Where's the River??

For all our all-life loving, bug loving and I wouldn't kill a tick friends, YOU know who you are.......these bugs are DEAD so we swept them off the boat so we could see to pilot the boat as soon as the fog lifted from the water.

Yep, we woke to 45 degrees and bugs all over everywhere.....boat, windows, isinglass and the river?.... no where in sight!

My Florida boy... alias “The Captain” was rather uncomfortable in this weather... but the First Mate was loving it.... after she put on her wool sweater!

Our first anchoring in a river turned out well, except for the large tow that awakened Walter when the boat rolled a little bit but I slept like a baby!

Here the fog has finally lifted and Walter is sweeping the bugs off the deck.

When it was time to get moving GA washed down the anchor as it came up and a few more bugs off the boat. 

The Quiet Muddy Illinois River this morning.

This was our first bridge challenge of the day.  Walter had to lower the mast but we made it under just fine.

Monster tow of the day... 15 grain & oil barges!

Here the Illinois River is on the right side of photo.  It is flowing into the Mississippi River on the left side of picture.

On the Illinois side of the MS River we began to see limestone cliffs.

After joining the MS River the state of Missouri was on the starboard side of the river.  It was low tree lined land.

Coming into Alton, IL we went under the Clark Bridge.

Then turned around and came back under the East end of it to reach our Marina.

We did have a good experience of anchoring in a river last night. However,  after a talk given tonight by the Harbor Host here in Alton on what to expect down river I am wanting to have someone else transport the boat for us and we just skip the Mississippi River!  The MS River is a very unpredictable river.  It has flooded twice here this year... you wouldn't believe the high water mark!   And now the down river depths are mostly too low for anchoring! ??? AND there are NO services until you are off of the MS River....We do not go the whole length of it before we get on the Ohio River but this means for over 206 miles on the MS River no Tow Boat US to come help us if we need a rescue. There is no fuel and no mechanics!   This is why our friends in Q's Cabin did the entire MS river in one day.  We can't go that fast so we will have new experiences of anchoring behind “wing dams” and sand bars and......egad!!!   Is it too late to change my mind about this little Adventure???

Okay, no jumping ship for me... not if I can have sunsets like this. :-)

Tonight on the Mississippi River at Alton, IL