A Not So “Lazy” Day

Day 18: Saturday, September 22, 2012

Underway: At Marina      Motor Off: At Marina      Miles Traveled: 00      Stayed At: Marina

First Things First: First “day off”; first unplanned event – POW/MIA Wreath Laying Ceremony at the pavilion by the Alton Marina.

Mile 203 to Mile 203: Change of plans. We decided to stay at Alton for our first down day of the trip. We decided this would be a good place to hang out while we wait for some mail we are expecting in Cape Girardeau Thursday – 151 miles downriver or about 3-4 days travel. There isn’t anyplace to anchor there so we need to time it so we don’t have to wait for anything to arrive. We are expecting some parts for our gas cans and hopefully some treats and mail from Jess, Sarah, Grandma A and Grandma G. We also were having a great time meeting people, chatting and learning about the Great Loop and a whole new batch of Loopers will be arriving today. And Lock 27 just opened but there is a backlog of traffic to move through so it might be a long wait. And the daiquiris are still going to be $2.00. Not a tough decision to stay. We learned later that Hoppies – the next marina downstream and last one for 260 miles – was full so we made a good choice.

Our down day ended up being not so lazy after all. We got up early at sunrise and headed up to the legendary Duke Bakery – a real old school bakery with the piles of treats in glass cases ready to be selected assuming you can make a decision between all the different kinds of fresh, warm baked goods. We stocked up and stopped at the grocery store to get a few things, reorganized the boat, purged a bunch of extraneous junk to be sent home, cleaned, tested the dinghy (still leaks), adjusted the tiller, waterproofed the rain gear, caught up on some phone calls, went to the POW/MIA ceremony, chatted with a bunch of liveaboards and Loopers and had a couple more daiquiris. What more could you ask for on a “down” day? Our only disappointment was that we were too tired to take advantage of the pool and hot tub.

Wild Things: Pool and hot tub at the marina.