We have officially begun year 3 of our 1 year adventure…yup, you read that right. We left Port Charles Harbor, Saint Charles Missouri yesterday and got into Alton Marina, Alton Illinois without mishap and before the winds picked up. Not to say there may or may not have been a potential for trouble, but I am not fessing up to that here. Needless to say, I need to get my head and mind back into position…

We are here for a week, again because of weather, then will move further down river to hopefully get into position for the solar eclipse on April 8th. Spring weather is still iffy which it seems the case everywhere. Even talking to Bruce and Diane, now in Big Bear CA, there is an actual blizzard headed their way today! That storm will work it’s way to our area by the middle of the week, which is when we are expecting an uptick in cold, rain and wind.

We have water on the dock here in Alton, where in Port Charles all we had was what we had onboard. So this is pretty close to a luxury. The boat can get a bath and we can shower too! Which is a good thing because Lake Fly season is just getting started. So far only a few but we know what’s coming. The only remaining winter issue is accessible pump-outs. We had a mobile truck pump us out before we left Port Charles, but we are docked too far from land for a truck to get to us here in Alton. We are hoping this marina has theirs up and running by the time we leave.

There are a few maintenance issues that have popped up now that need to be fixed. The forward toilet is acting up again, but as everyone who knows Michael knows he always has spare parts to take care of damn near every issue that may pop up. So other than time, and the fact that this is the 3rd time he has had to mess with it, it should be a pretty easy fix…fingers crossed.

The water heater sprung a leak over the winter, but we were able to get the part shipped to us and that has been fixed as well. Even the big hatch window over the v-bunk, which has always been broken and often leaks when it rains, has been replaced so now it can be opened and is in proper working order. The first fix on Lottie seems to have held so she is now stored in her proper position and safe while driving. However, there is still one device that is in the process of being reattached. This one holds a bar that tips Lottie away from the back of the boat so we can get on and off ‘THIS is what’ by the swim step, if docks are low enough for back door entry. Michael is also repairing a few chips in the fiberglass on the deck that seem to be allowing water to get underneath.

OOHHH! When we got here in Alton and gave our name, the office manager said’ “Oh my god! you are them!” Wha, What? It appears as though we have a name all along the river and even were the topic of many discussions at the AGLCA convention and it seems as though our little incident last October caught a lot of attention. Not great attention, but we are now well known throughout the Looper community. Jeez…not sure I want that kind of attention, but we are finally able to somewhat laugh it off as “S**t happens”, and is even the opener for other harrowing boating experiences from other long time boaters.

While we are here, historic downtown Alton is a short walk away as is the National Great Rivers Museum and the Melvin Price Lock and Dam which has tours. We can go see the lock before we have to go through it. Since we are on the Mississippi, the huge tugs pushing up to 16 barges pass us frequently on their way to or from the Marvin Price Lock. Their shear size is pretty spectacular, even compared to the Great Lakers, which in themselves were an amazing thing to watch go by.

We spoke with Bruce and Diane yesterday and they have put in their reservation for Nashville sometime in June. We will be honing that as time goes along. Kevin and Susan have put their reservation in for Thanksgiving, wherever we may be. Kathy and Mary have voiced an interest in Chattanooga. We have discussed continuing on to the headwaters of the Tennessee River in Knoxville from Chattanooga as it appears, just like Lake Superior, not a lot of Loopers, or anyone else for that matter, makes that journey. There are still plenty of places for anyone else to hop on to join us along the way. We may even be looking for volunteers in December/January to make the night crossing through the Gulf when we come out of Alabama.

Well, that’s it for now. I will be updating y’all when we get to our next stop, which should be Hoppies a barge parked along the Mississippi for overnight tie up and fuel before we make the journey towards Paducah Kentucky. Love to all Gina and Mike