27 August, 2021. The mighty Mississippi. 6000 statue miles traveled

 

36 SM; 4.6 hours

Anchor up and undway at 0730.  Just prior to reaching the Mississippi, the trip counter rolled over 6000 statute miles.  Hard to believe.  

Chart plotter rolling over 6000 SM

Location along Illinois river at 6000 miles

Shortly after, the Illinois river emptied into the Mississippi.  Wow.  Cell coverage finally improved, nearly civilization again.  Internet/WiFi marginal and nearly unusable.  We are headed to Alton Marina, Alton Illinois.  

Grafton, IL, mile 0 on Illinois river, mile 217 on Mississippi

Bluffs along the Mississippi River

At 1200 we eased off the Mississippi into the levied and well protected Alton Marina.  We will top off the diesel tanks, provision and catch up on some planning for the next week ahead.  The marina has a pool, air conditioned deli we can cool off in and covered slips.  A grocery store within walking distance.   Kim’s marina video  From here it is 202 SM to the junction of the Ohio river.  We will ride down the Mississippi, then plow our way up current on the Ohio until we reach the Tennessee or Cumberland river.  Each has a lock and dam.  Will not make that decision until later next week.  Most likely will take the slightly longer route to the Cumberland as the Kentucky Lock and Dam carries the most commercial traffic and wait times can be days for pleasure craft.  

For the weekend we are going to chill out here.   We need to do some chart study as we have two massive locks on the Mississippi to negotiate within the first 1/3 of the river passage.  Anchorages, and safe harbors are few the entire way.   With topped off diesel tanks we have enough fuel for over three hundred miles with reserve.  We are less than 300 SM to our end point at Green Turtle Bay marina,Grand Rivers, KY where we will cross our wake.  So we need to plan accordingly due to increasing current and massive tow/barge complexes moving north/south on the Mississippi.  We are in a covered slip, and can reach both sides of Serenity.  So boat cleaning is in order as well.  Having successfully traveled from Chicago to here, we celebrated last night with pizza.

Pretty good with a coke

6027 SM traveled; 2045.2 hours hobbs