Sunday, November 7, 2021 (Kingfisher Bay Marina, (Demopolis, AL) 

I forget to mention that we met some new loopers last night.  I was sitting in the laundry room and a couple came in.  As we started talking I found out that they were from Duluth, MN.  They have been looping for months and had their boat lifted for the winter.  They are going back to Duluth for the snow and cold weather, then will return to put the boat back into the water in the spring.  Most people are avoiding the cold Minnesota winter…. Go figure..

There is one courtesy car here and I really wanted to eat someone else’s cooking.  Most of the other loopers were going to enjoy pizza delivery but I had to get this laundry done and we were completely separated from the other dock where the pizza party was happening. 

However, I found out who had their dibs on the courtesy car and asked if we could catch a ride with them into town. By this time is was 8:00 p.m. As it turned out it was two men that had the car who were traveling fast to get the boat to Florida and they invited us to eat with them.  We actually had a great conversation and a good dinner. I had bbq ribs with a sweet and sour mustard sauce over the top.  Very different but Yummy.

We decided to stay one more night at the Kingfisher Bay Marina.  However, the “inn” is full and we might need to anchor and float in the harbor.  The sun is shining and it is supposed to be in the 70’s.  I will take that in a heart beat just about now!!  Given the fact that there most likely won’t be any other exciting news for today I wanted to share some information about the locks that we have traveled and the states that we have set the boat in.

We have been on our adventure for 6 weeks now and the states we have touched are:  Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. (Florida - traveled later)

The lock and dams we have traveled through are:

#3 Red Wing, MN

#4 Alma, WI

#5 Winona, MN

#5A Goodview, MN

#6 Trempealeau, WI

#7 La Crescent, MN

#8 Genoa, WI

#9 Harpers Ferry, IA

#10 Guttenberg, IA

#11 Dubuque, IA

#12 Bellevue, IA

#13 Fulton, IA

#14 LeClaire, IA

#15 Rock Island, IL

#16 Muscatine, IA

#17 New Boston, IL

#18 Gladstone,IL

#19 Keokuk, IA

#20 Canton, MO

#21 Quincy, IL

#22 Saverton, MO

#23 (has not been built) 

#24 Clarksville, MO

#25 Winfield, MO

#26 Mel Price (Alton, IL)

#27 Chain or Rocks (Granite City, IL)

#28 Cape Girardeau, MO

#29 Barkley (Green Turtle Bay)

#30 Pickwick

#31 Jamie Whitten

#32 Montgomery

#33 John Rankin

#34 Fulton

#35 Glover Wilkins

#36 Amory

#37 Aberdeen

#38 John C. Stennis (Columbus)

#39 Tom Bevill

#40 Howell Heflin

#41 Demopolis Lock (traveled later)

#42 Coffeeville Lock (traveled later)

If I have done my research correctly, we only have two more locks and dams to travel. A captains meeting is conducted here at 4:00 everyday where someone leads the loopers in getting the next lock information and what may be happening down river.  Also it’s such a nice time for conversation and seeing those that have maybe been slower or have anchored more. Since we didn’t have reservations as I mentioned above, we were able to tie to a dock for the second night but without electricity.  Not a problem as I made a pan of chili in the afternoon with the generator going then shut it off.  Thanks to Thistle, Doug had a wrench that tightened the anchor so it looks like we are good to go.  Always something!!!  LOL!!!

You just never know who you will meet and where they are from.  During conversations after the captions meeting we met a couple from Elk River, MN.  Can’t believe it!!!  

We have another long day tomorrow and the loopers traveling down stream will have a roll call at 5:15 a.m. to gain the necessary information from the lock and dam which is very near the marina.  Early to bed tonight….