Highlights of the summer of 2019...

• Brother Barry and crew manned the fort and took such good care of Mom...what a relief!
• New refrigerator 
• Floyd’s new horns...though he did get in trouble more than once for unwarned honking!
• Museum at Whitefish Point with great artifacts from Edmond Fitzgerald
• Lunch buffet at the Grand Hotel, Mackinaw Island 
• Charlevoix with the Bemis crew!
• Mobile groomer came to Leland...
• Frankfort with Shanna banana 
• All those calls to Saugatuck Marina mechanic and still no batteries or work!! And no shopping!
• Meeting up with Janet and Laurie in Chicago
• Attending Hamilton and cheering for the Cubs...front and center....I ❤️ Chicago...
• Rainstorm and grocery shopping timing...we didn’t get wet
• Boat visit from Ben Stien and Laura...solving our electrical issue in less than 30 minutes on a Saturday night!
• Seneca and Spring Brook Marina...where new boat batteries happened
• Locking through at 5 AM...what an artery clearing adventure...both times!
• Shopping at Starved Rock
• Laughing at MAD HOUSE II....meeting TARYN AWEIGH
• Wickets down...driving through open locks
• Re-connecting with Larry and Cindy  BUCKET LIST in Grafton
• Cooler temps on the skanky river...who woulda thought the 80s in July were possible??
• Fourteen and a half hour boating day from Kaskaskia to Paducah....and then there was SassySea Sally and TARYN AWEIGH....boating into GTB with them...and hanging out for a while!! 
• GTB slip was even better than we thought 
• Bad haircut for poor Dakota
• New friendships at GTB
• New chairs ordered...bigger in slip patio

Two weeks later...geesh, I’m hoping my list of things to do at home begins to dwindle. I’ve literally been going at the speed of light....but as I catch my breath, I’m determined to finish this up so I can get it printed! Good to have goals! Floyd stopped here long enough to drop me off and purchase a few things for boat projects...he and Dakota headed back to the boat four days later. He plans to be in Kentucky til Mid October. You’d think with me “home alone” I’d be making better progress...

So we were gone from Wichita 103 days...left on May 23 and returned on September 3...while they weren’t all glorious, our mission was accomplished without much ado. In fact, it was a perfectly pleasant total boating experience...we had some boat issues, but they weren’t deal breakers. Nothing that really slowed our progress or broke the bank. We had some extremely hard days, but we knew ahead of time what to expect...and those days put us closer to the new home port...all worth it!  We had some days that just seemed to be blessed...timing, weather or temperatures all worked with us for a change. Even though the skanky river section was skanky, we managed without many headaches. Most important, we didn’t kill each other!

We traveled 1091 miles...leaving Northport for the last time on June 16 and arriving at Green Turtle Bay on Sunday August 4.

We rented a car while we were in Harbor Springs and took road trips to Whitefish Point, Saulte Ste Marie and Mackinaw Island.

By boat, we visited 29 ports...though we did go to Charlevoix 3 times and back to Northport twice chasing that electrical issue. New to us were the stops at Elk Rapids, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Arcadia, Seneca, Alton, and Paducah. At Manistee, we stayed at a marina that was new to us...and one that was so improved we almost didn’t recognize it!

Home safe and sound....though they coulda  dialed down the heat a little. At least it’s a dry heat!! Lol...like that makes it better...it’s is a whirlwind of activity as we unpack, catch up with friends and regroup for sending Floyd and Dakota back to the boat. We have several things we want to buy here and send back ...so Floyd has projects! New handles for all drawers and cabinets is high on the List! He plans to head out Sunday afternoon...stopping Monday just a little off the beaten path to pick up that new dock box...sure hope that works!!

Emory did start on enlarging our deck ...he started on Tuesday....and Wednesday he’s done!! Our friend Vicki sent photos....we’re very pleased!

We have managed to gather a summer summary...I do plan to post that. Then it’ll be time to get this little book printed!! Soon....

This place is beyond busy....people, kids and dogs are everywhere ....and we are having a blast people watching....and we’ve got that great view of the boat ramp. Several boats yesterday that didn’t make it through the weekend....as well as interesting boat dockage in the dark....oh, my!

Coffee pot malfunction was not averted! Play Taps!!  Thank goodness we hadn’t thrown out the leftover coffee...so lives will be safe Monday morning. But it’s really serious! We have had an under the counter attached, original Black and Decker coffee maker....looks like hell but made great coffee! Until yesterday....think the electrical innards shot craps. They no longer manufacture any coffee makers that attach under the counter....so tears...and tons of online looking and discussion about moving forward...and where we’re gonna find the counter space for a coffee maker...hopefully, we’ve made the right choice. Stay tuned to see that play out. We Amazon ordered one...will arrive in Wichita on Wednesday so we can check it out.....meanwhile, this one stays put....

And the schlepping has begun in earnest...the plan is to leave here around 1...drive as far as Springfield...then into Wichita on Tuesday. Hope to arrive early afternoon...unload, visit grocery store and pick up mail before collapsing in a heap! Mom, Kelli and grand boys are in there too. I’m sure Brother Barry and crew working with Mom are gonna heave a sigh of relief to have me back on deck. I’m rested and ready....I’m always glad to get to the boat...and glad to get home! I just wish it didn’t require so much schlepping...I need to work on that!!M

We can not believe all the people on the dock today...must be Labor Day weekend....boaters everywhere flocking for one last hoorah....and they seem to all be dog owners!

Floyd has started schlepping the “going to Wichita” items to the truck...we’re seriously thinking we’ll head out tomorrow and break the trip in to two shorter rides....get back early enough to visit grocery store etc...I’m good with that...

Today is people watching...oh, and trying to avert coffee pot malfunction....it could get ugly!!

Thirsty Turtle last night was tons of fun...our group grew from 4 to 6  to 8...and then 9....joined at one point by Bill Gary Sr...owner of GTB. Drinks were cold and food was mediocre...band was really pretty decent...time spent chatting on pier 5 with everyone and watching the masses arrive was delightful...but we were up way past our bed time...

Tonight is a totally different experience...off to the Yacht Club!

We did take a trip into Murray KY this morning to visit some chairs we’ve been talking about. They were even better than we thought...so Captain Floyd pulled the trigger on those bad boys...Stressless recliners with auto foot rest in Oxford blue will be a lovely update to our salon...hope Dakota likes them!!

We also got to experience a little of the Grand Rivers Art and craft show craziness...traffic was un-frickin’- believable.  Think I’ll wait for the shopping part tomorrow...

Mayor of Pier 5 has created a monster...Vickie loves Dakota and yesterday she bought him a silly squeaky toy...so now he loves her even more....but we know it went over the top when he came to bed last night carrying his new toy. We allowed it to stay...but prayed the squeaking didn’t happen during the night....thankfully it didn’t...

He’s gonna be so sad next spring when she doesn’t return....us too!!

The other work in progress is our calendar...now that we’ve joined the Yacht Club, we’d like to participate in some of their events/parties. And with boat winterized that could be tricky...visited the condo folks and guess we’ll be trying out some of their facilities....Yacht club membership gets us a discount and it’s a good experience for us...as we so hope family and friends will come visit us in GTB next spring and summer!! They even have dog friendly units!!

Deer everywhere we went yesterday...these are just a few of the ones we saw on the way to get pizza at the local grocery store...

It’s Friday!! So the people will arrive...it’s the last big hurrah for boaters!! And the weather is scheduled to cooperate....

We’re cleaning and boat washing...hanging out our state flags...I have a haircut scheduled and probably need to paint on these rusty poles...

The Memphis Yahoos are preforming tonight at the Thirsty Turtle....so we’re gonna go check that out...tomorrow is supposedly big doings at the Yacht Club...then the loading for that trip home should begin. I’m always a little sad to leave this boating life...but I’m ready to hug my peeps and especially those grandboys!

Yep, took a little boat ride yesterday...explored a couple of cove areas....put some gas on port side to even up our tilting boat...all is good.

Holiday weekend approaches...we expect to see lots of people on pier 5...

We head back to Wichita on Tuesday ...though Floyd won’t be there long...he’s got projects to supervise!!

Because of approaching holiday and planned return to Wichita next week, I decided to do a little laundry yesterday...and can I just say someone needs a refresher course in laundry room etiquette....big oaf only had one load but his stuff sat in washer all morning and in the dryer most of the afternoon...what a mess he created!! Four of us did multiple loads around him...geez, people set a timer!


Today we are determined to leave the dock...gonna explore and maybe anchor out. It’s about time, don’t ya think?? We’ve been here three and a half weeks...starting to grow roots!!

Life on the water...we love this view...hope it never grows old....

We did a little field trip yesterday into the Land Between the Lakes...truck ride took us only about half way into the 170,000 acre National Recreation Area....the largest peninsula in the US... Miles and miles of hiking and biking trails, campsites, educational venues and lake access...a haven for outdoor adventure...we plan to return. Bet it would be pretty in the Fall...

Last night we learned why they call our pier the “party pier”...Russell hired a band... parked them in the middle...5 people...they said the guy on steel guitar use to play with Brooks and Dunn...they were good...Russell played his harmonica and joined in several times...people came from everywhere...parking lot was packed!! Fun time was had by all....our new friend Vicki is evidently the mayor of Pier 5... while she wasn’t large and in charge, she sure seemed to know what was happening...and she knew everyone. She says she and Bob are leaving GTB in October ....headed to Bahamas and not planning to return. We’re gonna miss her!

And some bad news...we had hoped for a visit this week from Susan and Carolyn...Lexington looper friends...but alas, it is not gonna happen. But sure gives us something to look forward to in the spring.

Cloudy day again...rain is coming....but loving the cooler temps....

Friday nite date night...our kind of deal...we went to town and tried the new T. Lawson’s Grill...owned by the Patti’s people...good stuff. Cute cast iron plating for salads and starters. I had the tiniest crab cakes ever....but they were spicy, plentiful and delightful...Floyd’s burger came with tater tots and was a good one.

Then over to the local playhouse for a little Pickin and Grinnin....a Hee-Haw flashback...they recreated lots of the humor and fun ....we’d forgotten most of it til they fired it up...crowd was probably smaller than they’d like. But that fire at the big Patti’s Pork chop place use to draw in tour buses full of folks...and they aren’t coming now. Progress on the rebuilding is moving right along...photo is of the new entrance area but I’m guessing October before they open and that is not the height of tourist season ....they are advertising and hiring for all positions, if you’re interested. Lol!

Anyway, we got gussied up, had a good time, didn’t spend a fortune and home by 930....our kind of deal!

Weeks are slipping away...after months of almost daily traveling to get here...since we arrived we really haven’t boated anywhere. We’ve made plans to explore...but it is like waving a magic wand that produces rain and thunderstorms...we plan ...they arrive. So hopefully next week...

My project yesterday was painting the new free steps...our new best dock friend Vicki located them...and they are perfect....but needed some TLC...fresh coat of white paint and new carpet strips...Dakota thinks they are fabulous!! Though he wasn’t sure at first...

Our favorite evening activity...from our aft deck....watching the small herd of deer meandering on the grass at the marina...it is amazing how many times we spot them out and about...always seems to get Dakota’s attention...think he’d like to play with them...thank goodness for leashes!

Excitement yesterday was that the small ski boat someone had parked in the empty slip next to us was taking on water...sinking sinking sinking....Captain Bill (local dock expert) took swift charge of that..it’s now at the dry dock.

This morning in the pouring rain, Floyd discovered a jet ski floating by...managed to nab it with his extra long boat hook and tie it in the empty slip next to us....sooooo maybe we have a new jet ski.
We just commented yesterday about the stuff we see floating by...cups, styrofoam, Clorox bottles...and now jet skis! Love this place! You just never know!!

Love being in a covered slip during the rain...lightning and thunder... windows open...75 degrees....not gonna be working on a tan today!!

Wednesday brings the pump out boat to our slip...and laundry! It’s once again time for laundry. Floyd had gone to Paducah to give our friends Nick and Taryn a lift from the airport so I decided to use the marina laundry room. No one around when I arrived and no machines being used so I went to work. Imagine my surprise when I went to use the dryers and there was a huge warm load of white boat rags. Didn’t slow me down...and gave me meaning and purpose to fold and neatly stack...though I’m thinking someone is gonna remember them....told Floyd if they were still there tomorrow, they were his!

Rain storms are coming in...ruining our plans for a boating expedition...in fact, we may be lucky to get away from the dock before returning to Wichita. Though I’m not excited about rain, I am anticipating cooler temps....been more than a little warmish!!

Brother Barry wanted ribs and a T-shirt...score!! We bought both...but very doubtful that those ribs will make the trip home...hehehe! No one cooks tonight!!

Life is never dull around us....Floyd had a little issue with an ingrown toenail so they sent us to the clinic in Eddyville....pronounced Ed-a-vl...since we were only seven miles away we took the road trip to Fredonia Kentucky. We’d visited in 2008....but forgot what it looked like. Ate lunch at the CopperTop BBQ restaurant...and took photos that Floyd assured me I’d taken before...worth the effort. Got chased off by a little black yippee  dog...all laughs...home in time for a nap...and bought ribs for supper tonight...and yes, his toe is throbbing. Gonna hurt for awhile...no photos of that deal!

Silly me...Floyd’s new dock box is in Lampe, Mo...Table Rock...it’s a ten hour round trip road trip...but he says “worth it”! Dakota and I will be home alone on that day. Then he’ll have to hire people to help wrestle it to our spot...I’ll be no help at all!

We thought Marina Days was a big bother...several booths selling stuff we didn’t need or want...some food...again nothing that interested us...lots of kid activities. Kayaks, bouncy house, paddle boards, free pontoon boat rides and swimming off the boat ramp dock..bands in the afternoon....and it was hot hotter hottest. We had more fun watching from the aft deck.

Early evening entertainment was provided by drunks staggering up and down our dock...don’t know where they came from or where they thought they were going in swimsuits with no shoes...but it was a distraction watching them trying to look sober.

About 930 pm someone on our dock decided they had better music...N O T...but we were subjected to it anyway...you know it’s loud when you can hear it in the aft cabin with the AC on full blast...it didn’t really work as a lullaby...but didn’t last long....I told Floyd he shoulda honked his horn...that would have stopped them.

Weekends on Pier 5 are certainly different....they’ll all be gone this afternoon....til next Saturday !

Enjoyed a lovely evening dining at the Yacht club....we have really not had a bad experience dining there. Thinking that things will be kinda crazy tonight...lots of music and kid activities going on today...it’s National Marina Days....bouncy toys, games....masses seem to have appeared. We plan to venture up this afternoon. There is a band at the club tonight...we might go for drinks, but we don’t plan to eat there. It’ll be crazy busy!

Boat is clean...refrigerator defrosted...oh, have I mentioned how much we love the new refrigerator...now that we’ve learned how it operates!!! Lol, that was fun, wasn’t it!???

Floyd and Captain Bill managed to get Freon in the truck AC...so we’ll be returning the rental car on Monday...he’s placed an order for a big vertical dock box. He’ll get to go fetch it himself near Lake of the Ozarks next week sometime....we are counting down the days til ICT return. Definitely closer to the end than the beginning!!

How’d it get to be Thursday already?? Days are hot hotter and humidity is high or higher...and seems to go by really fast. I took Dakota to be groomed yesterday...didn’t realize I asked for a summer do...but he sure got one! He’ll be cooler that’s for sure...though I’m a little worried about sunburn...thank goodness hair grows. Couple of weeks and he’ll be back to normal!! Til then he looks really thin...

Floyd got groomed yesterday too...Massage, mani/ pedi and facial! We are all looking way more human these days.

Marina is getting ready for big doings this weekend...it’s Marina days...so we’ve done laundry and are headed to the grocery...gotta get that stuff outta the way before the masses appear.

Almost forgot...dinghy ride around all 12 piers...GTB boasts of having 450 slips ...we’d say they are mostly full...Dakota loved it... we saw several gold looper flags and a couple of white ones.  We saw several really clever boat names....the cops among us...OFF DUTY(with a thin blue line through the middle) and CRIME SCENE. Our favorite today was a sailboat...KOSTALOT.

Supper last night at the Thirsty Turtle with Nick and Taryn....followed by sipping drinks and cigars on our slip deck....we were all up past our bedtime...

Captain has launched forth as the spider patrol...declaring war and instant death to any and all spiders...it’s now part of his morning routine and he has already depleted his supply of spider spray...WalMart trip is tomorrow!

My time on the boat grows shorter...September 3 Floyd is bringing me home. He is planning a quick turn around to head back. We’ve got some projects here that he’d like to get started...and well, marina folks tend work better when someone is actually here. We’ll see how that works for him.

It’s Monday and I’m thinking a trip to local grocery...a little vacuum action and then I intend to head to the pool....need to work a little on this boater tan I’ve got going on....that’ll insure rain this afternoon...

Managed to do a few things this weekend....but not much!! Meeting new people is constant....there are 68 slips on our pier...and we are only 10 slips from shore...the parade is constant...and exhausting...as you can see. We did find it interesting that after only a couple of days here, he prefers the slip deck to our little aft deck....and is very vocal about telling us to get out there.

Dinghy rides and napping are his other favorite activities....just so you know!

And my sweet momma seems to be getting along just fine....after months of me trying to persuade her to purchase a new recliner...brother Barry saves the day...

Momma got a brand new chair...

Our new slip has a small deck which came furnished with two great chairs...we’ve added our two, a small used table and a fan....Dakota has established himself as the official Pier 5 greeter. He’s seems to like it better than the aft deck..

Poof...it’s Saturday!! Haircuts happened! Floyd left at O’dark thirty on Thursday. All planes did what they were suppose to do....and he arrived safely back in Green Turtle Bay Friday afternoon, having made a brief stop at Walmart to get a tall oscillating fan for our new deck area. I got that manicure/ pedicure....and we think some friends from Henderson will come visit this week end.

We’ve met so many nice folks that it is truly hard to keep track. Our pier is home to probably close to 100 boats. Not much activity during the week...but did it ever pick up yesterday afternoon. Nick and Taryn on TARYN AWEIGH are still here so they visit occasionally...surprised us yesterday arriving by dinghy!

We’re making plans for the week...Floyd says AC on the truck needs work. Nick and Taryn need a ride to the airport. Dakota heads to groomer on Wednesday. Floyd is scheduled for mani/ pedi, facial and massage...I’m getting a massage. We really want to head out and explore the lake. Next Saturday is big doings at marina...National Marina days celebration...so we’re trying to avoid some of that mingling with the masses...and , of course, there will be laundry! There’s always laundry!

Heat continues to rise but really it’s the humidity! We feel ever so lucky to have experienced unseasonably lower temps during our trip down the skanky river...and ever so glad we are on this side of locks that continue to delay travel! We just might need to go buy s lottery ticket...or two!

Life is good at the Turtle!

Oh, laundry!! It was serious business yesterday....priority number one....closest laundromat was in Draffenville, which happens to be the little village where Dakota has a grooming appointment next week. So we thought we’d check it out. Laundromat experience was a hoot....see photo of the car parked next to us....it belonged to one of the two women in the place...tough decision as to which one! As to checking out the dog groomer, that was a good decision....back and forth down the street and finally made a phone call to ask...and there it was hidden!

We continue to meet the folks on our dock...but really it’s pretty deserted around here right now. This weekend I’m sure things will change.

Haircuts on the agenda for today...and probably booking mani/pedi, massage and facial....why not? It’s been a long hard journey... Floyd flies out to Northport early tomorrow morning for truck retrieval....it’s an 11 hour drive so he should be back Friday afternoon...life is good in Green Turtle Bay!!

Two things I forgot to mention earlier...

Floyd has been greeted several times lately by what he affectionately refers to as the Canadian Air Force...big flocks of geese honking and flying over....shoulda got a photo...but sorry, that didn’t happen.

The other most unusual barge contents we saw...the huge blades for wind turbines...stacked and being towed. We saw production sight when Dennis and Jessi lived in Garden City...and have certainly seen them on the roads being hauled by semis...but barges?? Who’d thought?? Photo proof...there they are!
We warned them not to attempt low bridges in Chicago...or on the Illinois.

We are thrilled...this slip is even better than we had thought.....visited with all sorts of folks...met up with Rick aboard Nautical Dreamer who had been a good source of info as we traversed the Illinois...gathered info about the area ...then off to Paducah (which is a 30 minute car trip)... car rented and plane tickets for Floyd to get the truck...stop at Lowe’s and Walmart...power washer and groceries...we are good! Enjoyed a lovely evening on the cleaner dock in the two nice chairs that someone left behind....Dakota is learning the rules ....and we are determined to sleep late tomorrow!
Oh, and laundry! Laundry laundry!!

Monday morning photos of our new view....

I provided the communication link for the day...Hunt the lockmaster at Barkley lock and dam became my new best friend....there are issues with a Kentucky Lock and Barkley lock. Workers and construction trying to thwart progress of those nasty Asian Carp....we got the scoop from Hunt and then we added those four gas cans to our tank and the Paducah guys showed up so we bought 50 gallons more...though the hose would only reach the one tank...so we’re a little lopsided. Some would say that’s normal for us. ...contacted SaSea Sally and Taryn Aweigh..left Paducah in a parade headed for the Cumberland River... it’s Sunday...not many tows. Weather looks good!! 30% chance of late afternoon storms...but we hope to be there!

Yeah, right! I’m not buying s lottery ticket today! Just like yesterday...we watched that thunderhead develop...wind came up...and we drove right into it...slow going! Shower was brief but just a nerve racking....and as luck would have it we rounded to bend facing the lock just as the working dredge had quit for the day and was going up. We all fit in quite nicely for the 57’ lift into Barkley Lake! Thank you, Hunt!!

Taryn Aweigh peeled off to go anchor out and enjoy some quiet...SaSea Sally headed to the transient dock...and we headed to pier 5...trying to find slip 20... where we thought it would be! All full....so we headed to the gas dock.

A little walking and talking...filed our application to join the Yacht club...and we’ve arrived.  It seems that Slip 20 is on the back side of the pier...shade in the afternoon and it already has a small deck built at the front. It does seems a little unkept...so first thing tomorrow is rental car and purchase of a power washer!

In the mean time it’s off to celebration dinner at the Yacht club ...woo hoo! We are finally here!!

Surprise surprise...we are up at oDark thirty...must be a new routine...one I intend to break ASAP! Good news is I got some great new boat photos...maybe my new favorites of TUMBELWEED...

We rounded the bend..and there was Paducah in the distance...sun is going down...three boats there and they are all at dinner! No one to catch our lines as we dock ...but you know what, we got this! Piece of cake!! Plugged in...AC humming...We are here...14 and a half hours of solid boating!! Locks we encountered were drive bys...with no wake zones...we are beat! But elated !! The hardest longest day ever...TUMBLEWEED and Captain Floyd preformed well ...despite the pressure the weather gods developed!

And Dakota is on a mission...it’s a long uphill walk to shore...where a small skunk is scurrying away...thank god for quick reactions and strong leashes or we’d been dealing with another problem for sure!

Our friends returned...we had an hour or so of great conversation...alcohol and made plans to travel together up the Cumberland to Green Turtle Bay ...and we were OUT.

When it’s two o’clock and you’re just reaching the halfway point....oh, my....Cairo was busy busy busy...barges parked everywhere...Dakota looking anxiously at grass...but nope! We’re now going upstream against current on the Ohio...water is green instead of mud brown. No swirling water.... there are locks under construction...and a huge no wake zone that slow our progress. But we’ve heard from SaSea Sally and Taryn Aweigh...they are both in Paducah waiting for us. We encourage them to not wait to eat with us...looks like we won’t arrive until sunset or after...which is 824 pm....not that we know exactly!! We are using every bit of daylight.!!

And just as we approached Metropolis...the wind began a sweeping change and the clouds gathered...it was a huge pop up rain storm! We cleared the fly bridge and Captain Floyd prepared to push on...though blinding rain. He says it’s like driving in fog but you get wet! Dakota and I ducked inside...but we were a nervous wreck! Or two! Rain rain...wind wind...and prayers prayers! And then poof it’s clear...and a beautiful sunset ...

It was a warm night....and we have that hot night on the Illinois when Becky was crewing with us for a comparison...so not bad. And anxiety about the day ahead ...so not good sleep...and awake early...that dinghy ride to shore went well...except the water is going down so there was mud to avoid this morning. Can’t say we accomplished that at all! Great start..muddy foot prints everywhere. More projects. We are underway before 6...hoping to get more push as we travel farther...but it is 150 miles.  We’ve never ever even thought to try that much. The 120 from Tall Timbers to Grafton last Tuesday was a first in distance and now 150...but we are round the final turn and we just want to get there...we can do this! Again tows and barges coming and going...the winner of the how many can I push award goes to the big guy and his little friend pushing 5 across and 6 deep...

The boat chart gives you a good idea of why it takes so long to get any where on the river....and that S  curve into Cairo is a turbulent mess...and we were greeted by other interesting folks throughout the day...

The AMERICAN QUEEN in Cape Girardeau...and her sister the AMERICAN DUCHESS cruising empty up the Mississippi..