The Great Loop

There isn't much write about this time.  We arrived here at Green Turtle Bay Marina/Resort on Saturday and we are still here.  The management have been very good to us "Canadians" and offered us a deal, we couldn't refuse, to stay.  Besides,  this is a beautiful spot.  Who wouldn't want to stay.  

There are many power boats doing this trip they call "The Great Loop" but, believe it or not, there are only four sailboats that we know of crazy enough to do it.  We often hear....."Oh!  You're on a sailboat!"

What we also hear is, "We used to be sailors but we now have this (big) trawler"   The wives will admit they cried when they sold their beloved sailboat.  The men just solomly nod.  I've even been told more than once that they've bought this boat for solely to do this trip. 

As you know we are not doing the whole loop.  We are only taking this route to get south.  Having said that though, when we get to the bottom of Florida we can say we completed the loop. We took the intercoastal waterway to Florida 6 years ago when we went to the Bahamas.  So there you go.  We're unofficially "Loopers".

Today is another warm beautiful day.  The lake water is a lovely warm 86° F and we are headed to a nice secluded anchorage where we can finally go swimming again.  I can't wait! 

But more about that.....next time.

Ohio River and Cumberland...check✔

It seemed like we just entered the Ohio River when we were leaving it, however, it did take two days.  Two sweltering hot but glorious days!  We didn't realize how tense things were on the Misery-sippi  (I mean Mississippi) until we got off it.  It was so wonderful to just kick back, take in the scenery, and even let the autohelm steer for a bit.  *big sigh*

Yesterday we snaked down the narrow and lovely Cumberland River to Barkley Lake.  The lock that lifted us up to the lake was the tallest lock so far at an impressive 57 feet.   This beautiful, picturesque  lake lay before us when the doors oped at the other end. 

Green Turtle Bay Marina was just around the corner were we are tucked in right now.  The facilities here are first rate with everything you could imagine...even a spa!  .... but we aren't staying long.  We're looking forward to exploring the Kentucky Lakes.

But more about that....next time.

Cumberland River 

Barkley Lock

Sunrise at Green Turtle Bay Marina .. notice the sailboats!

More blue herons 

Cumberland River 

More egrets

Interesting markers entering Cumberland from Ohio River 

Happy as a Clam

We ended up staying on the Mississippi one more night in an anchorage on the side of the river.  The debris was horrendous but by now we were getting used to logs the size of telephone poles brushing against the hull.  By 0700 this morning we had the anchor up and we were on our way.  Forty-five minutes later we were on the Ohio River. Immediately the colour of the water improved to a clearish green and the debris was gone.

Just after the turn we went under a bridge where a transport truck honked at us.  That's when it hit us like a slap in the face.  We did it!  We're doing this!  Heck, we're retired!  We're going south!

We did what anyone would do in our situation.  We cranked up the tunes, made a fresh coffee with a healthy helping of Baileys,  and ate chocolate mint cookies.

I just had to share that.

By the end of the day we will be in Kentucky.  But more about that....next time.

Debris in our last anchorage.  Photo courtesy of Pat and Lynn Lortie Adamant 1

Finally able to relax.

Mississippi Madness

I'm not going to lie.   I'm not going to sugar coat it.  I'm going to tell you like it is and if anyone tells you different, they're lieing.   The Mississippi sucks!

There is a reason why the cruising guides recommend you not take it all the way to New Orleans.   Tomorrow we will be in the Ohio River....thank goodness. . .and it won't be a minute too soon. 

This has been a wild ride dodging logs big enough to have their own zip code while running with a 6 knot current.  On top of that, there are barges everywhere...some throwing a  six foot wake with haystacks behind them.  There are whirl pools and turbulence too but it's all part of the adventure and a means to the end. 

When we hit the Ohio we will have been on the Mississippi for 220 miles; just long enough to say we did it and enough to know we'll never do it again.

Are we still having fun?  You bet!  These hard days lead to awsome happy hours! 

The Kentucky lakes are coming up....but more about that next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodbye Illinois River, Hello Mississippi

 

 

I guess you could say we have hit another milestone. Today we are at mile 0 of the Illinois river, in Grafton, where the Illinois River and the Mississippi meet. According to the guide books we could take the Mississippi all the way to New Orleans but it isn’t recommended because of the strong current and commercial traffic. Instead the safer and more scenic route is to take the Mississippi until we meet the Ohio River. The Ohio leads to the Tenn-Tom Waterway that takes us to Mobile, Alabama.

 

This last stretch of the Illinois river has been extremely lush and wild. We haven’t seen much evidence of civilisation for days except for the odd bridge. The water is still this odd brown colour but that doesn’t take away from the undeniable beauty. It would be perfect if there wasn’t so much debris to watch for or tows to contend with. (come on, you knew that was coming). Navigational aids are just a suggestion and not to be trusted as it is not uncommon for them to be out of place.

 

We are at Grafton Harbour today to fuel up, pump out, do laundry, and stock up before heading down the Mississippi. But more about that....next time.

 

Early morning .. Adamant 1 & Sea Mist

 

 

 

 

Hmm which way do we go?

 

 

 

 

 

 

debris

 

In the middle of nowhere and it looks almost manicured.

 

Every hour or so we pass these.

 

a hitch hiker

 

 

 

more markers out of place

 

Adamant 1 and Sea Mist

We need more pictures of Folly.

 

Never Judge a River by it's Colour

Just as I figured, it seems I was a bit too quick to judge. From my last post you’d think I hated the river. Well....now I can say...it’s growing on me.

Is the river challenging? Yes. Is it dirty? Yes......but is it also stunning in all it’s awesomeness? YES!

This river is home to a tremendous array wildlife and is loaded with fish. I look at the colour of the water and wonder how anything can live in there but fish do. BIG fish! You should see what they pull out of here. And in some spots they jump out of the water all around like salmon going upstream. It’s crazy. I say they are jumping out to get a glimpse of the outside world or maybe to get some oxygen. Like I said before, the water has the look and clarity of chocolate milk.

Last night we stayed in a great anchorage. It was a fantastic little keyhole just off the river that was apparently an abandoned quarry. It was nice and protected, mind you it was very hot. We could watch the barges go by with no worries. We even watched a Riverboat go by, which was a nice treat even if it was just a tourist attraction. It made us feel like we were down south but of course we are not even close even if we are seeing pelicans.

High temperatures are forecasted to remain for the next week or so. We’ve been fortunate that way. It’s helping us acclimatise ourselves for when we do get south. In the meantime, with this heat and a little imagination, I look into the banks of the swollen river and can almost imagine alligators lurking in the shadows.

In between the towns along the Illinois River are miles and miles of wilderness. At least from what we can see. There may be towns just out of sight but, from our vantage point, it appears very remote.. As well, there is a lot of debris in the water to watch for and a strong current to be aware of giving it a wild ambience.

Thankfully we are travelling with the current so we can cruise at an easy 7 - 8 knots! When we finally get to the other end and start sailing again it’s going to seem so slow. I will admit, I won’t care about that as I have a whole new appreciation for sailing these days.

Right now we are tucked away behind an island with Adamant 1 and Sea Mist for the night. In two more days we will be in Grafton where we will meet the mighty Mississippi..... but more about that....next time