About 3 a.m. we heard rain drops on our roof. When we dragged ourselves out of bed, it was still grey and humid with scattered light showers. Not a great day for photos or people although great for ducks!
The Grafton Marina lent us a car and gave us directions to the propane business. Yesterday as we cruised along, our refrigerator stopped working. Both small propane tanks were empty - no stove and no refrigerator! It is not that easy to find a facility that will fill our tanks (versus exchange) so this was a happy solution and very timely! When we are in port, we change over to electric on the refrigerator but not on the stove.
Another interesting feature is the way marinas are built in this district. Before, most docks were fixed. As we traveled south more of the docks became floating. Grafton yesterday and Alton today had both floating docks and buildings. When the river rises, so do all floating marinas. Look for tall pillars with ring attachments.
Tom chats with Peggy and Bob from Baby Grand about today's plan. It was decided that we would follow them to Alton. They have good radar and ours is stored under our bed!
As we venture out on this foggy day, we dodge a ferry that runs from Grafton to Missouri.
The flat fields (often under water) change to high bluffs after the conver- gence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Highway 100 which joined us above Grafton is know as the Great River Road. "Major fleeting areas (barges) and numerous grain elevators are clues that this part of the river is an active and major port". The lock just below Alton has 30 per cent of the world's grain pass over it. We will pass it tomorrow. The rest of this day is down time, dinner aboard and the debate!
