Great Loop Day 048 Oct 15, 2016. McEvers Island Anchorage to Alton Marina, Illinois
McEvers Island Anchorage to Alton Marina, Illinois
“One who knows the Mississippi will promptly aver—not aloud, but to himself—that ten thousand River Commissions, with the mines of the world at their back, cannot tame that lawless stream, cannot curb it or confine it, cannot say to it, Go here, or Go there, and make it obey; cannot save a shore which it has sentenced; cannot bar its path with an obstruction which it will not tear down, dance over, and laugh at.”
― Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi
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Day 48 Saturday, Oct 16, 2016. The Sea Marie touches the waters of the mighty Mississippi River. 64 miles from McEvers Island anchorage to Alton Marina in Alton Illinois. The hard way. I was fighting the winds and waves on the last part of the Illinois River. Guess the river didn't want me to leave on a happy note. Instead, she showed me how mean and nasty she could be.
The anchorage behind McEvers Island was a wonderful spot. Channel was about 60 ft at its widest and where I stayed 25- 30ft wide and 9 to 10 ft deep with a gentle moderately fast current. I see why the guidebooks recommend a stern anchor. Once the bow anchor was set I threw out the 4-pound lunch anchor as I like to call it, pulled it in to set it, tied it off and I stayed in that spot all night long, didn't waver one bit. Set the anchor alarm on my phone app and slept like a log. Didn't feel any wobble or any movement onboard. On the other hand, getting that bow anchor out of the mud was a daunting task.
Leaving that anchorage was my last flat water for most of the day. Winds from the south at 10 to 20 mph kicked up a nasty chop that had me cursing and swearing to no avail. With that out of my system, it was time to take an intelligent approach. There has got to be a way to beat this river at her game. Maybe if a barge was going downriver I could get behind and follow its flattened wake but all the barges I have seen were heading upstream. A few powerboats were going too fast to make any difference. I noticed most of the higher waves were in the center of the river so I stayed to the shallower sides. Still taking a beating and the spray was very annoying.
Studying the navigation app I noted most of the islands had side channels deep enough to get through. Mortland island was coming up. A narrower channel used for anchorage may be suitable. The river level is higher so the depth would be also. Turning to starboard I entered the channel and yes, the waves were significantly diminished. My speed increased now that the boat was in flatter waters, being extra vigilant for downed trees, wing dams, and shoals. 12 Mile Island is next. Again better conditions and more scenic as well. The river started to turn east and that made the going easier. But I lost a lot of time. I had calculated traveling at an avg of 7 mph would place me in the Mississippi around 1 pm however my overall average was less than 6.4mph.
Could the extra current in the Mississippi help improve my speed? I had no idea until I got there. Each slight course correction east was decreasing the waves. By the time I hit Pere Marquette State Park, the waves were gone and the river flattened. Soon the Mississippi would be under my keel. The navigation app listed the mileage that corresponded to the mileage markers posted onshore. The Illinois River starts at mile 0 at Grafton, Illinois. After that, I had 15 miles to go on the ole Miss till Alton, Illinois. At Grafton, it becomes Mile 218 of the Mississippi on down to where the confluence of the Ohio River meets at Cairo, Illinois to become Mississippi River Mile 0. Then I stick my left arm out to make a left turn and buck the current up the Ohio River.
Cell phone reception was an issue. My AT&T phone was without service for a portion of an hour near Hardin then back on near Grafton. This may be a problem further on down as I get to less populated areas.
My navigation app shows Grafton coming up and the first thing that strikes me is the sandstone bluffs. They are huge! And a welcoming site. I'm coming up to Illinois River Mile 0 and then I see the Mississippi River on my right. It's big and when the 2 rivers meet my speed dramatically increases from 7 to 9.2mph. I'm ecstatic! Goodbye Illinois River. You have been a challenge I'll never forget. I've gained a good deal of knowledge piloting your waters now I will use that to get me through the next portion of this fantastic voyage. The Sea Marie has been an outstanding voyager to travel the Great Lakes and these mighty rivers. And together with my intrepid frolicking feline, Mickey, we'll be going further to explore this great waterway all the way to the Gulf of Mexico in the coming weeks.
A couple of words about Alton Marina; Wow and Wow! Amazing place with great staff. Yes, I'll spend an extra day here getting more provisions and getting my mindset for more adventures. Until then... Fair Winds and gentle seas.
Comments from 2016:
Bob Meredith, You’re booming down the Mississippi! If you happen to spot Huck and Jim, tell them "Howdy" for me!
Henry Krzemien RN Oh, I will Bob, I'll tell them you said hello.
Lori Norris Looking forward to your posts!
Bronwen Somerset, I hope you're keeping a journal of all your adventures, so the grandkids can read it when they're older. Take care.
Henry Krzemien RN Think of my posts as rough drafts. FB never forgets.
There was standing room only on the mezzanine level log where the local residents huddled to get a good look at the Sea Marie and her intrepid crew.
We cross three ferry services, one at Brussels near Grafton, one in Grafton, and this one across the Illinois River in Kempsville, Illinois.
This one is called Brussels Ferry south dock.
The hillside on the Illinois shore is punctuated with stately homes.
Bob Tales passing me on the Illinois River. We’ll be meeting up with them later downriver.
Not the White Cliffs of Dover
And there on the right is where the Mississippi River meets the Illinois River.
Alton, Illinois where the floating multi-story Argosy Casino makes her home.
As the world-renowned physics wizard Professor Mickey works on his version of the String Theory.
Alton Marina is more like a spa than a marina. Note the height of the pilings holding the floating dock from being swept away.
Greetings from Alton Marina!
“All the Upper Mississippi region has these extraordinary sunsets as a familiar spectacle. It is the true Sunset Land: I am sure no other country can show so good a right to the name.” Mark Twain. Life on the Mississippi
Must be a problem with Substack? Subscribed but can’t get past day 48.