looking at Blue Max and Duchess at Swallow Bluff anchorage Sept 26

beauty of anchoring - Kelly's Island

Tadpole at Swallow Island

our anchorage at Kelly's Island on Sept 25







Kentucky State Penitentury



The weather continues to be hot, cooling off a little overnight. However, we have been so blessed with just the most perfect weather the entire trip that we try not to complain too often about the heat. We’ve had very little rain to contend with while underway, very few rough travel days. We have been prepared, but not anxious, to experience fog, storms, rain. I hope my training in those areas will have to wait for many days to come.

Tuesday, Sept 21 Location: anchored in Lake Barkley on the Cuberland River - no internet access –

We left Green Turtle Bay Marina in Grand Rivers, Ky and anchored in Lake Barkley on the Cumberland River across from the Kentucky State Penitentiary for the night, backtracking the next morning and crossed over to Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River.

KKWe will continue along the Tennessee River for approximately 215 miles to Pickwick Lake. This is near where the states of Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama join. There we plan to rent a car and drive to Memphis and visit Elvis Presely’s home at Graceland.

Having made such good time on our trip, we are going to add a side trip and continue on the
Tennessee River to Chattanooga. It will be approximately 250 miles each way over and back.
Other boaters that have taken the river all the way to Chattanooga say it is beautiful and this time
of the year the leaves changing colors will add to the beauty.

This route will have us returning to Pickwick to continue south on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (known as the Tenn-Tom Waterway) and the Black Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway to Mobile, Al.

Wednesday, Sept 22 Location: anchored at Duncan Bay in Kentucky Lake on the TN River
                           - no internet access –

Thursday, Sept 23 Location: anchored at Panther Bay in Kentucky Lake of the TN River
                           - still no internet –



Barbie getting cooled off



The scenery has been awesome; there is color coming to the trees, slightly more each day. Our travel days have been short lately, leaving our anchorage at about 9 or 10 in the a.m. and arriving at our next one 3 to 4 hours later. We have had plenty of time to just chill and, of course, each stop includes some time in the water. With the temperatures in the 90’s, even Bear and Barbie have been in the water with us for some “cool-off” time. Richard holds them in the water up to their neck and, with it being so hot, they really seem to look forward to it. Our thermometer has been reading 98 outdoors and 96 indoors.

Friday, Sept 24

We did start out early this morning, however, at 0700 as the weather forecast for today calls for 15 – 20 knot winds gusting to 25. Rain expected. We stopped at Pebble Creek Marina (mile marker 96) for the night. We have 2 boats with us at this time – Blue Max IV (we’re together all the way home, then they will continue on), and Duchess (we’re hoping they travel with us as well. We’re trying to talk them into going to Chattanooga with us.) 

We will soon meet up again with Recovery Room whom we had met in Chesapeake City, Md while at Green Turtle Bay Marina. They needed some boat maintenance and had to wait for a part…they will meet up with us again soon.

Saturday, September 25            Location:  Pebble Isle Marina (mm 96)

Never got more than a drop of rain,  but it is a bit cooler this morning.
It was "cloudy" last night; therefore could not receive and satellite signals , but, finally, this morning - success.  We should be leaving the marina soon so will add as many pictures as I have time.
Please be patient.

Sunday, Sept 19, 2010 Location: Green Turtle Bay Marina, Grand Rivers, Kentucky

We have been without a computer for almost a week. I said yes to something I should have said no to and I was locked out entirely. Therefore, the delay to any updates to the blog (and everything else I do online). Fortunately for me, one of our boater (looper) friends offered to take a look to see if they could help, and after several hours, corrected the problem. She has not had to worry about her wine glass being empty!!!!! I can’t thank her enough.

We arrived here, at Green Turtle Bay Marina, in Grand Rivers, Kentucky on Thursday, Sept 16 and are staying until Tuesday, the 21rst (first day of Autumn). Seems like most of the loopers stop here for R and R on their way south. We’re spending time swimming, resting, doing nothing, cleaning the boat, doing laundry and grocery shopping (what’s new) and just “stopping”. Feels good to not be on the “go” for a change.

My same computer savvy friend was also a hairdresser in her past life and gave me a much needed haircut and I now have short hair again – no more long hair for me – ever!

Our last week’s travels took us south to the end of the Upper Mississippi River and onto the Ohio River

where we lost our 4-5 knot pushing current that we had enjoyed on the Mississippi.

Cruising the Mississippi was so enjoyable to us and so different than the other waterways that we have traveled on. There were boiling swirls in many of the turns we made making maneuvering challenging, and tugs with many barges – up to 40 at a time. As we approached each one, we would contact them by radio and request passing or overtaking instructions, sometimes carrying on friendly conversations.

the Mississippi swirls

Captain Richard has been at the helm most of the time; his legs and feet tired from standing and manually steering around the numerous logs and debris on the Mississippi. We’re reminded of two boats that have travelled with us that have damaged propellers when coming in contact with the debris, making us extremely cautious. No marinas and few places to anchor have added to the excitement of travelling on the Mississippi.

Since leaving Lake Michigan, we have passed through Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and are now in Kentucky.

Now that I once again have the computer, will keep the posts more current.

Saturday, September 11 Location: Kaskaskia Lock and Dam

We have left the Illinois River and are now traveling the Upper Mississippi River with a nice 4 knot
current pushing us along at a higher speed. (great for fuel economy).

Hoppie's Marine Services

We docked at Hoppie’s Marine Services, last night, which is home to Captain and Fern Hopkins who have carried on his father’s tradition of helping guide boater’s traveling through with their “briefings”. The marina is not much more than a few barges hooked together, but they are so knowledgeable and willing to share any info they have that most “loopers” make this stop a must.

We will travel on this river for 218 miles to Cairo, where it joins the Ohio River. Anchorages and fuel stops on the Upper Mississippi are scarce to non-existent. We are sure to encounter some challenges

along the way with the increased barge traffic on the Mississippi and the questionable anchorages.

our dockage at Kaskaskia Lock and Dam

Tonight we are tied to a lock wall for the evening…no facilities, but very happy to have a wall to tie up to for the night..tomorrow we will travel about 50 miles and hope the anchorage area we have selected there is suitable to the wind and current we will have.

Again, we have another beautiful weather day. The nights are slowly beginning to cool down.

Thanks for keeping in touch with us.  To know that you are following us keeps us on our toes and gives us warm fuzzies. (can u tell it's time for me to hit the hay!  good nite.)

Wednesday, September 08. 2010 Location: Grafton, Il

Arrived early, at midday, since we only had 20 miles to travel. Filled up our fuel tanks as places to purchase it will be sparse on the Mississippi River.

Enjoyed happy hour with looper couples we had come to know and others we met for the first time. Some are just beginning their journey and others are soon to complete the loop. But we all have so much in common and can really share in the experience.

Tomorrow we will rent a car and drive the 20 miles to city of St Louis as they have no marinas there and, otherwise, we would have to bypass the city. We’ll spend the day touring and also pick up an ordered water pump from West Marine. Ours is beginning to sound as if it is on its last leg and certainly don’t want to be without water. We’ll have it in case we have to replace it.

Friday, September 10 Location: St. Louis, Il

Our first stop was to visit the Gateway Arch which signifies the westward expansion of the U.S. It’s our nation’s tallest monument, built 40 years ago, and reaches 630 feet. We took the capsule like tram to the top for a view and some photos, toured the museum, and watched the movie of the construction of the Arch. We knew little about it before this and is so much more impressive when you are standing at the bottom looking up. Absolutely fascinating!

We toured the old Union Station, which was a major railroad station from 1880 – 1975, and admired the architectural design; is now used for an indoor mall with, unfortunately, quite a few empty stores.

a new looper?

Then, off to the St Louis Zoo for the next several hours. The predicted rain bypassed us and left us with the perfect day for visiting our outdoor friends. We were pleasantly surprised, that in today’s economy, admission was free.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010 Location: Grafton, Il (about 20 mi no of St. Louis)

Sunday, September 05, 2010


We left our marina at 0730 this morning for the Peoria Lock. Shortly after we arrived, there were
6 pleasure craft waiting passage along with barge units under tow. The lock master advised us there would be an approximate 2 hour wait as a northbound tug and his barges had to complete the lock through.
We soon were on our way down the Illinois River again… this part of Illinois is mile after mile of corn
fields..most of the barge cargo is grain southbound and coal northbound to fire electric power plants.

Monday, September 06, 2010

Today, we tied up at a very unusual marina..working barges and tugs. We were lucky to have

our dockage in Beardstown, Il

a tug captain that gave us an extensive tour of a working tug. This size tug usually pushes 15 barges,

3 wide and 5 long..a tremendous amount of weight. We learned that the tug has a rudder in front of

the propellers as well as behind the propellers… both independent of the other, this design provides

the same control in reverse as in forward…plus the ability to move the tug boat directly sideways.

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

We are now 215 miles south of Chicago and tomorrow will be at the junction where it joins the
Mississippi River.

We can see that fall is in the air even if the weather is still HOT! The leaves on some of the trees have begun to change their color giving us still another change in the scenery. Every day seems to bring a change. The homes on this stretch of the Illinois River are built on stilts and very high to protect them from the river’s flooding. Many of the trees along the riverfront are standing with their trunks fully exposed due to high water; just 2 weeks ago this river was 12 feet higher than today. Erosion over the last two years of unusually high water levels has uprooted so many trees on the river banks. It is a shame that such a beautiful waterway is losing so many trees at such a fast rate.

in Hardin, Il

We have kept in touch with several boats that we travelled with in the past. Some are still “trying” to work their way down the east side of Lake Michigan. Per some locals, the weather up there is more like November weather and kept them marina bound until maybe Thursday. Even the car ferry, the Badger, cancelled service for 2 days due to extreme gusts and 10 to 12 foot waves. We were fortunate to follow

the advice of the route books and advance to Chicago before the winter winds started in September. They seem to be strong this year with over 50 deaths from rip-tide currents in Michigan this year.  One person was even swept off the breakwater in Ludington by a 20ft wave.

This is why the radar and mast were lowered.

Tuesday, 31 August, 2010 Location: Joliet, Il

There’s additional new info..a lock 131 miles south of our location, the Peoria Lock and Dam, is closed Mon-thru Sat 7am to 5pm for maintenance, open only between 5pm and 7am and all day on Sunday thru October….This is going to make our journey even more exciting..a major backlog with commercial barges having priority over personal watercraft. We cannot travel this route in the dark, so plan on waiting our turn, for however long it takes, this Sunday.

in Joliet

Once we found out the hours at the Peoria Lock were reduced and the likelihood of us not being able to lock through until Sunday, a perfect opportunity was created to get reacquainted with a wonderful coworker of mine (Tiki) when I worked in Chicago reservations with Eastern Air Lines. Donna and I had been keeping tabs on one another since the beginning of our trip, trying to work out a rendezvous – this was perfect, and she and her husband, Bill, did not mind the 3 hour drive to visit us. They arrived early afternoon, we talked and talked some more, then had a great dinner buffet at Harrah’s Casino right across the river from where we have tied up. Thank you, Donna and Bill, for a great visit. I know we will see you in Tampa. (Mary, know you are jealous, but we did wish you were with us.)

Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Location: Joliet, Il

After locking through our first “Lock” southbound, adjacent to the Navy Pier, we began our trip into the heart of downtown Chicago travelling under 40 bridges in the first 5 miles amongst the towering buildings. It was truly awesome. 9:00 in the morning and the city was abuzz with cars and people going about their business. We hope the many pictures we took help to show the beauty of the sun lighting up the buildings as we passed through this beautiful city that we lived in 38 years ago.

In total, we passed under 55miles before we reached the junction of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal where we continued south and the river quickly changed to industrial waterway with numerous barges being pushed by a tug. We experienced several anxious moments when we passed a train four barges long and two wide, and also seeing more barges up ahead along the river wall. The tugs control the river. We always ask them what they want us to do. This is their domain and they set the rules. We have circled in the river for up to 30 minutes while they reposition a barge on or off their grouping and have been assured that this will be repeated quite frequently and, possibly, for greater time periods. What an education we are getting in all phases of boating.

Along this same route there is a half mile area where a permanent electrical barrier has been installed designed to prevent and the slow the spread of invasive fish species, known as Carp. Boats were only permitted to enter one at a time and we had to stay inside for safety. We recently learned that the Carp could grow to as much as 100 lbs which would create a significant safety problem for boaters. The sound of the boat motors causes to Carp to jump out of the water, oftentimes landing in the boat and causing injury to boats as well as boaters.

At one of our southbound locks, we were advised we would have an approximate two hour delay while a tow with several barges has to separate half of his barges for lock passage…then comes back and get the other half and locks it through…then connects the two halves back together. So, wait we did without incident and made to our tie up rather early for the night.

Monday, August 30 , 2010 Location: Chicago, Il

After numerous attempts we were able to obtain dock space in Chicago harbor, arriving early Saturday am.

As soon as we were settled, we headed out on foot for Michigan Ave and walked north as far as the John Hancock building – about 4 miles with a stop along the way for some lunch. Our walk included the section known as Millionaire mile which is where you find many of the upscale stores. Chicago is one of our most favorite cities and being there again brought back so many happy memories. We re-visited the Water Tower Hyatt Hotel where we celebrated our 10th anniversary while living here in 1981 and passed through many shops. On Sunday, we toured the Adler Planetarium located adjacent to the marina, but time did not permit a visit to the Aquarium and Science Museum that were also on the grounds. This is cause for another visit in the future. Sunday evening we celebrated our return to Chicago after all these years with a spectacular dinner at Lawry’s Prime Rib restaurant with friends. A very special treat for anyone visiting this wonderful city.

The city streets and bike paths were constantly busy with thousands of people just out and about and enjoying the beautiful “hot” weather before their winter arrives. This city never sleeps and they definitely have a beautiful city to enjoy. It’s sad saying goodbye to this grand place.