Daily updates when we could access the internet. We have changed out web site software so we can update more frequently along the way.
Milwaukee to Mississippi
Saturday October 15
Heading back to Wisconsin for a few weeks.
Thursday October 13
We are in Fulton, Mississippi on the Tenn-Tom River. After the 3rd lock yesterday I felt like we just entered the Cyprus Swamps! 3 locks dropped us 144 feet yesterday.
Wednesday October 12
Stayed at Aqua Marine Harbor in Florence, Mississippi.
Tuesday October 11
Clifton Marina
Monday October 10
Pebble Isle Marina – great catfish dinner at the restaurant located on the fuel dock.
Sunday October 9
Left Green Turtle bay
Friday & Saturday October 7/8
Still here. This area is beautiful. Why leave?
Thursday October 6
Still in Grand River, Kentucky. LaNostra is NOT moving today.
Wednesday October 5
Long day – left our anchor spot at 7 am. Left the Mississippi and entered the Ohio River then entered the Cumberland River today. Cumberland River was beautiful. Nice to be off “The Mississippi Mud”. Arrived at Green Turtle Bay, Kentucky in the dark. Made for an interesting event. Won’t ever do that again.
Tuesday October 4
Left Hoppie’s early – anchored in a beautiful Diversion Channel. Launched the dingy and visited friends who arrived at the same anchor.
Monday October 3
Arrived at Hoppie’s Marina. What a hoot – Check out the pictures. We had a meeting with the “River Queen” Fern. Really nice lady, way too much information for me. No marinas between Hoppie’s and Barkley Lake, Kentucky. Fern told us of 3 possible anchoring spots for the next 2 days.
Saturday October 1
We anchored out tonight. It was beautiful.
SEPTEMBER 30
We were able to go 65 miles today internet service via version card does not allow us to update the web page. We are at the I.V.Y. Yacht Club and they have wireless access. I’m sure this marina does not want us back again. We left a line on the boat and acquired our 1st souvenir.
SEPTEMBER 29
Joliet to Ottawa – very easy going day. Not a lot of bridges needed to be opened today and it was a 3 lock day.
SEPTEMBER 28
Up at 4 am! Excited and can’t wait to head down the river. The 1st lock was easy. The trip through downtown Chicago was amazing. We had a great day dropped Dan off in Joliet IL – his car service was waiting to take him back to Chicago when we arrived. We were all exhausted but had a wonderful day.
SEPTEMBER 27
We left Waukegan early in the morning – arrived in DuSable Harbor and had the day to get the boat ready for the trip down the river. Dan arrived to help put the mast down. Had a great dinner in Chicago.
SEPTEMBER 26
We drove from Dousman to Waukegan to pick up the boat. Our ride accidentally turned out to be an 8 passenger stretch limo. Was quite funny – not the normal for us or Dousman, Wisconsin.
SEPTEMBER 22
LaNostra has left Milwaukee! But we came home for the weekend already to attend Lisa’s surprise b-day party. We will pick up the boat Monday and head down the river starting from Chicago early next week.
SEPTEMBER 14
Spent the past two weeks getting the boat prepared. All systems are working fine and she’s ready to go. We’ll be taking her down to Larsen Marine in Waukegan, IL (Grand Banks dealer) next Tuesday for a few minor updates. Our plan is to pick her up on Sunday Sept. 25th. Leave for Chicago the same day, and spend a day and half in Chicago provisioning, lowering the mast, dodger/bimini, etc. in anticipation of entering the Chicago River on Wednesday morning Sept 28th. Lowering the mast, etc is necessary to accommodate low bridge clearance encountered the first day. Then everything is back up until entering the Erie Canal sometime next summer.
Had a GREAT Bon Voyage Party last Saturday Sept 10th with friends and family. The evening before I presented my wonderful Ronda with an engagement ring. So this signifies the start of another long-anticipated journey together. We’re both very excited.
We’ve got a stack of charts, guide books, etc for the first leg. We’ve modified our first leg somewhat as a result of the Katrina event down south. Our original plan had been to travel as far as Demopolis, Alabama to compete the first leg. This is about 200mi north of Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico. We’ve been in contact with the marina in Demopolis and right now they’re full with boats that traveled north to escape Katrina. Most of these boats now have no marinas to return to so we’ve opted to complete the first leg at Fulton, MS which is about 200 mi farther north then Demopolis. As of this time the biggest reported concern down south is availability of diesel fuel. Most supplies are being directed towards the recovery effort in the Gulf area. We’re not overly concerned because La Nostra has long legs, able to travel over 1000mi on full tanks. If we can refuel at Fulton beginning with the second leg (January 2006) we should be able to travel well through the affected areas and on to the Florida Gulf Coast before needing to stop for fuel again,. Of course a lot of things can change between now and January so we’ll just remain flexible.
The next week will be spent making final preparations to our homes.