Tuesday, September 16

The morning dawned sunny, and we took it as a good sign.  We had docked Sea Fever on a dock where we were able to drive the boat out, rather than back it out, and turn it around.  We ended up going through two locks and three swing bridges.

As we went through the town of LeClaire, IA, the American Queen (click the link to see pictures of the inside) passed us on its way up river. At our last stop, Clinton, IA, they were planning a big welcome party on the river front. Apparently, the captain is from Clinton.  Click here to see the local coverage.  Gosh, that boat is huge.  As you know from our previous posts, going under bridges (and power lines) is a scary endeavor for us.  We just wonder how something that massive gets under those bridges and power lines!  For those of you who live in the Twin Cities, the American Queen will be in St. Paul, probably at the landing down by our house.  They sometimes give tours.



The American Queen paddle wheel on its way to Clinton, IA

As we approached Lock and Dam 14, in Pleasant Valley, IA, we were hailed on the hand held  radio, by a guy who asked us to change the radio channel to 68.  Apparently, we had motored past his house, and he was monitoring radio communications, and had questions about Sea Fever.  Tim chatted with him a bit about the boat, and where we were headed. They talked about our diesel engine, and mileage, and the like. And then signed off.

As we approached the lock, we hailed the lock master to ask for passage through the lock.  As fate would have it, there was a tow boat with several barges in the lock, and we were informed that there would be a wait time of 45 minutes or more (turned out to be about 2 hours before we entered and left the lock.)

About five minutes later, a duck boat came out of the shores of the Illinois side of the Mississippi river.  Sure enough, it was the guy on the radio and he had figured that we had some time to kill while waiting for the lock, and just came out to chat!  He sat in his boat, we sat in ours, and he and Tim chatted more about motors, and boat weight, and the like.  Turns out that he used to be a towboat captain. And every now and then, he is asked to fill in as a towboat captain

So, our next challenge was Lock and
Dam # 15.  As we looked down the river we couldn't see the dam.  Then we saw a towboat and barges ahead of us,  and it appeared that the lock was topped with a car bridge and the railway swiong bridge was atop that! 

As it turned out, the lock had two bays, so the barge went in the bigger one.  The highway bridge was a swing bridge as well, so all traffic stopped for us.  The most empowerment of the journey!  And the railway bridge was hailed, and opened, as if by magic. 

After taking about an hour to enter at Lock and Dam 15, we decided not to travel the next 20 miles...another possible 3 hours, to the marina that we hoped to be docked next.  We chose the closer one...a nice, municipal marina, in Rock Island, IL  We docked, were done with paperwork by 5, had a gin and tonic, chatted with a neighbor sailor in the marina, who wanted to know all about our boat.  Had dinner.  Are fairly certain that we will anchor out Wednesday night, as the marinas look iffy.  We shall see.

Housekeeping thoughts:

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Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

Katrhy and Tim