Entering the Mel Price Lock on the Mississippi (over 1000 feet long)
Pat at her post securing Reflection to a floating bollard in the lock for our ride down.
The Gate Way Arch
Tow boat pushing twenty barges up the Mississippi (we saw a single tow boat pushing 45 barges later in the day)
Hoppie's Marine Services (any port you can find on the Mississippi)
Walled home near Kimmswick, Mo
Kimmswick, Mo. Post office.
We left our slip at Alton Marina at 6:40 a.m. on a 44 mile trip down the Mississippi through 2 locks to Hoppie's Marine Service. These locks were enormous in length and width in order to accommodate the size of the tows and barges that we have seen as we travel these large waterways. Today's travel also took us past St. Louis with a different view of the Arch and its surroundings which we had visited only a few days ago by land.
The river current was moving at approximately 2 to 3 knots and we were glad that it was going our way. Water temperatures were in the low to mid 80s and the river was somewhat brown in color though, not as muddy as the Illinois River.
Thanks to the current we arrived at our destination before 11 a.m. Hoppie's is a famous stop for boaters on the Mississippi. Dockage was at three 100 foot long barges tied to a cliff with cables. It was also the only place to get fuel for the next 107 miles and the only marina for 228 miles! We also got to meet the well-known owner, Fern Hopkins, the local expert on the rivers we will encounter going south to Mobile. Mrs. Hopkins was kind enough to sit with us and our charts and go over potential anchorages, trouble spots, and good marinas along the way. We greatly appreciated her time and advice!
George walked into town that that had two nice restaurants and several small shops selling everything from Christmas items to whips and saddles. We had grilled hamburgers for dinner and we enjoyed an evening of comedy DVDs.
The river current was moving at approximately 2 to 3 knots and we were glad that it was going our way. Water temperatures were in the low to mid 80s and the river was somewhat brown in color though, not as muddy as the Illinois River.
Thanks to the current we arrived at our destination before 11 a.m. Hoppie's is a famous stop for boaters on the Mississippi. Dockage was at three 100 foot long barges tied to a cliff with cables. It was also the only place to get fuel for the next 107 miles and the only marina for 228 miles! We also got to meet the well-known owner, Fern Hopkins, the local expert on the rivers we will encounter going south to Mobile. Mrs. Hopkins was kind enough to sit with us and our charts and go over potential anchorages, trouble spots, and good marinas along the way. We greatly appreciated her time and advice!
George walked into town that that had two nice restaurants and several small shops selling everything from Christmas items to whips and saddles. We had grilled hamburgers for dinner and we enjoyed an evening of comedy DVDs.
Hmmmm... whips.
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