Days 122

Kimmswick, MO - Kaskaskia, IL (Kaskaskia Lock & Dam Wall)

Start 7:45AM
End 11:55 AM
Underway 4:15 Hours
Distance 38 miles
Total Miles on Trip 2199
Av Speed 9 knots
Locks 0
Weather Sunny, 73 Degrees, Wind 10Kn SSW

After being woken up several times during the night from the wakes of passing tows, morning came very early.

Based on the information Debbie gave us in last night's briefing, everyone in our group ( Mark & Karen -Kay Dee, Marvin & Nancy - Crimson Tug , Tom & Val - Wine & Roses and Nothing To Plunder) met on the dock at 7:30am to make sure any fog had lifted so we could plan our departure. The river was clear so everyone agreed it was time to leave. We only had 38 miles to go to reach Kaskaskia Lock & Dam, where we were tying up for the night. Tom and Val in Wine & Roses was the slowest boat, so we let them lead to set the pace. Even going sailboat speed it we arrived before noon. This section of the Mississippi has a very strong current we averaged 9 knots, where they normally only do 6 knots.

There was not much to see on this section of the river that we have not seen for the last 100 miles. We were very surprised after all the tows that we felt go back during the night, that we did not pass any tows while we were under way.

What we did find out later in the day was that there was some type of delay at the Chain Of Rocks Locks, that we went through yesterday, and all of the loopers that went there turned around and went back to Alton Marina. One of the tows (Angela K) that passed us at 3:00am, arrived at the lock at 6:30am, and did not get through the lock until 2:30pm. At one point there were 65 barges waiting to go through the lock.

In order to stay on the Kaskaskia lock wall, you must radio the lockmaster and ask for permission. Once granted you have to report your boat length, home port, destination, and number of people on board. We have no idea why they want this information, but since most federal locks do not allow you to tie up at all, we gladly comply with the rules. There is no electric, or water but it is a secure spot to spend the night. Also other than the wall itself there is nowhere you can get to. Unlike the locks on the Erie Canal, where there is land on either side of the lock, the dam is on one side of the wall, and the lock on the other. Basically the one wall is a concrete island about 20 feet wide. Angel and I did launch the dinghy and went exploring the Mississippi by dinghy.

After our dinghy ride we had a new twist to docktails, we did locktails. We brought our chairs and a table out onto the lockwall and had cocktails and told stories. Dean & Janice (Blue Barnacle) and Gene & Cody (Sweet Pee) joined our group for locktails.

After "locktails" we grilled on the lockwall before turning in for the night. We also got very lucky that we had cell service here. It was even good enough to stream TV, as well as upload photos for the blog. The uploads were painfully slow but they did go.

Tomorrow our group is heading for Little Diversion Channel, to anchor out for the night. For the most part we will be with the same group for the next couple of nights. There are very limited places to stop on this section of the river so everyone tends to go to the same place.