On the last post, we reported rolling down the old Mississippi, dodging barges, floating debris and swatting mosquitos. We eventually reached Hoppies, the famous “last stop for fuel” for 205 miles. Those big diesel trawlers weren’t too worried but when we filled up, we triple checked our calculations to see what fuel burn rate we needed to make it. If we maintained 1.4mpg or better, we could make it. There was no way to determine what that would mean in terms of speed because of the current and wakes from barges but that didn’t matter as long as we got there before we ran out. As it turned out, the current really helped us and we ran at 2.1 mpg to our next stop, an anchorage. But first — about Hoppies. This was backwoods MO town of Kimmswick. I believe the three boats we were temporarily traveling with doubled the population. The ‘marina’ was two old rusted barges tied together on the side of the river with a shack on one that served as the office. As we arrived, three old gentlemen got up from their chairs, spit out their tobacco and came over to help us secure our boat in that strong current. After fueling their announce there will be a “briefing” at 5:00. And so there was. A very knowledgeable lady appeared and provided valuable advice and warnings about the next 205 miles and where to anchor, etc. since it will take us three days. We left the next morning with a very helpful current and made it to the lock in the Kaskkaskia River. The river was a tributary to the Mississippi and got us off the busy channel. We tied up to the wall at the lock and checked weather. Remnants of hurricane Francine was heading where we were going the next day so we stayed an extra day at the lock. [ I can’t seem to create new paragraphs with this site so I’m sure I would get a D- from my English teacher]. The next day we arrived at another safe anchorage located on Little River Diversion. It was very protected and peaceful. It rained. The next day we passed Cairo (the one in IL) and turned up the Ohio River. Surprise: the current is now flowing against us and we’re doing 1.2 mpg and we have another 100 miles to go. (refer to the 1.4 mpg mentioned earlier). I have never run that boat at 3 mph before and that round bottom is very squirrely at that speed. So now in addition to dodging moving barges, floating debris, we have a LOT of dead floating carp and abandoned barges. It seems if they no longer want a barge, they just run it up along the river bank and let it rust away. Some don’t even do that and anchor it in the navigable river. And we thought we had problems with abandoned boats in FL. That night we anchored near the Omstead lock. After waiting for 2 1/2 hours for the lock the next morning, we headed for Paducah in the hopes of making it before the fuel ran out. We made it. The municipal docks at Paducah were some of the nicest docks we stayed at. The town was so interesting to see, we stayed an extra day so we could so more sight-seeing. We left Paducah and went up the Cumberland River to the Lake Barkley Lock and Dam. the 80′ lift took us into Lake Barkley and we stopped at the Green Turtle Bay Marina and Resort. And here we are. Diane is doing laundry. I’m washing the boat and blogging (not at the same time of course).
View along the Mississippi
Current in the Mississippi
So remember how you were taught. Just stay between the red and green buoys and you’ll be fine. Yeah right. Take a look at these green buoys. These weren’t the only ones playing hide and seek. Even some red ones were in the trees.
See, I wasn’t kidding. This is Hoppies Marina. What you see is it. There is nothing else. But they DID have fuel and electric hook up …… although I was almost afraid to hook up our boat up to it after seeing the condition of the cables and equipment.
While anchored by Omstead lock we had some great scenery
Paducah Muni Dock. Notice how high the pilings are for the floating dock? The river flooded in 1913 and 1937. Although the docks weren’t there then, the river was as high as those pilings. Needless to say, the town was flooded even though it’s up a rather tall embankment
Omstead Lock. I had the wrong filter on the camera
Initially reluctant to pay $15 each to see some old quilts, we’re glad we did. This was like an art gallery. The quilts were incredible. It was hard to believe anyone could make scraps of fabric look like that.
The town had a number of plaques in the historic district
This picture is out of order — just like me sometime. It is in Little River Diversion after the rain stopped late in the day.
Tonight we ate at Patty’s 1880 Settlement which is much more than a restaurant. It had all kinds of shops, decorated grounds and mini golf course.
