1 September, 2021. Lots of traffic on a winding Mississippi day.

77 SM; 8.0 hours

 Not the best sleep last night.  Though we were clear and safe from the tow/barge traffic, every hour a north or southbound passed.  Pretty noisy and we were close enough to feel the wake.  Crazy current at the anchorage.  No swing but we could hear the water running along the side of Serenity.  Wanted to complete most of the Mississippi today.  So, with a bit of breakfast, prayers and checklists completed we raised the anchor at 0720.  Planned to go at 0700 but there were two large tow/barge complexes going north and south so we waited.  Foggy in the trees, but river visibility was good to go.  Slight NE breeze.  Constant traffic on the waterway today.  Heard one tow report there is no movement south of the Ohio junction due to hurricane damage on the southern Mississippi River.  Consistent 10 MPH speed over ground.  At times 11.5 mph.  Distance traveled today would normally take us 10+ hours at our usual cruising speed.  Good to go.  Drizzle off and on, but by middle afternoon the skies were partly cloudy and lower temperatures and humidity.  Temperatures may drop into the lower 60s or upper 50s tonight.  That will be excellent.

Glad to have the AIS.  It has been one of the most favorable pieces of equipment added before the loop.  We see the commercial traffic and they can see us.  Vessel name, range, bearing and closest point of approach and crossing angle is good information.  

Lost a long time ago

Bluffs carved from the untamed river

We reached our intended anchorage south of Boston Island, just north of I-57 bridge.  We are well off the channel and protected to the north by a large wing dam and to the south by the bridge.  We set the anchor in 12 feet of water and secured the Yanmar at 1500.  (Map). 7.7 SM to the Ohio junction.  Kim’s anchorage video. Tomorrow we will finish the remainder of the upper Mississippi River, having traveled  217 miles from the junction of the Illinois river.  From Minneapolis to the Ohio is 858 SM.  From the Ohio to New Orleans the lower Mississippi is 855 SM long.  Heading up the Ohio we will fight the current.  The Olmstead lock is about 25 miles away.  Hope the wait is not too long so we can continue up river.  

The Mississippi has been stressful.  Lots of large, large commercial boats, limited services and facilities and questionable anchorages.  Many of the large tows pushing 4x5 or 4x6 or larger barges up river kick up 3-5 foot standing waves.  They are short duration but impressive.  In the narrow channels the waves bounce back and forth across the water as they slam into one bank then race over to the other.  Makes for quite a bumpy ride.  Along with the one whistle-two whistle passing instructions, the river tow captains have distinct voices, short, crisp communication and often drawn out southern drawl.  Colorful and difficult communication at times to this recreational boat captain.  

3 x 5 gravel tow/barge along right descending bank

62222 SM journeyed; 2066 hours hobbs.