Sunday..June 19...

Without shades, that sun comes up and wakes you pretty darn early...dog ashore...anchor up...we are underway before 6.... It's much cooler then...and today is gonna be another hot one. We thought we'd escape the heat of the Midwest ...HA!! That didn't work so well.

In an almost magical moment, we passed a tow pushing 15 barges...WAYNE P. LAGRANGE... The same tow we had encountered in 2011 as we headed from Polestar to Green Turtle Bay....he was behind us most of that day and was quite chatty...we pulled off to anchor for the night ...then the next morning as we pulled back into the Mississippi channel, there he was again...loaded and heading the other direction. His comment then was, " didn't think you'd ever get up"... Obviously he'd been busy...anyway, today's Captain was just as chatty...and ,of course , had no recall of that incident...very well was a different Captain....but Floyd and I were amazed that on the day we would "close our loop" , we would encounter him again....gave me goosebumps!!

It's Sunday...and Father's Day...lots of boats on the water....the last four miles on the Illinois River and the turn up the Mississippi was almost as rocky rolly as NYC harbor. Boaters, jet skis, tows, ferry and fisherman...seems all area dads had but one request for the day...be on the boat!!!

1:45 PM....on that rocky rolly Mississippi...someone ventured out to the fore deck... Straddled the bow pulpit and anchor to install our new platinum looper flag....we didn't have our crew/photographer this time...and Internet coverage here is just a step above crappy...so photos are few....maybe later....but glory hallelujah WHAT A TRIP!!  And that platinum flag is georgeous ....you sure don't see many of those. We know lots of loopers and wanna-be loopers....and several gold loopers (folks who've actually finished a loop). Floyd and I have only met three platinum loopers...folks who've finished more than one loop.... Anyway...TUMBLEWEED has been great to us...and we've certainly enjoyed this lifestyle...we look forward to more fun time cruising....more about all that later...

For now, we have made a couple of grand decisions...slip rental is cheaper here than in Chicago...and I have the itch to get home....so Floyd and Dakota will stay in St Charles (really close to St. Louis) to supervise those boat repairs and do a few maintainance chores... I'm renting a car and headed home to check on Mom and play with grand kids. Oh, and find something suitable to wear to that September Wedding....