Saturday October 17, 2009

Left the river mooring cells at 7:40AM heading to Barkley lock and dam and then Green Turtle marina. Cold again today with a expected high of 49° and 20% chance of rain. Burr. But there's a bright spot. If it wasn't for global warming, it would be snowing here by now, the river would be frozen, and polar bears would be foraging by the boat.

Our progress map shown here totals 661 miles from the starting point of Holland, MI. We're close to half way down to Ft. Myers which voyage we'll resume on October 27.

In at Green Turtle, at grand Rivers, Kentucky, at 11:30AM. Easy pass on the lock up at Barkley. Arranged for a rental car to drive back to Grand Rapids as we'll be leaving the Brightwater here for 9 days. Insurance restrictions bar us from having the vessel below a certain latitude before November 1 due to the possibility of hurricanes. Washed the boat from all the lock crud and mud from some of the lines we had to use. Looks very nice now.

Green Turtle is a large marina and vacation spot. Under new management a year ago and regaining its reputation as congenial. Also home to nearby restaurant, Pattie's, where they serve 2" pork chops, bread baked in flower pots, and strawberry butter. Don't think we can make it there tonight. Plenty of food on board and besides this is a dry county. Cocktails behind closed doors.

Stayed tuned.