Monday: Ran the generator just long enough to make coffee. Then we had engines running by 08:05 and anchor up by 08:15, called for either north or south Tows in the area and there were none so we were on our way.
At Mile Marker 24 we met the largest Tow and barge since starting our trip-28 barges and 3 engines on the Tow. What a backwash! Big enough to capsize a 20' boat if behind it; turbulence 4-5' high and it lasted a good mile and a half behind it. I always wave at Tows and this time right after my wave I got one flash of the light in reply. Pretty cool. I had been smelling smoke for the last 10 miles or so and when we got to Mile 24 there were 2 huge fires in the area; smoke so strong it gave me a headache; glad to be past it.
Mile 4 is one of the worst bends in the Upper Mississippi according to Fern. This is a sharp, narrow, bend with underwater dikes to prevent the bend from filling up with sand but it didn't work and all it did was create huge whirlpools and stronger currents and you do not want to meet a large barge going through it. We called to see if any barges were coming and there were 2 so we had a 45 minute wait before it was safe to go on.
Cairo, IL, where the Ohio River, Mile 0, meets the Upper Mississippi is a very busy commercial barge port. We saw 35 to 40 Tows and at least 1,000 barges. Cairo is also a Vessel Training Center. This marks the end of the first phase of our trip. Good bye Mississippi and Hello Ohio. What a difference in the 2 rivers. It looks like someone drew a line separating them. The Ohio is very clear and clean.
We anchored on the Ohio at Mile Marker 965.5 close to the Kentucky side. Originally we were told we could tie up to the new Olmstead Lock under construction but when we got there they said no. It was a nice anchorage and a peaceful night. Olmstead Lock under construction pictured.
Degrees_Minutes_Seconds
Lat
Lat
N37 14 9917
Long
W89 31 1282
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