Once Rob woke up from his nightmare about the men in black and unexploded bomb beaches, he realized it was dream. Coming to, he saw a beautiful still morning in the harbor of Lindsay Park Yacht Club, one of the oldest yacht clubs on the Mississippi River. Hearing the fish jump out of the water along the bank, a couple lines had to be cast in that direction. No fish…coffee and oatmeal for breakfast…again.
Tanner’s family came from Michigan to the Quad Cities to check out the new summer home. Giving them the full RaftBoy experience, they decided to stay overnight on this luxurious twenty-one footer. A riverboat cruise upon the Celebration Belle (driver, age 9) was enjoyable for each of us to receive some knowledge about the Mississippi. Thank you family for coming, hope to see you again at the Gulf of Mexico.
Leaving the marina, the barrel raft locked through the first Lock&Dam built on the Mississippi River. This dam began the Army Corps of Engineers navigation control of a nine foot depth, thus reducing the speed, rapids and controlling a main route. Arsenal Island straddles Illinois and Iowa is home to Lock #15, the nations second largest government residence and the Headquarters for the Army Corps of Engineers.
This elevation change was the largest so far, an estimated 12 foot drop. Skully a tuff dog in his Ruffwear coat, makes sure all is safe leaving the lock. Catching a deep orange sunset with the silhouette of Davenport, Rob and I both agreed to be extremely glad we stayed in this area for the weekend.
Total miles traveled: 357
# of Locks completed: 14
Raft can sleep: 6
View Comments (4)
Tanner/Rob, Southward Ho!. Thanks for keeping up the postings. Gary
Despite close sleeping quarters on the barrel raft and a check in security sniff from Skully every hour or so, I found my loaned Mississippi waterbed and gifted surroundings very agreeable. I was awaken on the raft Saturday at 4AM by a train whose horn surely was stuck; then serious duck quacking at the break of dawn; their rebuttal to the train? All I could think of was nine months of hard work must surely reward me with three months toward personal adventure; whether on a river or otherwise. Now, 9/3 is on my bucket list.
BTW - Rob mentioned the Amazon River was next on his bucket list…but I politely said, "Tanner can't go; or at least he can't go without me."
Tanner, hope you, Rob & Skully stayed in a hotel while your family slept on the raft! :-) Or would that break the "rules of rafting"? ♥grandma