Cruising to Kimmswick Missouri

October 18, 2016

It was a very quiet night at Grafton Marina. We woke well rested, hoping for another long mileage day. We passed into the Mississippi River at 7:45 am with Mucho Gusto in the lead. The shoreline south of Grafton has beautiful rock cliffs but we are in wing dam hell. They are everywhere along the route. The first lock we come to is the Mel Price. We lock through quickly but there is so much debris in the lock and at the exit that it appears we can’t get out. We pass under the Historic Alton Suspension Bridge and enter the Chain of Rocks canal with heavy barge traffic. The Chain of Rocks Lock or Lock 27 has two chambers, one big and one small. We will pass through on the small side. As the gates open for our exit we see a huge barge blocking our way. There is only a small area to pass by but both Mucho Gusto and Mystic carefully squeeze through.

The American Queen as we left Grafton Harbor

Following Mucho Gusto to the Mississippi

Cliffs South of Grafton

Mucho Guston going under the Alton Bridge

Argosy Casino Alton Illinois

Alton Illinois

Mucho Gusto entering Chain of Rocks Canal

St. Louis is unique in that it does not have marinas along the city waterfront. The Mississippi runs too fast here, and floods too often. In addition, the Chain of Rocks Lock is the last lock on the Mississippi so the water flows openly from here to New Orleans. Water levels can vary 30 feet in one season. The Waterway Guide warned us to be ready for a crazy ride passing St. Louis. Boy were they right about that! There was so much debris in the water and we were flying downstream at 10 mph carried by the strong current. I stood on the cabin roof right where the mast should stand, holding on for dear life as I watched for deadheads. I’d yell to Dave “Aim to port! Aim to starboard, MORE STARBOARD, MORE STARBOARD!!! The wind wass howling in my face and the AGLCA flag wass whipping back and forth and smacking my right shoulder until I finally grab it and wrap it tightly around the pole holding it flat. We will be glad to get off this river today.

Approaching St. Louis

Deadheads

The St. Louis Arch

Downtown St. Louis

St. Louis Bridge and Arch

Downtown St. Louis Waterfront

St. Louis Waterfront Park

St. Louis Arch

We arrived at Hoppie’s Marina around 3:00. It is home to Charles and Fern Hopkins and has been in business since 1934. They have an interesting setup, a long dock made by securing old barges together. There are no showers and no wifi but it is a safe haven, with electricity and a short walk into the cute little tourist town of Kimmswick, Missouri.

Mystic at Hoppie's Marina, Kimmswick, Missouri