A 3 Mile Shake Down Cruise
This next leg of the cruise consisting of 30 miles on the Cumberland, 60 miles on the Ohio, and 158 miles on the Mississippi, may be as challenging as anything we've faced this far. There are no marinas and the current south of St. Louis is 4+ mph.
Once we get north of St. Louis and the Missouri River, the locks begin. The locks slow the river's current tremendously.
Nellie passed today's stress test. The turbo's gasket didn't leak and even during a prolonged run at 2400 rpm (normal cruise is 1800rpm) nothing broke or overheated.
As advised I called Vern today. She's owns Hoppie's marina south of St. Louis and is a legend on the Mississippi. Rumor has it she sold fuel for General Grant's streamers back in 1862. I could be off a bit on the details but you get the idea. Vern was very motherly telling me to stay on the sailing line; watch out for wing dams; and to be careful of the whirlpools. As promised, however, she certainly knew what the river was doing off her dock: 4 to 5 mph but slowing. The gage heights at Lock 27, which is right above Vern's place, are currently 54.36' above the dam and 43.76' below the dam. Hopefully these heights will continue to fall, and the river speed will slow, before we arrive at Vern's on Thursday.
Weather permitting we're off with the sun tomorrow.
Still at Green Turtle Bay, Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Three miles today and 3,284 miles under the keel. DBH
