Tuesday Aug. 27 

41 miles   Hoppies, MO to Kaskaskia Lock, IL

Yesterday at Hoppie’s marina was not only fun but educational. The owner Fern sat down with us and told us what to expect as we traveled farther south. This woman is a wealth of information. She has lived on the river her whole life and knows a lot of tow captains, DNR, coast guard, and other commercial boat captains, who all keep in touch to let her know any changes to the river. Which in turn she passes on to the pleasure boats that stop at Hoppie’s.

 

While at Hoppie’s we met 2 brothers (Stan and Milt Cornelius) that are traveling from Iowa to Alabama by a pontoon boat. Quite the endeavor that their wives said no to. It goes to show you dreams come in all shapes and sizes. You can google "rivertirp13" to read about their adventure.

 

 

 

 

We pulled out of the marina at 0930 to yet another sunny 90+ degree day. Now I know why Michigan never has any sunshine. They hog it all down here lower Illinois. Nice uneventful day on the water. Passed and met several tows but the river is wide enough here we didn’t have to worry. Stopped for the night at the Kaskaskia Lock at 1300. They offer a free tie up on the lock wall for the night. We do not have to go thru this lock and it’s only a short distance off the Miss. River.

 

 Hoppie's marina

 

Kaskaskia Lock IL