Good morning, Loopers and Cruisers.  Another easy day today.  We are going down the river to Alton, IL just a stone’s throw away from Grafton.  One reason is to make the next stop shorter and to be on the door step of the Mel Price’s Lock.  Ok.  The third reason is get my wifi and phone reception back again.

The wind was a bit higher than I expected and after getting fuel and a pump out, we were on the water.  With the confluence of the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers together, I was helping Wayne get to the right channel to head south that I didn’t take any ‘going away’ pictures.

We did see this fascinating structure shortly after leaving Grafton.  Get your swimsuits ready!!

Raging Water Water Park

Scenery along the way to Alton.  Mixture of natural rock and trees and Industry.

Tow pushing a barge north against the current -alot of energy to go against a 3knot current

Commerce along the Upper Mississippi River

Argosy Casino – how colorful

Another Looper and I shared a cab to go to the closest Walmart to get some last minute food items before going down the Mississippi River.  I don’t exactly know where we went but it was 20 minutes from the marina.  We passed three oil refineries and a granary.  When we were returning to the marina after our shopping trip, the cab started to stink.  The cab driver blamed the smell on the oil refineries.  I just thought he farted and it smell like he ate sauerkraut the day before.  Opening the window was not an option.  Being an adult, I didn’t say a word.  😉

Along the way, I saw a nicely done mural on the side of a corner cafe that had motorcycles in front of it.  Cafe?  Hmmm Looks like more of a hot-rod hangout to me.

Mural outside of a speakeasy

Mural outside of the Alton Marina

When we got to the Alton Marina, they put us under a high covered dock.  It was so cool under there!!  The wind was gently blowing a cool breeze under the canopy.  We didn’t have to use the air conditioner at all during the day even though the outside temperature go to the high 80°F.

This picture out of our back door is toward the Mel Price Lock and Dam.  We can watch the barges and boats going and coming in/out of the dam.  Just how busy will it be when it is time for us to go through it?

Evening sky outside our back door