Goodbye Mississippi R, Hello Ohio R

We got an early start yesterday and  had a very eventful day of it.  First, about 45 min out we hit something in the river - there was a fair amount of 'floating' debris.  It must have be a piece of wood big enough to make a loud bang on the hull as it was spun around by the prop.  But there was no apparent damage - no vibration, steering intact, no water - so we'll wait until we're in Mobile to look at it when the boat comes out of the water (or the Captn will take a swim in Kentucky Lake).

Because we were making such good time we decided not to stop at the last of our 'scheduled' anchorages on the Mississippi - it was only noon when we passed it.  So, we turned left and started up the Ohio.  What the Mississippi giveth, the Ohio taketh back.  Our speed at 1250 rpm on the Mississippi was 11 - 12 mph, on the Ohio we stepped it up to 1450 rpm and were at 6 - 7 mph!  We proceeded up to Olmstead (Lock and Dam) - the parentheses are there b/c they are still building the Dam and the "lock" is just a concrete alley.  We waited below the Olmstead in an area full of debris (see pic) for about 2.5 hours.  Then when all is ready, we and 3 other boats (all of which were in our last anchorage) were escorted through Olmstead by a towboat and brought 1.5 mile upriver to Lock 53.  The whole process took us about 3.5 h and so when we left Lock 53 it was 1/2 h 'til sunset and our anchorage was 9 miles farther upstream!!! We let the horses loose and sped up river at 8.5 mph, pulling into the anchorage on the river in the dark - another new and exciting experience!  But thanks to the calm assistance of the First Mate, Miss Hattie and her Captain made it in fine.  And now it is another beautiful day on the water, with the sun rising over the Ohio.

Sunrise, Ohio River

Olmstead Lock & Dam, construction sched 1995-2020

Debris, Olmstead Lock