Tapping this out from the "Buckner Ragsdale Co." microbrewery bar and grill in downtown Cape Girardeau. There's a live band that is so loud it's shaking this table and my laptop and I've got to go soon. Dannel, in his wisdom (and 9 years my senior) left before the music started. We're tied to Kiddes fuel dock, owned and run by Charlie Brown, from whom I have special permission to tie for the night. It's the only place to tie to access Cape Girardeau. This photo was shot not long after we turned right to go up the Mississippi toward St. Paul. It took us two days to make the 50 miles to Cape Girardeau. We're running 2.5-3 mph, pushing against a 3-4 mph Miss. R. current. Tomorrow at sunup, we'll leave for Hoppe's marina and fuel dock, the next available fuel spot, about 100 miles upstream. There is virtually no pleasure boat traffic on the Ohio or the Mississippi, but the commercial barge traffic is heavy. We have listed over 100 tug/tow vessels since Paducah. Some have been 5 barges wide by 7 long--35 barges in all. The river is low, and the channel is narrow, so communications with the barge captains is critical and the margin for error is sometimes rather small. It's a little tense at times but it's what I love to do. We've had some wonderful anchorages behind wing dams, very quiet and serene evenings after a long days run. We're running so slow we've been passed by large tows. Sometimes we have to run outside the prescribed channel to make room for the meeting or passing. But the tug captains are very wise and very helpful and tell us just where to be to be safe.

This is a shot of the HUCK on the barge dock on the waterfront of downtown Paducah. I got permission from the mayor to stay there for 2 nights while I waited for Dannel. A sign on the barge says "Dockage for 15 minutes only". We were very lucky at Ohio lock 52, just 3 miles west of Paducah. there was an 80 hour backup for tows because one of the locks was shut down for repairs. When we got to the lock, the lockmaster said: "You guys are lucky--I've got a Coast Guard buoy tender locking through, and you'll just fit behind them, so I'll get you right through" Very good luck indeed! The next lock, lock 53, we got to bypass, running right over the wing dam to the side because the water was high enough. Now we're making the slog up the Mississippi, trying to get to Alton, where the lock and dam system, controls the water levels and slows the current. That's also past the Missouri River confluence, which adds substantially to the Miss. R. current. So hopefully by Sept. 8 or 9 we'll be in slacker water and back to a roaring 5mph cruising speed.

This band is incredibly loud. It's a miracle I'm able to type this. Thanks for all your attention and support. We may be in a phone and internet blackout for a few days. Wish us well. Our very kindest regards to all...........Captain Brion and Dannel.