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Day 84: Drowned Rats

10/20/2015

3 Comments

 
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This is my drowned rat look. When you're out there on the water, getting soaked, there's something about that that makes me cringe, hunch over to try to stay dry, and paddle in really tiny strokes because I'm just so miserable.
We waited for the morning thunderstorms to pass, and although it thundered, it never rained, so we opted for getting on the river since we had a long way to go before we got to Alton.  Once on the river, we dodged multiple rainstorms and thunderstorms.  We alternated with getting drenched, trying to pull over, stopping at a marina to dry out, still getting wet, and so on.  The video below is an accurate reenactment.  

In Grafton, IL, we decided we wouldn't be able to make it all the way to Alton, and so we stopped at the marina there where we paid to leave our boats for the weekend while we played in O'Fallon, IL with Leanne's Uncle Mark and Aunt Karen and in St. Louis with Nick and Jeff.  

At both marinas, we were introduced to the "loopers"--folks who, usually on large motor vessels, travel a huge circumnavigation of the eastern United States.  We spoke for quite a while with several--all were agog at our journey.  Particularly, the sailors-turned-motorers who acknowledged that the reason they decided to do their journey in a motor vessel rather than a sailboat is because so often they end up motoring in a sailboat anyway, and when they're sailing or motoring in a sailboat, they go slow enough that they may as well be paddling!  Their dry indoor cabins with electric looked mighty enticing...but I did not envy what their boats and fuel must cost!
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Leanne's drowned rat face. But she's also cracking up at me under it.
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As we wait for the shower to pass, I eat my peanut butter.
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Dry(ish) and filled with peanut butter, things are pretty good.
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Karen, Mark and Leanne!! Thank you for having us!!!!
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The "loopers" journey. But they've got motors, mostly. Sounds pretty good to me.
3 Comments
Bart Christner link
10/26/2015 01:21:52 am

Happened by accident to find your posts (somehow I landed here, searching obscure things about fish, rivers, and boating) and well... inadvertently landed on your adventure here. I then noticed it is current and ongoing! Saw your "Kickstarter" efforts, and felt compelled to read on, look more, learn and live vicariously through your blog post/ pics and day to day stories. Smiling!

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Lisa Hickey
10/31/2015 06:59:00 am

We met you as you were leaving Grafton. I wish we would have known of your adventure before you came to our area. I forwarded your information to Riverbill. he has a link to your blogs. Safe travels! www.RiverBills.com

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best cooler for camping link
4/30/2016 01:37:53 am

Wow the videos that you have shared in your post are very good and interesting. The videos look amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this post. Keep posting and keep growing.

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    Alyssum Pohl is paddling the Mississippi River and documenting water quality and plastic waste along the way.

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