JG Marine Services: Anchor Management - Kuttawa, KY to Hastings, MN

     Mike, the vessel owner picked me up in La Crosse, driving over night to Kuttawa, KY with all our supplies to bring his new to him Silverton 453 home to Hastings, MN. We got to the boat about 3am Monday, and caught some quick sleep.

    Monday we returned the rental, grabbed a couple last minute supplies, and shoved off for Paducah, KY. The boat ran great, and we ran at cruising speed across the lake toward Barkley Lock. A quick trip down and then winding through the Cumberland River down to the Ohio. We anchored just short of Paducah City Dock, as they did not have room for us but we needed to fuel up before heading for Hoppie's.

    Tuesday morning we weighed anchor and headed for the city dock. After filling her to the brim, we headed down the Ohio to Olmstead Lock.

    We got through Olmstead with a minimal wait, with Mike taking the controls. He will be at them most of the time to learn and practice. So this is as much a training trip as a delivery. Mike wants to run at cruise speed, however much of the trip to Hoppies must be run at hull speed to increase fuel range to make it to Hoppies.

    We anchored with friends of mine, Steve and Allison of Betty Mae. They are finishing their loop and headed for TN, and then on to Florida for more cruising. 

    Day 3 saw us put her on plane and head for Hoppies. We covered 125 miles and made it in just before dusk. Pumped in 410 gallons of diesel and prepared to be off at first light.

    Day 4 saw us pass through St Louis, 4 locks, and a 1030 pm arrival into Louisiana, MO. Mike got to learn night boating is not particularly fun. We had waits at all 4 locks. But we got in without incident and slept in the following morning. He had a call, and the fuel dock didn't open until 0900.

    Day 5 saw us head into Keokuk Yacht Club, a short 83 mile day after a late start.. Mike's boat handling skills are slowly improving.

    Day 6 saw us into Lindsay Park Yacht Club, home of John and Kim aboard Wild Goose. Mike got to hear some loop stories from them, exciting him even more for his own loop trip! 

    Day 7 saw us head for Clinton, IA for fuel. They shoaled in alot in this summer's flood, and well lets just say getting out was tricky at best. But on we went, past Sabula and Dubuque. We continues on as we had about an hour or so of daylight left and got near Cassville, WI to anchor for the night just off the channel. 

    Day 8 took us to the Fountain City Municipal Dock, where Amy and I stopped on our trip in August. We were able to get off the boat and partake in good food and drink in town.

    Day 9 turned out to be slower paced, at least in the morning. We hurried through Locks 5 and 4, then puttered along to Lake City where we had a noon appointment with a fuel truck for our final fuel stop. Mike got to back into the lift out well, using some skills he really had not practiced yet. He did great! Then we took off up the rest of Lake Pepin, through Lock 3, and on to Hastings, MN. 

    It was a great trip, no problems. We found a little soft bottom trying to get him into his slip, but that wasn't really a surprise. Mike seemed to learn a lot. We didn't get as much repetitive practice on certain things as I would like, but our itinerary was dictated by his schedule. All in all, a pretty successful training and another vessel delivered safe!

    Next week Toscana and crew celebrate a very special birthday, and head down river for warmer weather!

In my defense, I was left Unsupervised!

    How do you top all that fun riding trails in Hatfield? I don't know... a busy Thursday seemed to tire us out even more. We took off to Arcadia in the early afternoon. We needed to make a stop to Dad's grave just outside of town. I haven't been there in about 8 years. One of the downfalls of having moved so far south.

    We brushed off his stone a bit, and placed some nice blue flowers for him, and then headed on back into town. I lived in Arcadia for a few years. and the town has really gone to pieces... Most of the bars are "latino bars" now, and well it's just flat out been taken over. Very depressing.

    After passing through we stopped in Trempealeau to visit with a classmate, then we headed for a place a few miles SE of La Crosse where I had a tip I could run into another classmate I haven't seen in so many years, or even talked to. She's not on social media. It was an awesome time catching up. Neither her or her husband have changed much. So we had a nice dinner, several beverages, and still found our way home... somehow LOL.

    Friday we headed for Cashton to catch a varsity football game. Unfortunately it was against a team that totally dominated them. I'm not used to seeing Cashton on the receiving end of that... but much has changed in 30 years. We ran into a number of folks having a reunion two years older than I, and made a trip out to Peck's Corners for a couple drinks and some catching up.

    We then headed back to La Cosse and stopped in The Helm Bar to visit with our friend Fran that works Friday nights there.

    Amy had to leave for a few days for couple work meetings, which brings me to the unsupervised part of the story. So that night I headed up to Newburg's Corners to meet with some old high school friends, plus Fran stopped up with her boyfriend Trevor.

    All this catching up turned into about a 0130 arrival back at the boat... WAY past my particular bedtime. So I managed to do almost nothing Sunday or Monday in recovery from Saturday. It's hell to get old. But then by Tuesday I felt almost back to normal, and knew a return trip up there would catch me up with 2 more classmates... so away I went, once again unsupervised! Once again I found myself returning to La Crosse well past my bedtime. So once again all of Wed and Thursday morning were a big nothing but recovery. Amy returned Thursday about mid day. I'm getting too old to play by myself!!

    Oktoberfest was kicking off, and we went out on an invite from Fran, but didn't stay too long. I wasn't up for a late night and there were just too many people for our comfort level.

    Friday saw us head out to Timmer's 10 Mile again, for Fish Dinner with Grandpa and more family, plus catch up again with a classmate. Even ran into one of my HS teachers... What a night. 

    Saturday brought us to the Retreat's World's Fair 2 way parade! A 2 hour tractor ride each way, plus the event made for a long day as always. 

    Sunday we got to visit with cousin Evon and Jim a little bit, then Amy headed off to IL for meetings, and I headed off to KY to pick up a boat going to Hastings, MN. The owner wants to make it as fast as possible so it will be some long days I am sure!

Vernon County Fair, officially Fall in Wisconsin!

     Starting out early on Wednesday we headed for Viroqua and Aunt Janelle's. Amy has a full work day, and going to set up at her house, while I help Grandpa start getting tractors ready for the World's Fair later in the month. We got 2 tires repaired on the hay wagon, so we could get Grandpa's CO-OP tractor and my Farmall B out, gassed up, then ready to go. 

 

    Thursday morning Amy had work again, and grandpa and I unloaded his big trailer so we can haul utv's and an atv to Hatfield next Tuesday. In the afternoon we went down to the fair and walked through the animal barns. I thought maybe just maybe I might run into some that I knew... but no luck. In the afternoon we packed up and headed for Cashton. We had plans to have dinner with Cass and Matt. Cass was in my class, Matt a year older. They have a wonderful place in Cashton and a great family. It was great to catch up after all these years!

    Friday morning I got some of this Blog caught up while Amy had the bulk of her work in the morning. We took off just after noon, loaded up to stay in Viroqua through most of Sunday. We caught lunch at Coney Island... a local Hot Dog joint in La Crosse for many years. We took a walk around the Fair again in the afternoon, then packed up Grandpa and met Aunt Janelle and Cousin Chad at Norwegian Hollow for fish dinner. Tractor pulls were starting at 7, so we headed back to the fair grounds. Vernon County Fair is dry, so nearing the end we got thirsty and walked across the highway for a couple adult beverages. Cousin Chad's ex-wife was bar tending, so we got to catch up with her, and met a gentleman that knew my dad when he owned a couple bars back in Cashton before I came along.

    We slept in a bit Saturday, well Amy slept in, I fiddled around on the tablet  :) Then went to the fair for breakfast. The portable food stands are pretty high, but the built in food stands are pretty reasonable. We watched a guy doing caricature drawings for folks, and signed up and had ours done!

 

We listened to some music and toured a few parts of the fair we had not seen. Saturday night's attraction was the Demolition Derby! 

 

 

 

    Like the night before, we slipped out about 30 min early to beat the crowd to the watering hole. Plus it was a convenient walk back to Grandpa's house.

    Sunday we got convinced to pack up Grandpa and join Aunt Janelle at church. Then a little breakfast out. We then ran out to the farm to load up the UTV's and ATV's for Tuesday in Hatfield, WI.

 

    It is pretty amazing, there is Grandpa, at 98 and 11 months, out there on the trails riding a UTV with the rest of us. It is such a blessing to still have him with us, and how able he is to go and do things still!