The River System

 The River system - Sept 6 - Oct 22

The River system was long, passing through a few states - IL, IN, OH, MO, KY, MS, AL.
We cruised the Illinois, Upper Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and theTennessee-Tombigbee from Chicago, IL to Mobile, AL. 


Calumet River - it was an industrial waste land

Not sure what this pile was, but it glowed!


The lowest fixed bridge on the entire Great Loop
Atchison-Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Bridge (19' 1")



This is it ... we fit under or we turn around!
(We made it!)


Thomas J O'Brien Lock - The first in the river system!




Sand Dollar on the free wall in Joliet, IL


Brandon Lock

Birds are heading south!



Departing Starved Rock Marina at 4:30 AM to make the lock opening at 5:00 AM


Peoria, IL - Illinois Valley Yacht Club



Cruising the Illinois River




Luke getting cooled off


Nautilus and Sand Dollar tied up for the night at Logsdon Tug Service
Beardstown, IL


LaGrange Lock

Cows cooling off!

Making a potty run

He finds sticks no matter where we are!

Heading back to the boat



Such a happy pup!

Nautilus and Sand Dollar at anchor - Willow Island (Illinois River)


Grafton Marina - Grafton, IL, "Key West of the Mid-West"

Kim at the wheel of the marina courtesy van ... a death trap on 4 wheels!

3rd Chute Bar

The Wood Store


Mr Luke keeping cool

Hog Pit BBQ Concert
Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters


Sand Dollar koozie made the wall at 3rd Chute Bar

Hula Hooping at the 3rd Chute

Our new friend Dusty with the Nautilus and Sand Dollar crews

Kim giving her second ever hair cut to this brave man!

The start of the Mississippi River

Mel Price Lock and Dam

Approaching St. Louis



Sand Dollar passing the St Louis Arch

The famous Hoppies, Kimmswick, MO


Heading in to Kimmswick







Hoopies

Hoopies was in tough shape

Kaskaskia Lock

The Mighty Mississippi

Barges!

Olmstead Lock - Ohio River

Cruising up the Ohio River


Paducah, KY - At the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers

Sights from around Paducah


The National Quilt Museum





Silent Brigade Distillery

Moonshine in the making

Ernest - Mason Ramsey's grandfather


Rob, Jill, Kim and Bill


Some of the many murals along the walls of Paducah



Another scenic highlight along the rivers!

Green Turtle Bay resort marina - Grand Rivers, KY




Turtles at Green Turtle Bay


Kim put her pyro skills to work. 20+ loopers sitting around the fire!

Deer were everywhere

Kentucky State Prison along the Cumberland River

Cruising the Cumberland River on our way to Nashville


Nautilus and Sand Dollar anchored for the night at Dover Island (Tennessee)

Another beautiful sunset



The morning potty run



Car Ferry crossing the Cumberland River

Look at those stacks ... I could not resist!

Anchored in the Harpeth River

Taking the dinghy up the Harpeth River



Harpeth River



Goats, goats everywhere along the Cumberland River as we approach Nashville

Barges full of coal on the Cumberland River

Sand Dollar

Luke's 8th birthday video

Luke's birthday party

Back at Green Turtle Bay after Nashville trip

We stopped and anchored near this cemetery on our first day on the Tennessee River 
Many graves from the Civil War here



Duncan Bay

It's a cool tree!

Sunset and Moon rise over Duncan Bay


Cool shore along the Tennessee River

We saw lots of Bald Eagles



Pickwick Lock and Dam



It was cold! 46 degrees!

Morning fog at Pickwick Landing


Nautilus and Sand Dollar at Pickwick Landing (Sulfur Creek)

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway


Drone shot at Jugfish Creek in Natchez Trace Recreation area


More morning fog

Whitten Lock - Biggest drop on the Great Loop (85 ft)


85 ft to the top!







Free dock at Blue Bluff Recreation Area

We had the dock to just us!


A storm is coming ... snuggling with mom

Columbus Marina, Columbus, MS
Covered slip was really cool since it was pouring when we arrived



The ladies pumping out the holding tanks!


Bottle Cap art at a local bar

Armadillo at the Sumter Recreational Area (Alabama)

And of course he finds a nice stick!

More cool shoreline along the TomBigbee River




Demopolis, AL - King Fisher Bay Marina

The crews from Aleka, Avalon, Nautilus and Sand Dollar

Docktails in Demopolis

Nautilus and Sand Dollar at anchor in Bashi Creek (Alabama)


Taking a walk at Bashi Creek

The Famous Bobby's Fish Camp - Bladon Springs, Alabama

8 Looper boats tied up that night


Bobby's resturant ... famous for the Catfish!
(yes, it was delicious!)


Early morning departure from Bobby's Fish Camp

Cruising the Tensas River heading to Mobile

Mobile, Alabama ..... back in salt water after 4 months of fresh water cruising!

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