21-OCT-2020 Wednesday – Little Diversion Channel, Cape Girardeau, MO (~UMR mile 49) to Newtons Creek, Bandana, KY (~OR mile 955)    68.5 nautical miles (~78.8 statute miles)

37°12’15.7″N 88°53’01.4″W
37.204371, -88.883719
Elevation: 292 feet
Total Elevation Change: -22 feet

Locks (1)
Ohio River Mile 962.6, Olmstead Lock & Dam (New lock that replaced Lock 52 and 53)

States (3)
Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky

Good Morning!

Here comes the sun.

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Along the Way

We needed to run with radar for a while this morning.

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The fog cleared to a beautiful sunny day. Time to put on our shorts and sandals.

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Another boat load of rocks

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I wonder how much a boat load of rocks is worth and how much the load weighs. The center barges are ridding low, a full 12 feet of barge in the water. Good thing it’s a calm day.
The two outer barges are filled with crushed rocks and the center two are filled with chunks. It’s interesting to see the crushed rocks only come up to the sides of the barge where as the chucks are mounded.

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We ticked in at 12.0 kts going through the ox bows. With the water so low all the water drops into the deeper central channel.

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You really hate to meet barges and tows on ox bows. We always seem to. I’m sure he appreciated us waiting it while he turned the corner.

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Coming into the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Ohio River

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UMR Mile 0 is at Cairo, IL where the Mississippi River meets the Ohio River mile 981. The corner has turned for both weather and river.

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The ‘hard water’ of the Ohio River brought us screeching to a halt. The impact of the Ohio River’s current dropped our speed to 6.1 kts, almost cutting our Mississippi River speed in half. 

Tow delivery. It looks like a delivery of a brand new tow boat. The one in front still has coverings on its stacks.

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There is a huge fleeting area that goes on for about 5 miles just after you round the corner in to the Ohio River. It must be quite the logistics software program to keep track of all of these barges.

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One noticeable thing about the Ohio River was something that wasn’t noticeable. Wing dams and sand bars are actually under water. On the downside there are more logs in the water.

Omstead Lock did a really good job reminding us where a pleasure craft fits in the vessel priority hierarchy. Military craft have first priority, followed by commercial passenger vessels, commercial tows, commercial fishing vessels, and finally pleasure craft. We waited about 2.5 hours for a lift.

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Good Night

Too late to make it to Paducah, KY. Another night on the hook. Pull over and drop and anchor.

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Weird Kentucky Laws

• It is illegal for a woman to appear in a bathing suit on a highway unless she is a)escorted by at least two police officers, b)armed with a club, c)or lighter than 90 pounds or more than 200 pounds.
• It is illegal to remarry the same man four times.
• Throwing eggs at a public speaker could result in up to one year in prison.
• At least once a year, you must shower in Kentucky.
• One may not dye a duckling blue and offer it for sale unless more than six are for sale at once.
• It is illegal to fish with a bow and arrow in Kentucky.
• In Fort Thomas – Dogs may not molest cars.
• In Owensboro – One may not receive anal sex.
• In Owensboro – A woman may not buy a hat without her husband’s permission.