TUESDAY JUNE 12TH, 2012

We left Winona early. There is getting to be less and less tow traffic at the locks as we head upriver, but the guys checked on the tow traffic website and there was one we wanted to beat to the first lock. No one had even had coffee yet! What a way to start the day.

Once underway we could settle in with our cup of Joe and take in the beauty of the river in the early morning. This picture is of Winona and Sugar Loaf bluff in the background.




The wind continues to blow making it a challenge to stay up close to the lock wall while they raise the water. These are some of the bluffs next to lock just above Winona.





The wind did settle down as the day passed. This is the Eagle Center in Wabasha. Ross and I went there when it first opened. At that time there were 3 eagles tethered to perches on the floor in a viewing area about 4 feet away from the public. You really got the sense of how huge these birds are! It wasn’t a cage, just a large open area. We felt the tickets were a bit spendy, but we’re glad we went.




Slippery’s has been here forever! It’s really snazzy now compared to the old days with its rickety docks. I think it’s kinda lost its dumpy, river charm too. But if you’re ever looking for a fun thing to do on winter day, drive to Wabasha and have lunch here. The river stays open in front of here and there are always eagles sitting on the ice and in the trees looking for a meal. They are lots of fun to watch. And Slippery’s plays the Grumpy Old Men movies on all the TV sets, as Wabasha is where they filmed it. And you gotta order a Slippery burger! A burger topped with fried onions and slab of melted Velveeta cheese. Mmmmm…they’re the best.

This is Reed’s landing at the downstream end of Lake Pepin. It is very narrow here and it has silted in so there is a dredging operation going on. They suck sand and silt off the bottom and then it ends up piled on shore. Bulldozers move it around after that. The barges need a 9’ channel to be able to pass through so the Army Corp of Engineers is constantly fighting the river.

A beautiful bluff at the head of Lake Pepin.







Almost home! The entrance to our home marina.
















Mark and Tami had their son, Brad; bring a cold bottle of champagne to meet us with!













Cheers to a great trip!










We have traveled 7,540 miles, traversed 151 locks, and spent approximately $13,500 on diesel fuel. Priceless!!

The ODDYSEA tucked in safe and sound in her slip at J-Dock.







This has been an adventure of a lifetime…but its good to be home.

MONDAY JUNE 11TH 2012

The closer we get to home the harder it is blog. The landscape and river towns are all familiar now.

This part of the Mississippi is so incredibly beautiful! It truly is a shame that the majority of Loopers never come up the Mississippi. Instead they turn at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi and head south. And that part of the river has none of the beauty that is further north.



Today after almost 3 years, we have returned by boat to the Minnesota!! And here is the state line to prove it. Can you tell?

















This rock peak is all that remains of a once very large domed limestone bluff called Sugar Loaf Bluff. It is just south of Winona. It was quarried during the 1880’s for use as sidewalks and street surfaces.


Winona wasn’t even surveyed until 1851.  The US deputy surveyor gave the town the name Montezuma. (are you kidding me?) Two years later a man purchased quite a bit of interest in the town. Guess he didn’t care much for the name either, as he erased the name from the survey and renamed it Winona. The Indian word “we-no-nah” translates to “first born daughter.” Way better name than Montezuma!

Tonight was our last night for shore leave on the Loop. So we headed to the Jefferson Bar and Grill to celebrate.















We are so grateful to have had Kirk and the Heimers travel with us. Its made for a fun last leg on our journey.






The trusty ODDYSEA on her last night out. Tomorrow night she will be back in her home port.

SUNDAY JUNE 10TH, 2012

We had a long distance to travel and 3 locks to traverse today so got going before sunrise. It was worth getting up so early if for no other reason than seeing this sky.

By 6:15 a.m. we were through the fist lock of the day. The remaining two locks went like clockwork so that sped up the day.

We spotted this ferry from a distance and it looked like it was full of cyclists rather than cars. We figured it was a pedestrian ferry. As we came closer we heard the roar of Harley engines and noticed a large group of bikers departing the ferry.







This is a Coast Guard Buoy tender. It’s a busy time of the year for them as they replace damaged, lost and out of place markers. We came on one marker today that caused us to slow down and evaluate our course before we proceeded. Good move because it was out of place and we could have been in serious trouble. Barges sometimes snag the markers and move them out of position. But more often I think large floating debris catches on them and the current drags them.


A view of the river and jet skiers out enjoying a Sunday afternoon.

The wind grew steadily all day long. This big tow is bucking the wind and the waves.

We  spent the night in Lansing, Iowa. Stormy weather is predicted to roll in sometime during the night.

SATURDAY JUNE 9TH, 2012

Another day of chugging along upstream towards home. The river is still rising and is still around 7 feet above normal stage. The current is flowing at 2 mph, sometimes higher. Our normal cruising speed is about 9 mph, so with the current we only make 6 or 7 miles an hour. Makes for a long day of slow going.

We noticed this island full of cormorants and white pelicans. Actually there were 3 islands. We’re guessing all the bird poo killed the trees and vegetation. This might be a nesting area. The white pelicans don’t dive for fish like the brown pelicans. They dip their heads under water and scoop up gizzard shad or emerald shiners. So in other words, I’m thinking they eat minnows.

Lots of folks out today enjoying the warmth and water. The water being high makes beaches at a premium. This one is being put to good use.


This work crew is scooping sand off the bottom and dumping it in a barge.When it is full, they start filling another. This section of the river must be silting in and causing a problem for barge traffic to pass through.











A bit further up the river we saw where they were unloading the sand. Looks like they are creating an island. You can see how high up the water is on the trunks of trees.




Our destination for the night was Dubuque.

Their courthouse is quite impressive. It was built in 1891, despite the outcries against it by taxpayers. Sound familiar? When it was finished there were 12 massive figurines placed on the roof and ledges. Only 6 now remain.

The Dubuque marina is very nice. Once we were secured and settled in, Mark and Ross took the bikes off the boat and rode to the store for a few supplies. On their way they ended up traveling the same route as a bike race that was underway. People were clapping and cheering them and calling out that they liked their bike wear. Which by no means included spandex anywhere!