Homecoming Day Sept. 7th

Autumn Is Back Home (Meow!)

Happy Nana and Pop

We did it! Our arrival into Evansville was on Saturday Sept. 7th at noon. What a great welcoming party! As we turned the bend and headed into the marina we saw several family and friends awaiting our arrival along with a camera crew from the Evansville Courier and Press. The loop now finished  will find us looking for another adventure in the  future.  Life, you should seize the moments and enjoy it to the fullest. We have been blessed with good family, friends and health. Time to find our land legs and take care of business.

Rounding the Bend Into Evansville

   

Great Guys

Happy Mom

The Home Team!  Many Thanks!

Happy Nana

   

                     

Boating Friends (Thanks Bill)

      

Mariah Is Back Home (Purrr!)

Good Friends

Family and Friends

Crossing Our Wake

On Tuesday morning September 3, 2013 we woke up at ( 3:30 am)  to a big surprise on the Paducah waterfront.  Pulling up not far behind us and dropping their loading ramp was the Mississippi Queen paddleboat. It was staying for a 24 hour visit.  After taking pictures it was time to depart for the moment we have long planned for, the crossing of our wake! As the view came into sight we could clearly see where the Cumberland took off to the right and the Ohio continued on upstream to the left.  Crossing your wake means you have made it back to the spot that the loop began and you have closed the loop. So on Tuesday morning September 3, 2013 at 10:07 am we closed our loop.  Quite a moment for Captain and First Mate!  From here we made out way to Golconda marina to let friends and family know that our plans are to be back at Inland Marina on Saturday September 7 at noon on the gas dock.Golconda was our first marina back in March and they did remember us. This is a very friendly marina and close enough to a small town with all the basics. The totals are in: We have traveled 5,521.7 miles on our loop. The total to get us back to homeport puts us at 5,657.7. Quite a trip since the average time is about one year and we made it in under six months! OH, the sights we have seen, and the friends we have made can never be take away. If you have been following our blog I hope you have learned a little about the Great Loop and this trip of a lifetime. This is my last blog until our homecoming.  At least I hope someone missed us. We have lots of hugs and thank yous to all who have supported our trip.

Crossing Our Wake
Cumberland to the right and Ohio to the left
Tuesday September 3, 2913 10:07

Mississippi Queen at Paducah   

                         

Mississippi Queen

Back on the Ohio River and Paducah

Yesterday we finished the upper Mississippi and turned down the Ohio River to start the last leg of our journey home. The Ohio River current is against us for this last leg of the journey as we knew it would be.  We have slowed down from 11 miles an hour to stepping up the rpm and still only getting about 6 and half miles an hour.  The left  turn down the Ohio at Cairo brought on barges, barges and more barges.  We got to take a look at the construction still under way on the new Olmsted Lock at mile 964.8 scheduled to open sometimes in 2013.  We then went over the wicket at Dam 53 which was a first for this trip and then came to Lock and Dam 52.  The small chamber for pleasure craft is closed and so we had to wait in line with the barges for the large lock here.  Wait we did! It was 4 hours later that we were taken through. We were only 4 miles from our evening stop in Paducah and then came the wait.  We left the lock at 10:30 pm.  We were not going to travel at night on this trip but we had no other choice but to complete the last 4 miles in the dark. Just one more challenge for the captain.  He loves a challenge he says. We have spent Labor Day here in Paducah tied to a courtesy dock. Most stores were closed but there was a large parade and music and food all day in the town parking lot. NOW FOR THE BIG NEWS!! WE WILL CROSS OUR WAKE SOMETIME TOMORROW AFTERNOON!!!!! WOW! Record time! We will have finished the loop in under six months and on average people usually take a year. At this time we plan to finish heading up the Ohio retracing some miles to reach home.  Our plan at this time looks like we will be home at noon on Saturday! If you are around we would like to see you at Inland Marina where our boat stays.

Mile 981 Where the Mississippi
Meets the Ohio River

Lock 53 Over the Top

The New Olmstead Lock
Under Construction

                 

Paducah Riverfront Mural Wall

     

You Know You Are Close to Home
When There Are Tractors in a Parade
Labor Day Parade Paducah

            

         

MY Therapy at the Courtesy Dock
in Paducah