Fri Oct 27: Hoppies to Kaskaskia L&D wall

This was today’s route, and all started well with everyone smoothly off the dock.  But things got awful quickly-so I’m very sorry this will be a disturbing post…

Seven us were traveling today, spread out quite a bit. Three passed a big piece of debris in the river (there is a ton) but the 4th boat felt it didn’t look right and went to examine it further.  It was a floating human body. A couple of other boats stopped to verify (we were the last boat right behind them) and the Coast Guard was notified, as well as Hoppies. Hoppies wasn’t surprised by the news; I guess the Mighty Mississippi sees its share of bodies-but it’s not something any of us has ever expected or encountered while boating… We were all very shaken up, and I cried as we went down the river, thinking of him all alone, floating in the dark river last night.  If a barge had hit him he would never have been found-I guess the good outcome is that his family will have closure. Maybe this was the bad news the lost flag was indicating….

It seemed awful just to leave the body behind, but the Coast Guard told us to continue on.  They warned the active tugs in the area, and noted the coordinates and drift.  Soon we saw the fire/rescue zodiac on the way to recover him. We were a quiet, sad group down bound. Our adventure suddenly didn’t seem very important. 

Once in a while the scenery was nice-usually it was industrial; interesting in a different way…

At the Kaskaskia Lock/Dam wall the mood lifted a bit as everyone worked together to get 19 boats to fit in the space. We felt really lucky to have a tie-up spot off the river. Starting Monday this spot will be closed for dredging. There was room for everyone, including a surly delivery captain in a 75’ boat who refused, at first, to let anyone raft to his boat. That didn’t last long as he really had no other option.  We ended up rafted 2-3 deep, with at least one boat anchored near by. That boat had the quietest night!  The wall was a LOT of people in a small space - there was no way to get off the wall or to launch a dingy.  

Today was the last hurrah for shorts - it was HOT (I’m not complaining , I’ll be wishing for the heat tomorrow).  I hung out in the shade inside the boat, while Rick sat in the sun right outside.  I enjoyed listening to everyone stopping to talk to Rick.  People appreciate his input and ideas; people we haven’t traveled with in several days still text him for advice!  That boy…

Just one more lovely tie-up, in a week full of them…

We shared hugs all around-especially with the couple who did the terrible job of discovery up close and personal.  We kept our chins up as a group, but I know we each, in our own way, were thinking of the lost soul behind us.  Stay safe and hug your loved ones…