Bazar’s Second Wave

We had visited the Gateway Arch yesterday by car and today by boat.  One major difference was that yesterday it was 95 degrees and today it's in the low 50s.  The winter coats came back out.  We have not worn these since our Gulf crossing in mid February! This is one of those "highlight" photos of the Great Loop in front of the Arch all while the current in the Mississippi is roaring along. You have to take that picture quickly! My turn at the helm below. Some of the boats that left with us this morning stopped at Hoppies but we wanted to get a little further to make the next day shorter. Hoppies is a well known stop on the Loop and has been for many years. However, one of the three barges used to form the docks recently sank so their availability is even more limited. Besides, it means docking right in the current. Below is a picture of the place as we passed by. We pulled into the Kaskaskia River and you can tie to the lock ...

Making our trip from Grafton to Alton was a very short venture especially now since we are getting a push from the current as we begin going down the Mississippi River. We will travel 218 miles on the Mississippi. The "Muddy and Mighty Mississippi" lived up to its name!! We had to pass under this span bridge and go against the current into the marina on the right between the land and a rock pile on the left. Going against the current and the swirls had its challenges too. Not to mention the shallow water at the entrance to the inlet. Misty Pearl and Second Wave entered the marina together and went and got fuel since there are now not too many places to take on diesel. We left the fuel dock first and went to our slip and as Misty Pearl was making her way around the corner she ran aground.  Check that off the list!  It took a dinghy pushing in all directions to free her but then it happened again as she was trying to side tie to the dock.  Sh...