Hoppies Marina for fun and a bit of HISTORY

Just 40 miles south of the Mel Price lock and dam at  Alton Ill. on the Mighty Mississippi, and over a hundred and fifty years back in time is the town of Kimswick Mo.  Here's where Hoppies Marina is found. It's a wonderful gem to all boaters!  The oldest marina west of the Mississippi river, Hoppies is a "must stop over" for all boats going south.  No gasoline is sold south of Hoppie's on the rivers until you get to Kentucky Lake.

The marina , like the town is steeped in history and a real  "down home" experience.  Ask any "Great Loop" boater about Hoppies and the stories start coming.  

Fern, Hoppie's wife is known to be the absolute authority on the Mississippi river south to the Lakes.  She often holds sessions on the dock to suggest anchorages and give tips on the river conditions.  These meetings are much appreciated by all who are going down river.

As you leave the Alton pool heading for the lock you see the beautiful bluffs on the Ill. Side .

The scenic river town of Grafton has places to visit if you choose to stop there on your way.

Hoppies marina consists of a long line of barges tied together to make a very stable dock.  You have electric power, water, and gasoline and diesel fuel.  Just a short walk into town rewards the boater with some of the most fabulous food and a step back into historic Kimswick.

Appetisers on the dock with friends is a daily routine when we are there.

"Dock 6" boats, from our marina "Port Charles Harbor" when heading to Kimswick,  for the fall Apple Butter Festival.  Many Loopers also stop at our marina, Port Charles Harbor at mile RDB 221.5, owmed by Hoppie's nephew Paul Hopkins.

A favorite stop in Kimswick is the Blue Owl Restaurant.  Their vegetable soup is my favorite.  Just look at the toppings on those pies!

Passing the arch is always exciting when going south and is a memorable sight that "Great Loopers" often recall..                                

Melvin Price lock and dam on the Mississippi R..  This is the escape hatch from the Alton pool to adventures beyond!                           

Cedar Key an alternative Port of Call when crossing Gulf

As you approach one must be very careful as the rule is shallow water outside the channel

Cedar Key waterfront.  You can anchor in 4-5 feet at low tide and walk in to the town.  (If you have the guts to do it!!)

Waterfront shops

Gulf view dining and the "Best Clam Chowder in the world".

Waterfront dining and touristy shopping along the main drag.

JoAnn waiting for our table at one of the many great seafood restaurants  and the clam chowder was awesome!

Diamondback rattlesnake a "not talked about abundant resident" of Cedar Key ( picture taken by Lovett E. Williams, wildlife photographer)

When crossing the Gulf of Mexico from Apalachacola or Carabell an alternate port of call can be Cedar Key if your draft isn't too deep.  And no we never did see a rattle snake.  But...stay off the beach at night!!!!

PVC Board, A Natural For Your Boat Projects

While sitting on the upper deck, watching the flood waters returning to our marina I started thinking about the things I've made with PVC board from Home Depot.

The hatch cover on the aft fly bridge was staring back at me.

Sturdy cover.

                                                  

The weather tight sunglasses and accessory holder at upper helm is great..

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Below on the aft deck a cabinet to hold fishing gear, bug spray etc.This was just wasted space    .

Chart plotter holder

A weather tight vest holder.Rot free as its name implies will not rot and is weather resistant and will not warp. Sold at hardware stores....  It cuts like butter and easy to work with.  Its a little pricey, but cheaper and easier to use than Starboard. A great material to work with for marine use.

Crossing Lake Wimico

One of the most memorable passages we've done was crossing the swampy Lake Wimico in  the Florida panhandle.

Entering the lake from the east side.

After leaving Panama City Municipal marina and crossing East Bay  the ICW (inter coastal waterway) narrows into a swampy serpentine channel to the entrance of Lake Wimico.

Entering the wide expanse of water is beautiful but risky.  The Lake is very shallow in many places and you must be very careful to stay in the dredged channel that crosses it.  The Markers are so far apart that binoculars must be used to see them.

Each time we've crossed the lake there has been wind and we found it hard to stay in the channel.

After leaving the lake,

 the Apalachacola River is a wonderful swamp experience.  JoAnn  (a woman who is terrified by snakes) actually became enamored by a mother alligator tending to its babies.  Go Figure???

Its tempting to skip the Lake Wimico route and cruise on the outside in the Gulf from Panama City to Port St Joe or Apalachacola, but you miss out on a beautiful day.

A Beauty of Boating IS BIRD WATCHING

Gulls follow boats while crossing Mobile Bay

Cruising a swamp up the Apalachicola R.

The first time JoAnn and I saw an Osprey we thought he was an American Bald Eagle.

Brown Pelicans are  not like our White Pelicans in the St Louis area.  The browns dive for food and develop cornea scaring.

Taking a rest on a finger dock

"Are you looking at me?"

Beauty on the dock

And of course our Eagles are

always majestic and exciting to see on the Alton Pool here at home on the Mississippi R..

A Tour of Great Escape (Pilothouse 4788)

Happiness is an early morning  fog.Forward deck with two anchors. A Danforth and a Bruce with 150 foot of chain.

Aft deck with 3rd anchor.

Lower helm seat in pilothouse.

Seating in the pilothouse and steps to the upper deck.

Electrical panel at lower helm.

Steps from lower helm to Saloon and galley.

Saloon with storage under the seating.

Saloon and galley kitchen.

Galley with stove, oven, nuke  and fridge.

Grand kids bunks in middle stateroom

Guest bath with shower

Guest stateroom

Master bath with tub and shower

Master stateroom in bow of boat.  Come and see us at Port  Charles Harbor.