Day 148: Alton, IL to Kimmswick, MO
Day 148: Tuesday, September 13th: We left Alton Marina about 7:15am and eased down 1.5 miles to Mississippi Lock 26. We locked through this huge lock with one other pleasure boat. The lock has two chambers: One is primarily for commercial traffic and the other is for pleasure craft. It is very convenient unless there are multiple commercial boats waiting to lock; they take both chambers in that case.
We went through with one other boat:
As we left, the lock was preparing to take this 14-foot fishing skiff up:
It is unbelievable how massive these locks and dams are. This is the back of the guide wall of the "big" lock:
This view gives you a better perspective of the size of the structure:
In one section of the river there are rapids that were too big to try to dam the river high enough, so they dug a canal, the "Chain of Rocks Canal," to by-pass the bad section of river. This rather large sign gives directions. You DON'T want to go the other way!
Webmaster note: The famous Chain of Rocks Bridge on Route 66 passes over this canal making a 22 degree turn in the middle of the bridge. Click HERE to see the bridge.
This is our second and final lock, Lock 27, on the Mississippi. For the next 800-odd miles the Mighty Muddy flows free. And very fast:
The upstream gate on this lock is a lift gate rather than a swing gate. It comes up from the sill:
We locked down and proceeded to St. Louis. As we approached town we passed this cute tour boat:
Then started the St. Louis set of bridges and we got our first good glimpse of the St. Louis Arch:
Of course St. Louis has its set of floating casinos:
Here is our best picture of the arch. No, that's not the Capitol building of Missouri; that's in Springfield:
Just downstream from town is the busy barge "fleeting" area. There are scores of barges on both banks for miles:
This bridge, about the last one leaving St. Louis, was quite pretty but simple in design. Another one in our study of bridges:
We went on for about another twenty miles to a little town named Kimmswick, MO. It's the home of one of the most famous marinas on the Great Loop, Hoppie's Marina. They have many, many features and services, including picnic tables, shore power, water, a free courtesy shuttle to town, floating docks, and the friendliest and most knowledgeable owners there are. Here's the marina sign:
This is real, folks. I'm not kidding. Here is a better view of the marina:
Here's Integrity at her berth:
Ruth, and about four others made a run to the liquor store and grocery store. Thank goodness.
Hoppie's Marina is owned by Capt. Charles and Fern Hopkins. Each evening, they hold a free Captains' briefing. Fern holds forth (in the yellow shirt) giving advice about the route up ahead, anchorages, marinas, cautions, etc. It is all very helpful. The people in the picture are from some of the boats we have mentioned traveling with.
Here's a better picture of dear Fern waxing eloquent:
And here is Fern and the famous Hoppie. Today was Hoppie's birthday, so we sang to him. He was holding something in his hand to celebrate. These two are the most wonderful and generous people in the business:
Position tonight: N38 21.527 W090 21.605
To return to our Main Page simply 
close this window.
