September 27, 2013

Did errands this morning, like washing clothes, it has been two weeks since we left home and two weeks tonight we've been sleeping on the boat.  Dryer didn't work so had to bring the sheets and towels and other clothes back to the boat.  Lesson for today is to do Laundry in the morning so it will have time to dry.  Curt set up a rope from the mast pole inside the boat to both of the winches on the top side of the boat.  Our boat looked like a "Chinese laundry".  Felt real humid down in the salon(inside of the boat).  Wind was blowing hard today so didn't want to hang too much on the life lines in fear we would loose some underwear.  No underwear overboard drills today!  Went through 3 lock and dams today so had to pull the cover over the hatch so the lock/dock boys didn't get a eye on my underwear:)  We passed mile marker 344 today, 500 miles since we left Minneapolis.  First dam today was a bollard dam where we had to wrap a rope around the Bollard and they dropped the water 40 feet before opening the gait to get out. That was a little scaring but now we're old pros.  We started seeing big fish jumping by the boat in the water and thought hmm that's weird/scarry.  I was down in the salon cooking lunch, heard a big bang on the side of the boat, Curt and I looked at each other, he driving the boat in the cockpit.  He asked what I dropped and I asked him what he hit.  Didn't see any logs but he moved to the center of the green and red buoy lines.  I kept listening to see if water was coming in the bottom of the boat or if we were sinking and then I heard another loud thunk on the side of the boat.  Curt turned to see if he saw anything come up after passed over it.  Then something jumped way out of the water and made a big splash beside the boat.  Hmm, wonder if it was those big carps they talk about jumping out of the water into peoples boats.  Saw more splashes on down the river beside the boat but never what came out of the water.  Boat wasn't sinking so guess we're okay.
Had a pasta/fresh veg. salad for lunch, was good and filling.  French toast for breakfast, yummy.  Waves were 2-3 feet and wind blowing ?10-20 knots, didn't make good time so decided to pull into Quincy, Ill. at the Quincy Boat Club, folks were nice, having a pork sandwiches and the fixings, beer for $1.00.  Can't beat a deal like that.  Motor still won't shut off unless we disconnect it from the gas tank.  Went for a long walk, neat old buildings, first Negro priest preached at a Catholic church here was trained in Rome in the late 1800's and then returned here to breach, long boat ride huh?  Saw part of the antenna on exhibit here that was one of the Twin Towers in New York, apparently the antenna was manufactured here in Quincy, Ill.  Was in the 80's today, laundry dried in and on the boat on the river. Yea!  Clean sheets YEA!  The folks here at the Boat Club said yes it was the Asian Carp that had most likely hit our boat and we were lucky they haven't jumped in the boat, because they're big, slimmy and sometimes they hit people in the head, knock them out and they sometimes will fall out of their boat and drown.  They said the Asian Carp will probably get worse as we go down river, when they jump in the boat they make a mess cause they bleed so easy.  Something to look forward to as we go down river.  Bet you can't wait to see a picture of one in our boat!  We saw only 3 Bald Eagles today.  Folks here say they were taken off the endangered list last year.

our slip/anchorage at Keokuk Yacht Club

Narrow passage in and out, Curt did a good job getting us in and out with the high winds.  We weren't the show again today!

Lock 20, we dropped 40 ft, look closely, on the back of the Lock gait there is a man standing with zoom in on picture below.

Leaving the lock and going under the swing bridge and car bridge.

Drying laundry on the life lines

Came across this tug turning the barge around along the river edge and heading across to the other side as picture shown below, it was a car carrier across the Mississippi!

September 26, 2013

Talked with a couple of boat mechanics and researched the internet, to know avail.  Supposed a Nissan dealer down the river.  11 am, we left, nice calm sunny day but wind blowing out of the south so no sailing today.  By 12:30 wind picked up 8-10 knots and by 4:30 white caps on the waves.  Pulled into the Keokuk Yacht Club for the night.  Once again nice people, gave a tour of the boat again.  Decided to join this club after suggestion from one of the members.  Hope he's right and we'll be able to get into other Marinas for a one night stay free.  Nice club they happened to have Texas Hold'em night and tacos.  Shower felt good and nice internet.  Quiet group compared to last night.
Saw 3-4 Bald Eagles today.  We did it before we got your email Bob, we'll see if it works for us.

September 25, 2013

Left Muscatine around 7:50, wind still out of the north, got to sail till noon, till we had to go thru a Lock and Dam.  Wind blowing out of the southeast so we motored the rest of the way to Burlington, Iowa.  Ended up going to a private marina since we got stuck in the mud coming into Bluff Harbor Marina.  Had three gentlemen watching us from the Private Marina.  Denny said just turn and park here with us and we'll show you our Yacht Club.  So he helped us with the ropes after we got out of the mud.  Got into the talk, tied up the ropes and the motor wouldn't shut off.  After pulling both emergency kill switches, the motor kept running, after pulling the gas hose off of the motor it finally quit about the same time Curt took the hood off.  We were the show today and the three guys enjoyed it watching from above.  Promised Denny I would buy him a beer for helping us get in and offering the slip for the night to us.  So finally went up to visit with the three guys who got an early start on the happy hour.  Denny was so kind to offer us drinks and Larry offered what was left of a burnt pizza, wonder why they didn't offer the popcorn.  After much discussion, never figured out why the engine won't quit.  More drinks didn't help but their stories entertained us.  Larry and Denny obviously have been friends for a long time.  The other gentleman left early, wish I could remember his name, he was also very nice.  Larry said we weren't as "nerdy" as he thought while watching us role the ropes in a circle on the dock.  Cheryl and Greg stopped buy to visit and have drinks, before you know it, somehow got dark and became 11pm.  God I am sure intended us to be the show for these 3 guys and we were blessed by their hospitality and jokes.  Super group of people at this private yacht club.  Thanks Greg for the boat mechanic suggestion, he wasn't sure either but gave Curt some suggestions.  Wish we could be at your barbeques and dances, the best on the river so far.

a tug with Sheryl's name on it

made it under the bridge

 

one happy sailer

just with the sails 6.3 knots,not bad

One white bird with the mallard and other baby ducks outside of Muscatine Marina

cool house at the top of the bluff, leaves are starting to turn here, just left Muscatine, Iowa

Chicken,veg. and pasta for lunch yummm

guess who had to take this picture, what you don't see along the river

looking back today

The Great River bridge by Muscatine

Curt trying to figure out the motor's problem, guess it just doesn't want to stop for the night!

more fall trees, cool house overlooking the river

lots of house on cement stilts

caught my calf on the side of the boat getting out a couple of days ago, bruise went down to the arch of my foot, lots of mosquito or chigger bites too.

Fort Madison, no one on the boat

neat old houses at Fort Madison

Looking back

Town started by the Mormons in 1800's.

Sept. 24,  2013

Had a good night sleep after moving over to another dock with electricity.  Met John in the morning since we were parked beside his trawler, nice boat, big.  He invited us to breakfast at HyVee so I could get provisions.  Didn't think we needed much but did find a few thinks that were not an absolute need but good to have.  Had a wonderful visit with John, hope to see him this winter in Az. and the Viking radio controlled boat he's making.  Finally left Rock Island around noon, John noticed wind turned out of the North.  We left seeing a smile on his face knowing we would be able to sail most of the day.  He mentioned several times that he was a sailer originally.  Thanks John, wish we would have taken you to Muscatine and let your friend bring you back to Rock Island.  Thanks for the suggestion to stop at the Marina there.  No gas used today except to get into the Marina.  Nice to have the engine off and just sail, speed was 2.2 to 6.3 knots.  Walked around the town and stopped for a salad and hamburger.  Neat old churches.  Spent some time at the library to catch up with friends on the internet.  Did you know Orion Clemens was a journalist at the newspaper and later his brother Sam came at the age of 18, ran the press, set the type and was a journalist.  Sam was Mark Twain for some of you who don't remember.  Everyday we learn something!

Saturday Sept. 21, 2013

Had a beautiful day after a nice night in Guttenberg Marina.  Made almost 78 miles today,  Had the jib up most of the day with a north wind.  Temp. finally son and warmer weather. Saw 38 Bald Eagles today, they are so majestic.  Anchored in off water a litte ways from Sabula, Iowa. 

 

Monday Sept 23, 2013

Curt came across John is was a super kind talkative gentleman and found out we could get a Quimby's book which has a lot more information than our maps have at the visitor center up river approx. 2-3 miles on Arsenal Island where Fort Armstrong was built.  Judy came to say good morning as we were pumping up the tire in Curts bike.  Found out our tire pump wouldn't pump it up all the way.  Jack took Curt to a gas station with the bike in the back of his little/big car and brought him back with the bike ready to go for our exercise trip to the visitor center.  It was a beautiful ride along the river on a bike path, we are told it goes 50 miles up the river.  Judy and Jack are docents at  Col. Davenport's house a little ways from the visitor center on Arsenal Island.  So we went  for the historic tour of his home with explanation by Jack and Judy of different artifacts that had been collected and their uses. I liked the tool to tighten up the rope under the bed, where sleep tight came from and of course with feathers or corn husks in the bed, came don't let the bed bugs bite.  The house was built in 1833 and redone in early 1900., neat house and tour.  Jack and Judy graciously offered to take us and our bikes to another museum with old guns, Curt was sad  that it was closed today.  So then our ANGELS took us and our bikes back downtown so we could ride and tour there.  Otherwise we had to walk our bikes while on Arsenal Island  which was about a mile again since we did not have bicycle helmets and would get a fine for riding without them.  Rode around had a hamburger and fries at Bennigans then came back to the Marina, decided to spend another night since it was late.  Met John again, had a nice visit, offered his car so we could go get provisions if we needed them.  Such nice people.  Thanks to our Angels Judy and Jack for their kindness and good hospitality.  God certainly blessed us here, guess that is why the other spots didn't work.  We are reminded he is in charge not us.  Was given a verse yesterday at the gas station.  Mark 10:27..All things are possible with God.  He has provided safe  harbors in the night or almost night.