The Mighty Mississippi
On June 15, 2008 (almost 40 years to the day) the Rowe
family set forth once again on the Mighty Mississippi. In 1968; Pat, Dean,
Bill, and Vicki headed down the Mississippi from Louisiana, MO and then up the
Illinois Waterway to Chicago and then out onto Lake Michigan to Racine, WI in an
18' Starcraft cuddy cabin cruiser. It was a great adventure (albeit a bit
crowded ).
This time we decided to rent a houseboat from S&S
Houseboats in Lansing, IA . My brother Bill and his wife Lil joined us for
this adventure. The river was closed to all traffic below our lock and
pool, so we had the river pretty much to ourselves.
The word was passed to load up - some of us found
different ways to get loaded !
Captain Morgan ? Aye ! - ARRRRGH !
We spent the night prior to boarding our vessel with my
niece Debbie and her husband Mike. Other members of the Wisconsin arm of
the family joined in for a farewell to our intrepid riverboat people.
The Rowe's Garden
"Our" Boat and Bill at S&S Docks
Nun Buoy Downbound
Bluffing: Riverboat Style
Flood Stage on the River
Passing on the two whistle
Keeping Clear of Traffic on the River
Vicki at the Helm
Di Manning the Wheel
Lil's Turn Steering
Brother Bill in Command
Son Bill Heading Upbound on the Wisconsin Side
Dean's Watch
Keep Sharp Lookout for Aids to Navigation
Railroads on Both River Banks
Three State Lines Meet Here
Passing the Julia Belle Swain on the One Whistle
Descending Bank ?... I'd Say So !
Red-Right-Returning
Secured Before Sunset Each Day
Small Towns Along the Banks
The Sun Went Over the Yardarm !
M/V Lexington
Nature Walk !
A Most Relaxing Cruise
Avast Ye Lubbers !
Dean's Stateroom
Forward Watch Galley Crew
Happy Days on the Mighty Miss !
Evening Campfires on the Beach
Forward Watch Helmsman
Moored in La Crosse, WI
La Crosse Exploration Party
La Crosse Municipal Riverside Park
Julia Belle Swain Arriving with Calliope Playing
Forecastle Card Room
Fond Memories of Our Mississippi River Houseboat !