Bob's cousin Harry from Victoria, British Columbia was with us for a week.
Jan, roping onto a bollard in a lock.
Beautiful sunset on the Illinois River.
We finally started down the Illinois River from Chicago the middle of September. We had cousin Harry with us down the Illinois, through Peoria (had to stop a few days for Bob to show us his alma mater at Bradley U).
We entered the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis, left the boat there for a few weeks while we traveled back to Chicago, then Denver for a quick home leave.
Once we got back to St. Louis, Jerry and Cristina Kemper joined us for the thrilling ride down the Mississippi. We passed tows with up to 35 barges (5 wide by 7 long). I do not know how the tow captains keep these all together.
This is a mooring cell used by the tow boats and barges on the larger rivers. We had to tie up to it one night. No marinas in sight that day.
We left the Mississippi and took a short trip up the Ohio River to the Tennessee. We stayed at a beautiful area on Lake Barclay at Green Rivers, KY. A quick trip to Nashville was in order. We got to hear a little country music, and visit the Opryland Hotel, then said goodby to Jerry and Cristina. Bob took a fast trip back to Denver for the World Series (go Rockies).
We headed down the Tennessee river to some very nice spots. A Jack Nicklaus golf course in the tiny town of Clifton TN
Grand Harbor Marina and Resort at Fulton MS, with a side trip to the Shiloh Civil War sight.
This is an 84' lock on the Tombigbee River, we just hang on tight while they let the water out.We are now in a calm and quiet area of the Tombigbee on the Alabama side. We will leave the boat here for a couple of months while we go home for the holidays. We are only 300 miles from completing the loop in Mobile Bay. We have traveled over 5000 miles on these waterways.
We still have to pinch ourselves to believe that we have made this journey. Just will hate to see it end.
