Tut Completes The Loop

Mississippi River plant fountain

Dump truck on barge

Cape Girardeau Illinois

Ohio River

Boston Bar Anchorage

New lock construction on the Ohio River

New lock construction

Closer look at the new lock

deers

More deers

Sunset the day before Tut completed his loop

09.21.2010 0600 the excitement is mounting

A herrings points the way to the Cumberland River

The quarry comes alive as we cruise by

Turkey vultures greet us on the Cumberland

Some turkey vultures cheer us on from a fallen tree

Others applaud our return from a standing tree

3 miles to go and Tut becomes a Golden Looper

We're all excited as we move further into our home cruising area.

Tut decided to nap so he'll be refreshed for the return to Green Turtle Bay Celebrations.

2 miles to go

Barkley Lock and Dam

We're almost there

YEAH!

Yeah!

Green Turtle Bay within sight

Tut made it!

On Tuesday September 21, 2010, after 11 months and 4 days on America’s Great Loop, Freedom returned to her 2009 starting point, Green Turtle Bay, Grand Rivers Kentucky. We enjoyed meeting people, exploring towns and sharing stories. The 338 day adventure provided the crew, Andrew, Sallyann and Tut, with many memories and a yearning to continue cruising for another year or so.

Here are some trip statistics:

Distance traveled: 7,250 Statue Miles (6,300 nautical miles)

Number of locks through: 117

Diesel fuel consumption: 2,185 gallons

Engine Hours: 728

Generator Hours: 56

Cat litter used: 275 pounds

Happy Hours: Lost count

09.06-09.14.2010 Pictures (edited)

Sallyann's first smile after the party from hell.

09.04.2010 Kate and Paul came to visit. They took us to lunch at Tony’s Time Out Bar and Grill. The establishment has off track betting as well as indoor and outdoor dining. Thank you for the visit, lunch and for listening to our nightmare.

09.05.2010 Lisa and Joe, who we met in Grafton, took us to Fast Eddie’s. The food is cheap and the atmosphere fun. It really helped us unwind form the party pier from hell.

Lisa thanks for taking me on a tour of the city and to the mall. Spending money at Macy’s and JC Penny’s healed my nerves.

A big thank to Pepsi Joe for helping Andrew with the house battery issue. Your muscle was greatly appreciated especially by me. I don’t know how I would have helped Andrew lift the batteries out of the compartment below the salon. Thanks also for calling around for battery dealers and taking Andrew to Hazelwood to pick them up.

The Freedom's crew celebrating the coveted Gold Flag

On Tuesday 09.07. 2010 our AGLCA package which arrived at the marina mid August was located.

Technically Tut becomes a golden looper when we reach Grand Rivers Kentucky.

Heidi, Kelley and Pepper aboard Prime Time, helped us celebrate achieving gold status.

The Captain hanging the coveted GOLD AGLCA burgee

I'm dizzy and my sight is blurry. It must be from too much celebrating.

I better sleep it off so I'm rested for the celebrations in Kentucky. I heard it's going to be the cat's meow!

My duck friends

Duck on left spinning

The Captain fixing something

09.14.201 Lisa and I went to Argosy Casino for lunch and girl talk. She introduced me to the animated penny slots i.e. Penguins, Birthday Party and Airplane. I didn’t know that playing penny slots could be so much fun. You get excited over winning 500 credits ($5.00) because the penguin characters are cheering. I almost forgot that Andrew was coming home from his trip to Colorado.

The Captain’s trip disqualified him from achieving ’Loop Purest’ status. Loop Purest: one who completes the loop having slept on the boat ever night of the trip. Tut and I are still on track to have that distinction.

Pepsi Joe's First Lock Through

09.18.2010 Lisa and Joe traveled 44 miles down the Mississippi with us to Hoppies. It was Joe’s first time in a lock and he was feeling uneasy about the experience. Joe, who rides a Harley, built his own hot rod, and goes mud bogging, concerned about a lock through?

In the Mel Price Lock Joe was assigned the stern line. He stood there holding the line prepared to carry out his duty, to pay it out as the boat descended. Lisa and I teased him about how the water leaves the chamber. He didn’t believe Lisa’s story about lock having a plug and the water swishing down and out like in a toilet. However, the water rapidly dropping out of the chamber did appear to concern him.

We waited 20 minutes in the lock behind a tow boat. Joe anticipating the worse only to be told that the lock chamber was inoperable. We were asked to more to the next chamber.

The Tow boat moved out first churning up debris.

Lisa and me enjoying the moment.

Joe takes the wheel

Joe manning his station at the Chain of Rocks Lock

The Arch in St Louis

Observation windows

Joe and Lisa relax between locks.

Lisa and Joe at the Chain of Rocks lock

My hand, Lisa and Joe

Tut lets Joe rub his neck

St Louis

Lisa, The Arch and Tut

Joe works nights so he needed at nap. As he was drifting off the captain announced that a Hooters vessel was approaching us. Joe lifted his head and opened his eyes slightly. In disbelief he dropped his head back down and smiled. Lisa and I bantered about the girls on the hooters vessels and their varying states of undress. Joe's smile faded as his eye movement increased in rem sleep. Too bad really because we have Hooter pictures that can't be put on the blog.

Perhaps next time Joe you'll stay awake.

Tut didn't give a hoot about Hooters it was nap time.

Hoopies Marine Service is the only Marina for 228 miles. It an old barge connected to land by a walkway.

Joe and Lisa left us at this point. We had a fun day and lots of laughs.

The outside of the steel barge is covered with carpet to help prevent scratches to vessels.

We by past Hoppies in 2007 so we stopped here for the experience. The owner, Fern is very knowledgeable about this part of the loop.