Sept 19 - Arrive in Quincy... and Can't Wait to Leave

Lock & Dam Map

Colin checked in with me late last night and sounded exhausted.  At that point, they had been on the river for 13 hours and made it to Quincy. Much as I tried, I could not coax much out of Colin but for "the facilities are filthy; we need to get to the next marina before we can shower". To be a bit more informative than that, Quincy is at L&D 21. This is north of East Alton on the Mississippi which is actually quite famous for what occurred there on May 14, 1804 when William Clark wrote "Set out at 4 o'clock P.M. in the presence of many of the Neighbouring inhabitents, and proceeded on under a jentle brease up the Missourie..." The Lewis and Clark Expedition began at this confluence although the confluence point has moved 2 miles downstream from the point where the Corps of Discovery entered into the Missouri River. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources intends to restore a natural floodplain reminiscent of what Lewis and Clark might have seen along the lower Missouri River. 

The power dam at Keokuk was the first one they had seen which generates electricity. This area of the river was the site of the Des Moine Rapids but since this was a barrier to Mississippi river traffic, it was dredged and altered beginning in 1837. Ultimately L&D 19 was constructed in 1913 and at that point was the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world.

 Keokuk Power Plant

Here is Late Date inside L&D 19 getting ready to make the 50-60 ft drop.

Inside L&D 19

Sliding Bollard

This L&D is the first at which they have needed to use a floating bollard as opposed to a rope in order to keep the boat in position once inside the lock.

Apparently this was difficult secondary to the position of the cleat hooks on Late Date but they made it.

So this was really a very long working day (155 miles total) that ended at a community marina which was not a very happy place.  Not surprisingly, the boys got up early today - Sat Sept 20 - and left Quincy at 630 AM heading to Hannibal, and eventually Port Charles Harbor in St Charles, MO. Besides excellent marina facilities, Brett has good friends there so they will have a loaner car awaiting them, can go into historic downtown and  shop for groceries. I predict better moods tonight.

I still cannot get the movies to load properly but suffice it to say you are not missing much - there is a lot of water spray, eagles and a grumpy looking Bob and Brett.  I asked Bob if he wanted to add anything to today's blog entry and his reply was "better shipmates".