Saturday October 11–Monday October 13, 2025
SATURDAY-MONDAY
We’ve left Hoppies cruising roughly 36 miles downstream to spend the night tied up on the Kaskaskia Lock wall. Our little flotilla is still going strong — Jelly Bean and Spirit of Adventure are right alongside us. Millennial Falcon is with us too, though they opted to anchor out on the wide Mississippi for the night. The rest of us veered off the main channel and slipped up the quiet Kaskaskia River to settle in at the lock wall.
Once secured, we dropped the dinghies and set off to explore. We landed on a stretch of Mississippi shoreline, hoping to see what the river might offer up. I’m on the hunt for a particular piece of driftwood — something just right. I didn’t find the perfect one this time, but I did come away with a smaller, promising piece. The sand told its own story: tracks from bobcats, snake, large deer, and birds big and small etched across the banks like a living journal. The venomous snakes here are Cottonmouth and Timber Rattle Snake.
The afternoon was golden — warm, wild, and peaceful. As the sun began to dip, we gathered back at the lock wall for “locktails” — a proper toast to the day’s adventure. Great company, great stories, and that easy camaraderie that only comes from life on the water.
SUNDAY
Today’s leg was about 70 miles—and it started in a soft morning fog that quickly gave way to clear skies. With the current on our side, we made great time, flying downstream with ease.
It was a barge bonanza out there—we crossed paths with at least seven! Big ones, small ones, and everything in between. Each one required a radio call to find out which side they wanted us on. River manners, after all.
The river’s unusually low right now. Those normally submerged wing dams? Yeah, they’re now towering 8 to 10 feet above the waterline. They’re no longer hidden hazards but jagged reminders that the channel is narrower—and the current, swifter.
We wrapped up the day in a peaceful little anchorage called River Diversion Channel. Five boats ended up sharing the quiet space, and it felt like a cozy impromptu community. Greg and Deanna dropped by in their dinghy just before sunset, and we toasted the day’s journey together with a shared drink as the sky turned gold
MONDAY
Turning the Corner – Goodbye Mississippi, Hello Ohio!
Today was another 70-mile run as we pushed toward Cairo and made the big turn up the Ohio River. Before 9 a.m., we’d already met five different barges—talk about a busy morning! One of them was a monster—five wide and seven long. It was like navigating around a floating freight train.
Once we left the Mississippi and started heading upstream on the Ohio, our speedy days came to a screeching halt. Goodbye current boost… hello slow climb. 😅
Going through Cairo was a full-on industrial maze—work barges darting in every direction, towboats spinning massive loads like it was a dance floor. It was chaotic, gritty, and let’s be honest… kind of an eyesore. 🥹 But hey, it’s part of the journey.
About 15 miles up, we’d planned to anchor and wait to lock through in the morning—but luck was on our side! We slipped into the lock with hardly any wait. Smooth sailing (well… locking).
We ended the day anchored just off the channel at Sharps Bar. The river is wide and open here—calm, serene, and just what we needed after a hectic day. We took the dinghy over to Spirit of Adventure and shared a relaxing beverage before heading back for dinner aboard. The night was still, peaceful, and the stars were out in full.
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