Mon 8th Aug 2005

Mon 8th Aug 2005
Well the MGD-effect gave rise to a later than dawn start we had energetically agreed to. After a dock shower & breakfast we cast off at 9am with the mists of the river coiling up around the overhead bridge.

The weeds are a problem. We are supposed to do 100 miles a day, and are behind schedule. The weeds accumulate around the motor stem until enough of them cause the prop to cavitate. We have to reverse to release the weeds and then start back up again. Progress is a bit better today now that we have a sense of weight distribution to allow us to plane. We are now just past Dubuque IA and moving at a good 13mph clip into another stunning sunset.

The barges arn't too much of a problem....but they cause incredible turmoil in their wake. A collossal speedboat shot out past us as we left Lock 11. I called from my hammock to Tenzin to 'surf the wake!' He did and we accelerated as if in a slingshot. Bobby in his deckchair on the bow reached to hold on........