Alton Marina in Alton, IL to Hoppies Marina in Kimmswick, MO

Day #89: Up at 5:15 A.M we prepared the boat for departure. At 6:30 A.M. Mike called the Melvin Price lock via phone and we were given the green light to get underway heading toward the lock. We were underway at 6:45 A.M. we lost a bumper on the way out of the marina as it caught on the dock. There were a total of 6 boats that left Alton Marina. At 7:00 A.M. we entered the auxiliary lock of the Mel Price lock (Lock #9) with "Baytripper", "Blue Moon", "Optimystique", "Houligan again" and "Maggie". At 7:15 A.M. we were cleared from the lock as we were lowered 23 feet. As we entered the Mel Price Lock there was debris in the water and this continued throughout our trip. The current was extremely strong with Mike having to constantly be aware of where the boat was heading. We were constantly trying to avoid trees and branches. At 8:35 A.M. we entered the Chain of Rocks Lock #27 (Lock #10). We were clear heading southbound at 9:00 A.M. and we were lowered 12 feet.  At 9:20 A.M. we were at Port of St. Louis. At 9:24 A.M. we traveled past the St. Louis arch. At 10:30 A.M. we were traveling 13.2 miles per hour at times getting up to 13.9 miles per hour. As we approached Hoppies Marine, Debbie (Fern's daughter) and Ray directed us into tying up at on the barge. At 11:15 A.M. we were secure at Hoppies Marine in Kimmswick, MO We traveled 42.4 miles today (1,017 miles for the total trip). At 12:15 P.M. we headed to the Blue Owl for lunch we were joined by "Houligan again" Ray and Caryl when we got to the restaurant. The owner came over to welcome us to Kimmswick and to the Blue Owl. Mike had chicken and dumplings and I had southern fried chicken. The Blue Owl is well known for it's desserts so I bought pumpkin cheesecake that Mike and I are going to split.  At 2:30 P.M. we headed over to "Baytripper" where we discussed our travel plans for the next few weeks. We also played cards enjoying the air conditioning. We went to the captain's talk with Debbie (Fern's and Hoppie's daughter) she talked about the trip from Kimmswick to Green Turtle Bay Marina. There is a possibility of fog in the morning so we are going to see what it looks like before we leave and that will determine how many miles we travel tomorrow. We connected with Bruce and Bev on their boat for a bit with drinks and snacks. Back to the boat for blogging and reading.

"Parrot Bay" exiting the Melvin Price Lock (thanks to Bev for taking this picture).

Chain of Rocks this is the where you do not want to go as there are rocks that will wreck your boat. You need to follow the sign (see below). 

                   Believe or not people to do always follow the sign. They end up having to have                                                                    help to get your boat out of trouble.

This is the chain of rocks canal this is what the sides of the canal look like as you travel down to the lock.

                                         There were numerous eagles both juvenile and adult.

The St. Louis Arch

"Parrot Bay" traveling past the arch.

                                                 Trip from Alton, IL to Kimmswick, MO

"Parrot Bay" tied up at Hoppies.

"'Baytripper" coming into the fuel dock at Hoppies.

                                                   "Parrot Bay" tied up to the barge. 

Mike helping Patty to go between two barges to go to lunch.

Very popular place for Loopers to eat. The owner even came over to welcome us.

At The Blue Owl: Bruce, Ray, Caryl, Patty and Bev.

Patty's lunch Southern Fried Chicken dinner.

Heading back to the boat down the ramp to the floating barges.

Debbie (pink shirt) is Fern and Hoppie's daughter, hosting the captain's talk.

Captain's talk at Hoppies.

Not good when the buoys go floating down the river.

Another view of Hoppie's from "Baytripper"

Alton Marina in Alton, IL

Day #88: Up at 6:20 A.M. 2 load of laundry started before coffee and grapefruit. At 8:00 A.M. we met Bruce and Bev at the marina restaurant for breakfast. French toast and bacon with homemade maple syrup (YUM!). Bruce headed off to return the rental car. Bev, Mike and I walked to the farmer's market here in Alton. Mike purchased a leather knife holder. We headed back to the boat, folded the laundry before heading for the showers. Bruce and Mike starting to work on our plans after we leave Green Turtle Bay. Bev and Bruce have a wedding so we are looking for a place where they can leave "Baytripper" and where Mike and I can stay until they return. We are also working on pre-departure jobs ahead of leaving on Sunday morning. Mike made popcorn ahead of us going to the planning meeting with the boats that will be leaving with us on Sunday. At 3:00 P.M. we had 8 boats represented at the planning meeting but only 6 of us will be leaving on Sunday. Mike and I headed back to the boat to watch Michigan and Northwestern. Michigan has trailed most of the game but won 20-17. Planning on a quiet evening watching Ohio State and Penn State. Planning to be up at 5:15 A.M. to get the boat ready for departure.

Yummy breakfast!

Mike and I heading to meet Bev for the farmer's market.

Farmer's market here in Alton.

Popcorn for the game.

Planning meeting for departure on Sunday.

Alton Marina in Alton, IL

Day #87: Up at 6:20 A.M. for coffee, We met Bruce and Bev at 8:00 A.M. in the marina store/restaurant for breakfast. We all chose the French toast as Mike had brought the homemade maple syrup that we had bought at a farmer's market in Sheboygan, WI. We had a great breakfast. Mike went over to help Bruce finish the dinghy motor project. I headed over to "Baytripper" the guys were just putting the final touches on the dinghy motor they took it out for a spin, While Bruce and Mike were in the dinghy Mike took our depth sounder out to determine water depths in the marina. Not much water here in the marina basin. Mike and Bruce dug into Bruce's generator issues as Bruce would like to get that fixed before we start anchoring this week. At 11:00 A.M. Bruce needed a oil filter for the generator so the four of us decided that we would combine a trip to get the filter with a trip to the grocery store to provision for the next week. We headed for Godfrey, IL to the NAPA store where Bruce was able to find the oil filter that he was looking for to use for the generator. We stopped at Ruler Foods which is like a Sav-A-Lot they have name brands and Kroger brands. We were able to get our groceries. We headed back to the boats. Mike and I put away the groceries then had lunch aboard. Mike headed over to see if he could lend Bruce a hand with the generator. I worked on blogging and paperwork. Mike headed back to "Parrot Bay" we sat up on the flying bridge. At 4:00 P.M. we headed up to the pavilion for docktails we were joined by "Baytripper", "Tyche", "Miss Utah", "Sunshine Rose" and "in HIS time". The winds picked up about 6:30 P.M. everyone headed back to their boats. At 6:50 P.M. Bev texted wondering if we wanted to take the rental car to the casino for a couple of hours so we joined them, I won $54.57. We had pizza for dinner at the casino. Time now for blogging and reading.

Bruce starting up the motor out of the water.

Bruce and Mike going to go for a ride in the dinghy.

Motor battery needed a boost.

There they go!!!

Mike checking water depths while out with Bruce in the dingy.

"The Piasa Bird" a fearsome monster known as the Piasa once terrorized the Illin Indians near what is now Alton, Illinois. It ate deer at first, but corpses from a war gave it a taste for human flesh. Swooping down, it would snatch victims in its talons and carry them back to a cliff stone cave, tearing them apart for dinner. The Piasa was essentially forgotten from Alton, Herbert and Orland Forcade, chose a likely cliff and painted what has become the accepted modern version of the Piasa.

                                                                                

We did some grocery shopping here.  It was a combination of brand name and Kroger foods.

To use a cart you need to put in 25 cents when you return the cart you get your money back. We also had to spend 10 cents for a plastic bag to carry our food out of the store.

As we move down the rivers the houseboats are getting fancier.

Great night out with friends, I can't believe that Mike actually went to the casino!

Alton Marina in Alton, IL

Day #86: Up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit and gingersnaps. Mike checked the strainers on the boat they were both clean. Mike stopped over to "Baytripper" Bruce and Bev made it back safe. Mike and I cleaned the boat. Bruce and Bev took family out for a ride on their boat. I got a text from Bev as they were coming back into the marina "need help now". Mike headed over to help that is when he found out that they were coming in on one engine. Bruce did great bringing in the boat to the dock. Mike and I headed back to our boat, Bev and Bruce headed to lunch with their family, Mike saw Bruce getting back on the boat he mentioned going over to see if he could help with the engine issue at the same time I got a text from Bev inviting us over. Mike and Bruce worked through the issue with the engine and they believe that they have it fixed. Mike and Bruce than started working on removing the trolling motor from the dinghy and putting on the 25 horse motor onto the dinghy. At 7:30 P.M. they guys were 95% done with getting the motor hooked back up to the dinghy we decided that we were going to go out to eat. We hopped in Bruce and Bev's yellow Dodge Charger rental car heading to "Bluff City Grill" for dinner. We had a great meal with Bruce and Bev. We headed back to the marina. Mike and Bruce made a plan for the morning to finish up the dinghy motor project but first we decided that we were going to have breakfast at the diner here at the marina.

The Alton Marina is operated by Parrot Pointe Marina, Inc.

Bruce and Mike working on the 25 horse motor.

  Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 28, 1918-July 15, 1940) also known as the Alton Giant and      the Giant of Illinois, was an American who became famous as the tallest person in recorded  history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. He was 8 foot 11.1 inches.

Dinner at the Bluff City Grill which is very close to the Alton Marina.

Bruce and Bev's rental car. Nice ride!

Grafton Harbor in Grafton, IL to Alton Marina in Alton, IL

Day #85: Rain overnight but nothing severe. Up at 6:30 A.M. for coffee, grapefruit and gingersnaps. We watched the local news. Cool and sunny outside this morning. We waited for Grafton Harbor Marina to open so that we could return their power pigtail at 9:00 A.M. At 9:05 A.M. we started the engines and at 9:15 A.M we were underway. At 9:25 A.M. we were at the confluence buoy where the Illinois and Mississippi rivers meet. We were averaging 11.5-12.0 miles per hour with the current push.  Normal speed is 8.5 without the current push. "Baytripper" texted they are on their way back to Alton from Minnesota. We passed under the Clark Bridge and right after going under the bridge we turned going back under the bridge a second time to access the marina. We were stirring up mud on our way into the marina, Mike followed the marina's instructions to stay to the left when entering the channel and we didn't bump the bottom on our way into the channel. We were assigned J-20 but it was a covered slip since the dockhand had not shown up we went into J-24 which was an uncovered slip. I used the "Jesus" line snagging the cleat on the dock and getting the line to the mid cleat on the boat. The dockhand showed up just as Mike was getting off the boat we were told that we didn't need to move to a different slip. We are right under the Clark Bridge. We traveled 16.0 miles today (974 miles for the trip so far). At 12:35 P.M. Mike and I went for a walk in downtown Alton. There is a very nice walking path and foot bridge to get to the downtown. Alton is full of bars and antique stores. The lady in the office told us that the grocery store will pick us up and bring us back to the marina but that it wasn't the safest to walk to the grocery store. After walking the town Mike and I headed back to the boat sitting up on the flying bridge. We can see the Melvin Price Lock and Dam from the flying bridge. We will be able to call on Sunday morning to see about locking through if for some reason there is a wait we can stay at the marina in our slip until it is time. Jim stopped by he is local gentleman boater whose son watches AIS for boats coming into the marina then he sends his dad to meet the boaters. We visited with Jim for a bit he is very knowledgeable of the river system. Roger from "Miss Utah" stopped by to say "hi". He kept his boat in Bay City at Skipper Buds during the winter months. Mike made his roast beef, green pepper and cheese sandwiches for dinner. Fellow loopers Jay and Penni from "Tyche" whose boat is next to "Parrot Bay" got back from their bus tour of St. Louis so we talked to them for a bit. We are now in for the evening for blogging, boat jobs, cribbage and reading.

                                                                                     

                              Looking down the Mississippi branch as it joins the Illinois River.
 

Confluence buoy where the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers join.

                                                                                

                                      Beautiful limestone cliffs between Grafton and Alton.      

   

Tug "Coral Dawn" with the limestone cliffs in the background.

White pelicans

                                            Alton's Clark Bridge with the ACLCA burgee.

Argosy Casino from the river. 

Going under the Clark Bridge the first time to get to the marina.

Turning "Parrot Bay" around now going back under the Clark Bridge to get to the marina that is right under the bridge.

Grafton, IL to Alton, IL

Check out the bathrooms and shower rooms here at the marina. They even give you towels to use.

                               "Parrot Bay in her slip right under the Clark Bridge in Alton.

Lighthouse decoration at the Alton Marina.

Argosy Casino from land. It is very colorful.

Alton has multiple streets that are red brick.

Park dedicated to the Lincoln-Douglas Debates.

Statues of Lincoln and Douglas debate.

"Welcome to Alton" with Lincoln-Douglas statues.

Looking down on the town of Alton.

One of the stores that Mike and I walked through while we were checking out the town.

                             From the flying bridge we can see the Melvin Price Locks and Dam.

Mike cooking up roast beef, green pepper and cheese sandwiches for dinner.
 

Clark Bridge lit up this evening. 

Alton Marina lighthouse all lit up this evening.