Days 52 & 53 - Confluences
Day 52: Tinsel Towhead → Hat Island
Date: August 29th, 2022
URM 263 → URM 235
Distance today: 28 miles
River Time: 10 hours
Countdown to St. Louis: 55 miles
Today called for more headwinds and they weren’t joking. That makes the last 5-6 days all headwind days. As much as I’d like to take 5-6 rest days, I try and chip away at the miles even if I don’t have huge days. Slow and steady.
Imagine my delight when I saw the winds are going to change direction tomorrow! To be neutral or even a tailwind! That makes a big difference out here.
I departed from Tinsel Towhead at 6:30 a.m. and headed out into the wild brown yonder. The winds hadn’t quite picked up yet, but they would in under an hour. It’s still crucial to get out early, as the winds typically steadily pick up from dawn until 3 p.m., then typically taper off around 4 or 5 p.m.
Lock #25 was 22 miles downstream. The main enrichment of the day was again looking at the map, the compass, and the waves in front of me, in order to try and get as much cover from the wind as possible. It worked sometimes.
I was struck by how much the weeds and vines have started to grow up compared to up north. The forests are thick immediately upon entering the woods. Poison ivy, Virginia creeper, and a plethora of other vines fill the spaces between trees.
It was very hard for me to find a lunch spot in this predicament, and I ended up having a floating lunch as I couldn’t find a single decent spot to get out of the canoe. I can’t wait for the nice sandbars past St. Louis!
Lock #25
Lock #25 is old. Like most of the locks on the Mississippi, it was built in the 1920s or 1930s. It has slow valves, slower than the locks I’ve passed through thus far, meaning it takes longer to raise and lower vessels. This was evident today when I radioed 10 minutes ahead of my arrival, as usual, only to find them still raising the chamber when I got there! That has never happened yet. Indeed, because it is only a 600 ft. dam, large tows have to break into two pieces and lock sequentially. This can take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours on Lock #25. I’ve extremely grateful I did not run into a delay at Lock #25 today!
However, the new infrastructure bill that passed has appropriated $732 million to construct a new lock at Dam #25. This one, 1,200 feet long, would be only the fourth one of its size on the Mississippi (joining #19, #26, and #27). In addition, the plan is to keep the current lock. This way if there is a northbound and a southbound tow, they can both be locking through simultaneously.1 Ditto if a canoe rolls up while a tow is already there: no problem, use the old lock! It will be a nice upgrade if it ever comes to fruition.
After Lock #25, I was beat; it had been a long day dodging wind. I began to search for a campsite, since they are more plentiful at the top ends of pools. In about 6 miles I had found my home on Hat Island!
A Few More Photos from the Day
Day 53: Hat Island → Alton, IL
Date: August 30th, 2022
URM 235 → URM 202
Distance today: 33 miles
River Time: 10 hours
Countdown to St. Louis: 22 miles
A short post today, because I am busy busy repacking and resupplying, and generally preparing for life after St. Louis, where there are not as many services.
Today was a stellar day with the wind at my back. I passed the confluence of the Illinois River, and arrived in Alton, Illinois. I am staying at a marina tonight, just 1 mile above Lock #26 (aka Mel Prince Lock) which is the last lock I will go through!
Tonight I am sleeping with a River Angel on a houseboat! I don’t believe I’ve ever slept in a houseboat before. Thanks to Sonny for the hospitality! It’s a pretty sweet setup.
River Log Day 52
249 - Stag Island: RBD, small sandbar tucked away near wingdam. Not ideal but would do in a pinch. At the very head of the island.
237 - Cuivre Island: RBD Good sand near foot of Turkey Island.
235 - Hat Island: LBD, expansive sandbar in low water, can be difficult to get up near trees.
River Log Day 53
229.5 : LBD, expansive sandbar on mainland.
223.5 - Iowa Island: Very nice sandbar on foot of island. Nice afternoon shade.
218.2 - Illinois Island: LBD, at the foot of the last island in between Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Very nice sandbar with shady spots too. Beautiful views of downstream.
May the winds always be at your back!
Barge hotel! Who knew?