Hannibal, MO to Rockport, IL

After breakfast at Becky Thatcher’s Diner, we watched the American Queen cruise past our slip, then got underway from Hannibal.

We had to wait about 30 minutes at Lock 22 for a 15-barge tow to reconnect and exit before we locked down. If the next lock is close to our departure point, we will call the lock master and get an estimate before shoving off. If the next lock is farther downriver, we roll the dice and hope for the best. There is a useful tool, called Automatic Identification System (AIS), that removes some of the guess work. AIS transmitters are required on all commercial ships, and are optional on recreational vessels. AIS tells you the name of the vessel, it’s course, speed, destination and other details. One of our handheld VHF radios has an AIS receiver, and we also use an iPhone app, Boat Beacon, that communicates with shore stations to relay the necessary info. When we approach a lock, we’ll check AIS for any commercial traffic in the chamber or approaching the lock, and adjust our speed, then call the lock master on the radio when we’re about a mile away to get in the queue. So far it’s worked, and we only have four more locks to go on the Mississippi.

Today we went 26 miles to Rockport, IL, an unincorporated town across the river from Louisiana, MO. We’re at Two Rivers Marina, a very nice facility that is living up to its great online reviews. We did our laundry, enjoyed hot showers, and Kathleen practiced her fiddle out of the sun in our covered slip.