Bird Watching from a boat

One of the greatest joys of boating is viewing our Lord's creativity in birds.

Birds, be they sea-side,

in swamps,

or on poles, can be found everywhere.

Navigation markers like this one on the ICW are a favorite spot for nesting and congregating.

The swamps of the "Tenn-Tom"

Waterway are full of beautiful birds.

"Tenn-Tombigbe Waterway"

Some stalk fish from the docks.

Limpen

Pelicans love to hang out on docks.

Of  course Gulls always love to follow boats

or claim a slip in a marina.

Some herons are not like the long necked variety we see more often in our area.

 Night Heron

Sand Hills in Florida.

Come see us when you pass thru the St Louis area.  JoAnn and I are AGLCA harbor hosts at Port Charles Harbor and would love to hear about your "Great Loop" adventure.

DUCK CLUB

The Duck Club on the Mississippi R. is a private marina marked by its lighthouse and located right next to Port Charles Harbor where our boat, Great Escape is docked. 

Our social membership allows JoAnn and I to enjoy the pool and restaurant there.  The views from the two marinas I believe are just awesome.

Transient boaters staying at Port Charles Harbor are usually treated as guests at the Duck Club and can use the facilities which is mutually beneficial.

The club house as seen from the gazebo is beautiful.  JoAnn and I as Harbor Hosts for the Amer. Great Loop Cruisers Assoc. often bring fellow "great loopers" over for dinner to enhance their stay with us at Port Charles.

The facilities are first rate and the boaters actually own their own boat slips.

Many large yachts can be found here.

Dock owners take pride in decorating their dock patios.

Located at the point where Dardine slough and the Mississippi river meet We are easy to find at Mile 221.5 RDB.  Just hang a right at Grafton and enter the Mississippi thru Mason Chute across from the Duck Club.

Fine dining with a magnificent view

and more casual dining in the bar

are made possible by the talents of our chief chef Mark who runs the restaurant and bar at the club.

All this in a dreamy setting on the Mississippi river at mile 221.5 next to our marina Port Charles Harbor.  This is the only spot in the USA that you can watch the sun set in Missouri over Illinois.  (Mighty Mississippi is running north for a short stretch here)

Emmergency "C-Section" on an Electric Stingray

The Electric Ray is an abundant visitor to the Gulf beaches at times and can inflict a rather "Shocking" feeling on any one who bumps it.Sting- rays can be good to eat.  So we decided to try our gourmet talents on them while at Orange Beach Ala. on our annual family trek...

After euthanizing them I noticed the belly of a female was moving rapidly in spite of the her being dead.

After opening the abdomen with a mid line incision the uterus was cut open and seven viable little 

Electric rays were delivered.

My grandkids were my surgical assistants and they transported the rays to the ocean. There the rays quickly did what sting rays do by burying themselves in the sandy bottom.

CARP CRUISING on the WHITE TRASH PALACE

One of the exciting excursions on the upper Mississippi in our area at Port Charles Harbor is a "carp cruise".  The old pontoon boat owned by our dock neighbors Doug and Donna has been named the WHITE TRASH PALACE. 




The "WTP" usually holds 8 or 9 guests on the cruise, and all are required to wear a protective helmet.  Donna bought a selection of 10 helmets at a garage sale for $11.
When on a "Carp Cruise" the sides can be rolled up but many of the guests become so scared that they want them down.

We have become known to be plagued by these jumping fish that are multiplying faster than the other flora in our river.  They have become a dangerous hazard to boaters in slower boats where the fish have hit people and caused injury!Some "Dock Six" friends on the "WTP" with out the required helmets.( women are so vain)!!

Now that the flood waters are dropping come see us.

Captain of the WHITE TRASH PALACE Doug wearing his protective glasses on dock six at Port Charles Harbor.

Transient boaters staying at Port Charles take the "CARP" cruise. They are now in New York  on the boat "Fandango" completing  "the Loop" on the Mowhak river,

How Do You Move A 3 Million Dollar Yacht? (CAREFULLY!)

The 65 foot Azmit arrives at Port Charles Harbor at mile 221.5 on the Mississippi R. after being transported from Italy to NYC by container ship and then to St Charles Mo. by water. I'm told it lists for $3,200,000.00.

After being lifted in the 60 ton travel lift,. the yacht is moved to the trailer on which it will be transported to the Lake of the Ozarks where MarineMax will make delivery to its new owner.

Many measurements and modifications will have to be made at Port Charles so the yacht will fit under the bridges on the highways.  Power lines will have to come down temporarly also on the way.  The Highway Patrol and UE will have to be paid to escort the trip. 

To make initial measurements, perfect placement must be achieved over the trailer.

Marina owner Paul directs the operation as the

yacht is backed up over the trailer. Every inch will count as parts of the yacht will have to be removed.

The process will determine whether Union Electric will have to be paid to accompany the boat all the way to Osage Beach or just at short intervals.

Yep, those rudders gotta go.   And the  prop shafts and struts also.

Still gonna be too high???                               

Is she "Dead Center"?

Roger, the fellow leading the MarineMax team who brought the Azmit by water to Port Charles takes a break.

The truck that will transport the yacht to "the Lake"

Its determined that the Fly-bridge arch will have to be removed.

There it goes!  Paul very carefully backs the lift away ensuring now that the boat and trailer will make it all the way with out hitting any bridges or power lines!

As the final  removal step is taken, the fellows on the team give it a jubilant thumbs up as its been rather tense up to this point!

Now she is ready to be loaded back on the trailer and shipped to the Lake where MarineMax will reassemble her prior to delivery to her new owner as good as new.  JoAnn and I got to tour her inside and found the yacht to be breath-tacking in beauty,  The Italian built yacht is gorgeous!