 Hunters and gatherers.  Alton, St Louis bridge |
 El capitano, Brian  The winkettes with the bootie, later released back at the marina |
30/7/11 Alton all day, no k’s, a hot but not ridiculously so day, still and clear
After a big night, nested at 0300hrs. The day was greeted about 0930hrs.
Brian who we caught up with last night had asked us to come sailing with him today. Arriving at the marina we caught up with him and stocked up his 25ft yacht with the necessary items, ales, pizza and water.
Brian knew every bugger in the harbour, as you do, all good buggers of course. So it took awhile to get the mooring lines free from Rock On.
Judy, a friend of Tonys came with us and the kids. One of those cool laid back days on a yacht was in the making.
Heading out of the marina we motored under the Alton, St Louis bridge, one of huge proportions, built only in the nineties, things like this were one of the better testaments to boom times. Being a kind of suspension bridge it was a structure to be gazed at in wonderment.
Tony mentioned that one of the piles, saying they were big would be an unspeakable understatement, contained concrete not up to spec and had to be demolished and rebuilt, oh, the excesses of such times.
We headed up stream to a sandbar, anchored up, by this time we were all incredibly hot especially the winkets. Judy got in the water and immediately got taken away in the current. It was a laugh, no one else swam, the next ten minutes were dedicated to retriving her, she copped heaps.
We headed to a slough (slew), and still water. Anchored up and immersed ourselves in the brown still water. The bottom was a thick mud, so therapeutic. The kids had a ball. Asian Carp were launching themselves skyward in our vicinity. It was a true Mississippii experience. Swimming is a pleasure knowing there are no nasties to sting or bite.
Anyway, we had pulled up in an area where there were abundant mussels living in the mud, so we all had fun trying to find the biggest. Judy took the title as the best hunter and gatherer. Tony was telling me that, as kids they used to climb all the cliffs bordering the river at this point. They made such a lovely backdrop to the landscape here, just west of St Louis. At least six barges were lined up waiting to get through the lock, this is normal here as it is on the confluence of the Illinois and Missouri rivers.
After such a relaxing , laid back, fun day on the river we all headed to the marina swimming pool. Swimming and drinking here to some hour of no concern. Between the three of them, Judy, Brian and Tony, they knew most people about.
Judy was an engineer for Boeing who had only recently been to OZ to help set up the F18 maintenance facility at Amberly Air Base .Boeing have a military aircraft division in St Loius.
Talk about a fun girl, so natural and enthusiastic, we got on well and decided to head out for tea, Tony took the kids home, Judy and I went to a place called Fast Eddies, half the town must have been there. She explained it was nothing flash but would suit our needs for a quick graze. We ordered shrimps, they are cooked king prawns, but ever so nice, we ordered seconds, they were so good.
Leaving Grafton, the presence of African Americans has increased greatly, Mo at the Reubel had employed John as his chef, he was one of only a few coloured guys in town.
Judy explained that Grafton is kind of line, defining the northern boundary of their presence. I told her I was looking forward to experiencing their company and ideals further down the river.
Cruising around town in her Mustang, the V8 quietly making its presence known as we departed from the few red lights we encountered. I thought to myself, well actually aloud, sharing my emotion with her, just how I felt so much at ease here, on and around the river, we both agreed what a lovely part of America this is. This experience was bathed in country rock music which now has relevance for me.
Spending time in this part of North America in the company of the lovely ,friendly people here that call it home, for me, is fast becoming so much more than a bike ride. Any stereotypic thoughts I had about this country and its people were just that.
Next stop was a liqour shop for some vino. Low and behold a couple of Kiwi Sav B’s were on offer. Hadn’t had one for awhile, this made the choice so easy.
Back at her place in Godfrey we got the big welcome from her 7 week old lab.
He had a fetish for aussie thongs, cool dog. We sat around laughing and chatting while listening to country music on the tele.
Getting back to Tonys late. It was such a nice way to finish another totally unexpected day with the special people on this river of dreams.
After a big night, nested at 0300hrs. The day was greeted about 0930hrs.
Brian who we caught up with last night had asked us to come sailing with him today. Arriving at the marina we caught up with him and stocked up his 25ft yacht with the necessary items, ales, pizza and water.
Brian knew every bugger in the harbour, as you do, all good buggers of course. So it took awhile to get the mooring lines free from Rock On.
Judy, a friend of Tonys came with us and the kids. One of those cool laid back days on a yacht was in the making.
Heading out of the marina we motored under the Alton, St Louis bridge, one of huge proportions, built only in the nineties, things like this were one of the better testaments to boom times. Being a kind of suspension bridge it was a structure to be gazed at in wonderment.
Tony mentioned that one of the piles, saying they were big would be an unspeakable understatement, contained concrete not up to spec and had to be demolished and rebuilt, oh, the excesses of such times.
We headed up stream to a sandbar, anchored up, by this time we were all incredibly hot especially the winkets. Judy got in the water and immediately got taken away in the current. It was a laugh, no one else swam, the next ten minutes were dedicated to retriving her, she copped heaps.
We headed to a slough (slew), and still water. Anchored up and immersed ourselves in the brown still water. The bottom was a thick mud, so therapeutic. The kids had a ball. Asian Carp were launching themselves skyward in our vicinity. It was a true Mississippii experience. Swimming is a pleasure knowing there are no nasties to sting or bite.
Anyway, we had pulled up in an area where there were abundant mussels living in the mud, so we all had fun trying to find the biggest. Judy took the title as the best hunter and gatherer. Tony was telling me that, as kids they used to climb all the cliffs bordering the river at this point. They made such a lovely backdrop to the landscape here, just west of St Louis. At least six barges were lined up waiting to get through the lock, this is normal here as it is on the confluence of the Illinois and Missouri rivers.
After such a relaxing , laid back, fun day on the river we all headed to the marina swimming pool. Swimming and drinking here to some hour of no concern. Between the three of them, Judy, Brian and Tony, they knew most people about.
Judy was an engineer for Boeing who had only recently been to OZ to help set up the F18 maintenance facility at Amberly Air Base .Boeing have a military aircraft division in St Loius.
Talk about a fun girl, so natural and enthusiastic, we got on well and decided to head out for tea, Tony took the kids home, Judy and I went to a place called Fast Eddies, half the town must have been there. She explained it was nothing flash but would suit our needs for a quick graze. We ordered shrimps, they are cooked king prawns, but ever so nice, we ordered seconds, they were so good.
Leaving Grafton, the presence of African Americans has increased greatly, Mo at the Reubel had employed John as his chef, he was one of only a few coloured guys in town.
Judy explained that Grafton is kind of line, defining the northern boundary of their presence. I told her I was looking forward to experiencing their company and ideals further down the river.
Cruising around town in her Mustang, the V8 quietly making its presence known as we departed from the few red lights we encountered. I thought to myself, well actually aloud, sharing my emotion with her, just how I felt so much at ease here, on and around the river, we both agreed what a lovely part of America this is. This experience was bathed in country rock music which now has relevance for me.
Spending time in this part of North America in the company of the lovely ,friendly people here that call it home, for me, is fast becoming so much more than a bike ride. Any stereotypic thoughts I had about this country and its people were just that.
Next stop was a liqour shop for some vino. Low and behold a couple of Kiwi Sav B’s were on offer. Hadn’t had one for awhile, this made the choice so easy.
Back at her place in Godfrey we got the big welcome from her 7 week old lab.
He had a fetish for aussie thongs, cool dog. We sat around laughing and chatting while listening to country music on the tele.
Getting back to Tonys late. It was such a nice way to finish another totally unexpected day with the special people on this river of dreams.
