It rained all day after we got to Alton, IL, which is just north of St Louis so we toured the dam and the first lock we had to go through. The next morning we set out bright and happily looking forward to locking through until we had to wait 2 hrs. for barges to lock through and then the whole locking experience is scary the first time. Once we were out and on our way down the mighty Mississippi River, we found the river was running ten feet higher than usual with lots of storm crap to avoid.
Logs the width of telephone poles, large branches and then just assorted crap kept Gary busy steering unable to use autopilot because he had to try to find a spot of river with only debris that wouldn't ruin the engine or rudder. We flew be St. Louis right at the base of the arch but there is NO place to tie up and visit the lovely city.
We had to make it to Hoppie's Marina, an iconic place consisting of 5 barges that boaters can tie up to and refuel. This is the only place to refuel for the next 107 miles and the only marina for the next 228 miles. We got there Friday night about 6:30 unaware that it was Pot Luck Night so we lamely brought chips and feasted on numerous casseroles and salads.
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