October 13-14, 2017 Friday & Saturday
Fri: We stopped in Grafton, located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, to pick-up a package from Ranger Tug containing the needed parts for servicing Andiamo’s engine. We were going to service the engine there but decided to go to Alton instead, a short 16 miles away.
We have experienced rain and gray days for a week and were really hoping for blue skies today but it was misty and gray with few great picture taking opportunities. However, even with the gray skies, it was beautiful as we entered the Mississippi River and cruised past eagles, pelicans, tows, Our Lady of the Rivers, and the Piasa mural on our way to Alton.
The Legend of Piasa – In 1673 Jacques Marquette reported that he and fellow French Explorer Louis Jolliet discovered a painting of what was probably two “Water Monsters” on the bluffs of the Mississippi River near present-day Alton. By 1700 those pictographic Creatures were no longer visible. In 1836 the novelist John Russell described an image cut into the bluff of a legendary dragon-like creature with wings. According to Russell, the creature was called Piasa, “The bird that devours men.” That version of the pictograph as well as myths about the Piasa has become prominent in Folklore.
We have been pulling our dinghy behind Andiamo since Florida and decided that we did not want to tow it down the Mississippi River, so we spent the afternoon cleaning the dinghy. We’ll let it dry overnight and finish taking it apart, the key will be trying to store it in a 25-foot boat that is already fully loaded.
Sat: We had breakfast with fellow loopers, went to the last farmers market of the year in Alton, had docktails and dinner with fellow loopers, and went for a long walk. Life is good! In between social activities, we managed to finish the dinghy. While the floorboards, paddles, and seat have been stored throughout Andiamo the dinghy itself is in its storage bag and will ride in the cockpit.
