Swells - cont

In the jolts of the swells, the starboard anchor had become dislodged. I found the line fastened to the cleat, taut! We were lucky! Had the anchor snagged something, it would have done some extensive damage.

We reached Caruthersville, MO at lunchtime. We approached a moored casino boat as James prepared to speak 'American'to them (just about no-one on the entire river understands a word Bobby & I are saying when we are asking for directions).
"You caint tie up here!" James had only just begun to open his mouth. She was short, Southern with an official looking radio draped about her shoulders. You would think she was harrassed daily by crews of unkempt men on a double-decker pontoon boats from far-away lands.
"Do you know where we can dock and get some gas?" James politely called.
She shook her head. Then, she spoke into her radio mouthpiece secured to her shoulder. She could have been a SWAT operative in the field.