Little Diversion Channel (near Cape Girardeau, Missouri) to the 57 Bridge near Cairo, Illinois
Today was a day where we had to use our ingenuity and will to get things done.
We woke up to 34 degrees outside. Last night we discussed fuel - do we have enough to get through the next long stretch. We decided we wanted to be comfortable and not worry about fuel for the entire trip to Paducah, so we called the only dock with fuel, and they told us we had to purchase 150 gallons in order for him to fill our tanks (we only need 45). He suggested we use the fuel cans he kept on the dock and get diesel at the gas station.
So, we left Little Diversion Channel at 8:45 a.m. and went upriver 1 mile to the town of Cape Girardeau.
We got to the dock and reassessed the situation. We will have to carry seven 5-gallon empty fuel cans up a steep ramp and walk 14 blocks to the gas station, fill the cans, and figure out how to get back to the boat. Hmmm...
We first had to dump any excess gas out of the cans into a separate can (we don't use gas, we use diesel). We left the spouts off to air out the cans and put them in a bag. We used boat lines to tie the empty cans together and walked 14 blocks to the gas station.
We put a small amount of diesel into a can and kept transferring that mixture into the extra can (to try and rinse the gas out). The cans were filled, and Kip went into the store to get a couple of other items (Diet Coke) while I waited outside. Kip asked several men with trucks if they would drive us to the river for $20, and they either ignored him or said "NO." A guy in a bus was talking to us and said we should be careful because we were in a sketchy part of town (no wonder people were not friendly - they probably thought we were "sketchy" people).
A cab drove by, and we called the number on his car. Dispatch said she didn't have any drivers in that area, but we told her he was sitting across the street. We finally got the cab to come over and he gave us a ride.
He dropped us off at the riverwalk entrance, and we had to carry all of those cans and our groceries another block to the ramp, down the ramp, and then fill the boat's tank with six 5-gallon cans of fuel using a funnel. People on the riverwalk were stopping and watching us!!!
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With fuel tank full, we proceeded down the river. The rock dams are now even farther on the shore. In some areas boats and tows/barges have to put their name in a queue and wait their turn to get through.
In certain areas, the water had circles that looked like whirlpools and when we drive in them the boat changes directions like crazy. In some of the areas the river depth would go from 12 feet to 60 feet.
Eagles
Our destination - a 20' deep hole under the 57 Bridge near Cairo (out of the channel).
Kip wanted to fill the generator with fuel, and realized we forgot the funnel on the dock, so we cut an empty water jug and used that. The Wallas works, but we have to put a small heater next to the fuel line for a while, and then it starts.
Kip grilled bacon wrap stuffed chicken (from Alton meat store) and peas for dinner.
We drove 47 miles. We had challenges, but we are still thankful for every day and each experience (but we are tired).
Omgosh… you two are so boat/river resilient & resourceful… amazing!! Bumpa & Carlo would be sooo proud ;-)
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