival. It will be Sept 5-7 this year. 

As you can see the water is clear as mud

There is so much debris surrounding the locks, you just have to glide through it. You are dodging logs and fence posts. On account of the dam that is alongside the lock, the current is strong. It hits the dam and comes back at you. Also they are repairing the locks so there are 5 mph construction zones.

I'm waiting for the lock to fill up

We stopped overnight at the Canajoharie riverfront memorial park, situated just before lock 14.  

Here is our caravan of 3 boats traveling the canal together, all docked at the riverfront park.
("And you'll always know your neighbor, you'll always know your pal; If you ever navigated on the Erie Canal . . .")

Elaine took this photo (above) of me under the lock gate but it looks like a guillotine ready to lop off my bow.

We went through 3 locks today (21, 22 and 23), covered 48 miles, crossing Lake Oneida and stopping in Phoenix, NY by lock 1 of the Oswego canal system. Next we’ll be heading north to Lake Ontario.