Grafton IL. to Cumberland Island Towhead KY.

Sept. 23 – Oct. 1 2014

We stayed at Grafton Marina for 6 days waiting for the back log of earlier boats to clear out farther south. The Mississippi River was shut down for several days due to high waters. While at Grafton we did some cleaning on the boat, rode bikes & walked everyday, hung out by the pool and hot tub, took the courtesy van to the grocery store, and met more Loopers.

 

 

 Looking out at the junction of the Ill. & Miss. Rivers.

 

 Grafton marina.

 

 One of several steam driven cars in town for the weekend.

 

 Sunset at Grafton marina. (the rock wall is there to stop the water from washing the marina away)

 

Grafton IL is at mile 0 on the Ill. River so as soon as we left the marina, the water way joined the Miss. River. We traveled on the Miss. River 3 days for a total of 221 miles stopping at Hoppies marina for 1 night and Little Diversion Channel to anchor 1 night. The 3^rd day we turned off the Miss. River onto the Ohio River and anchored right in the river about 200 feet out of the main channel to stay out of the way of the tows and barges which run all night long. Once on the Ohio we traveled 58 miles to the Cumberland River where we are on anchor with 9 other boats.

 

 St. Louis MO

 

 Hoppies marina. Yes this is a marina! 3 barges tied together.

There is a building used for a boaters lounge and fuel is sold here.

 

 One of the tows we passed with 35 barges.

 

 Our anchorage at Little Diversion channel.