Day 3 – 10/6/23

Starting location: Hoppie’s Marina, Kimmswick, MO

Weather: Sunny, high 70s

Ending location: Little Diversion Canal, mile 48.8

Statute miles: 110

General summary: Got up bright and early, had breakfast on the boat, started out on the water at first light. Had noted prior to departure that our chart plotter was missing detailed depth contour lines for this area, but did show a dashed purple line indicating suggested best course. We had no wifi and limited cell coverage, plus tech support was not yet available that early to help us fix it. Fortunately, Tom had a back-up Navionics app (paid monthly service) on his phone that connects by GPS. Using the combined information, and watching for green and red markers (“red right returning” – in this case red on left as we were leaving the Mississippi River) we were safely on the way. As long as we followed the general route (purple line) we were fine for depth. When we needed to pass a barge, we used the phone app to determine where we could best do so. We learned that the barge captains follow VHF radio channel 13, so left our main radio on 16 (hailing and Coast Guard channel) and set our handheld radio to 13 to contact them. (Debbie had indicated this was very important to do as they often have limited steering room and appreciate it.) We got lots of practice doing this. We bypassed Kaskaskia Lock and Dam, where you can tie off overnight with permission from the lock operator, if needed. Finally reached Little Diversion Canal and slowly motored in, monitoring conditions constantly with our depth sounder, and found we could get pretty far in with depths of 7 feet. Dropped anchor mid channel and took down the dinghy for an exploratory row and dog rest break. Found a rocky spot underneath a railroad bridge that limited mud exposure (Mississippi mud is thick and sticky!), tied up the dinghy, and got on land. Walked a mile or so on a gravel trail next to the tracks and returned. Grilled dinner on our Magma grill. Only one other boat came in, so had the place mostly to ourselves.

Boater Information:

1. Back-up navigation and communication is a really good idea.

2. The barge captains sometimes indicate to pass on the “1” or “1 whistle” versus the “2” or “2 whistle” rather than port or starboard. This harkens back to pre-radio days where whistles were used to communicate navigationally. One whistle means point your bow to the right/starboard. Two is point your bow to the left/port. This is regardless of passing in front or from behind.

3. Contact the lock operators using VHF channel 14.

4. We misunderstood the guide book and thought we were supposed to lock through Kaskaskia Lock. After a confused discussion with the lock operator we realized our error. Do continue down the Mississippi.

5. The Little Diversion Canal looks pretty small from the river and is just after another small canal around mile 49. You will enter against the current, so point your bow towards the upriver side until you are in, then the current slows and is in front of you from the canal flow.

6. Remember to turn on your anchor light.