Thursday Aug. 22 

44 miles    Hurricane Island mm#28.4 to Alton, IL

Pulled out of our anchorage at 0630 and did not have any locks to go thru today. Yeah! We met one tow and passed another but at both places the river was wide enough for us to travel past. At 0900 we turned onto the Mississippi River. The current did not change but the river got a lot wider.

 

 On the left is the Mississippi river and on the right is the Illinois river. 

Not far south of the junction of the Miss. and Illinois rivers is a little village called Portage des Siox. This 50 foot shrine was built in 1951 as gratitude for the flood water stopping just short of flooding their village.

 Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine.

A little further south we started seeing these lime stone cliffs.

We stopped at Alton Marina at 1030 and got a slip for the night. All the staff and seasonal boaters here are very friendly. There is a pool and 2 hot tubs to use. Not only does this marina have floating docks, but all the buildings, the fuel dock, and even the pool float. When ever any flood waters come, it just floats up on poles.

 

 

 

Just outside of the marina there is a very big park with a amphitheater. Tonight they are having a Jimmy Buffet tribute. You know we will be attending that.