Twilight

The Steamer Twilight passed us again this afternoon headed northbound. She sits four stories off the water and contrasts the muddy waters and greenery of the shoreline with a regal blue and white paint job. Her balconies wrap full around and the wood detailing is gracious. I conjure images of the early 1900s passengers aboard her decks. Men clad in vests that carry canes of stature and puff pipe tobacco. The women turn their backs to the wind in order to save their bowed hats from sailing overboard. I hailed them on the radio to say hello. “This is Big Getter to Twilight.” “Twilight here, let’s go to 12.” I switched channels and asked what their route was? “Le Claire to Dubuque. Up one day back the next.” The pilot answered. “I sure have enjoyed watching you pass by.” I say. “ Us too, the passengers ask what we know about your boat. That’s the finest boat I’ve seen out here in years.” I thanked him for the compliment and gave him the low down on our venture. Tomorrow the Twilight will pass by us again and I expect we will get a whistle blast hello.

Day 23, 15 Miles - Mile Marker 550 to Sabula

One of many bunkers near bomb shell beach

Hard at work, but don't worry he'll take a break soon

Not sure what the hell it is?

 The hospitality and good will of the people who live on the river continues to awe me. It's not just me who is impressed with the midwesterners, everyone who has come aboard the Big Getter has agreed and commented on the unbelievably nice folks in this part of our country. Many people have offered rides, gifts, information, home-cooked meals and food to go. Just this evening as we finished the deer jerky and summer sausage that Don and Tara gave to me back in Prairie du Chien we were approached by some visitors who offered us a ride into town if we needed any supplies. Thank you to all, your good will will be returned and know that I will pass on the karma when I can.

Buoy Betting

Watch to find out how buoy betting works. Aaron put 10 to 1 odds that we would hit this one. Johnny and I chose Right and left. You'll see who wins.

Blogosphere

It has come to my attention that there are some of you out there who notice when I don’t get my nightly post uploaded. I am trying my best but there are holes in the blogosphere.

Day 22, 12 Miles - Luke's Landing to Bomb shell beach

    
      Morning rush hour                           Iowa's ski resort

    
10 member pyramid                 Old machins shop in Bellevue

     

                  Twilight                                 The sun deck

     

  Bomb shell beach                       Twilight II

Email from JL

From: “Johnny Lawless”
To: justusmclarty@yahoo.com


Hi Justus Great to hear from you. Been on a flat run since I got back. We have had 2 1/2 inches of rain since I got back and the weeds and grass are about to cover me up. Another week and the mosquitoes will be back.
Have all the stoves off the truck and now turning to catch up on other business. Wont be any spare time till probably after the first freeze.
I am still excited about my time spent with you and the "Big Getter". That was a trip I will never, ever forget. Some of the impressions I remember; First, sitting on the side of the road, late at night, with 90 miles to get to Minneapolis, in a somewhat dangerous traffic situation, with a blowout on the trailer. Being told by "U-Haul", "Well, you just have to spend the night at a motel tonight" When you told them, "We have tonight to get to Minneapolis, tomorrow to build a boat so we can make the target date of June 1st launch. So sorry U-haul, failure is not an option. You need to send your wrecker to pick up this empty wreck, we are done with it." At that point, I knew you are as hard headed as me and not much was going to be successful at standing in our way.
I had after us taking the framework apart and loading it all, then unloading and assembling the craft, it was a large raft in my mind. Then as soon as I boarded and started seeing the other boats and getting hammered by storms and navigating on the already swollen mighty Mississippi. I realized this "Big Getter" in this environment, is not so damn "Big". I saw rain like this ole west Texas dirt boy has never seen before. I remember at one point the line between the river and the rain disappeared and it just looked as though it was all solid water. I also remember several times, thinking, "Damn, this looks like a flood". Locals, friends and family kept calling and reporting the news of flooding, storms and wind, hail and tornadoes. Was not long into my trip, I had realized that you were very capable of handling the situation, and that if we were to be in a flood, that this "Big Getter" was a damn good place to be after all. But not all of my time was bad weather. It was also very beautiful some days. Again the "Big Getter" preformed flawlessly. Another impression was how fast a load of barges can turn around a corner. Ha! Don't have to explain that one, do I ? So, my friend. As history will show, The year you decided to do the Mississippi river turns out to be the "Flood of 08" and I know you have a very eventful trip left ahead of you. I hope that as well as you write, that maybe a book in the future. Be a good one for the "Library". One other reflection, I think they have different driving practices in Israel.
The time you were able to spend with your granddad and parents are of most importance. Although you have your own path or in this case river to run, embrace the times spent with them. Mine are now all left to memories and someday yours will be too.
Now, Make Mr. JB and Aaron take some time off to relax. I really, wish I were there to spend today with you guys. I am in spirit and mind. Have a good time and be careful.

-Johnny Lawless

PS: Also wanted to say, I am really impressed with the stability of the Big Getter. Has a solid footprint and never seemed to have the slightest problem with wind or waves. Great design

JL

Midwest Nice

Camp Nemo (thanks DeeAnn)

Stow Aways

Big Getter Crew

It was perfect sleeping weather and after a few hours of relaxing and recovering from Luke’s Landing’s beach party we headed for breakfast. Maybe Hyfte’s expression “Minnesota Nice” should be modified to “Midwest Nice.” It doesn’t have quite the ring, but it holds just as much water. Luke’s family and neighbors were all there and a gregarious bunch too. Their “cabin” sits on the riverbank in a side channel and is richly shaded and airy. The setting was superb and I loved hearing them talk about who was in the motorboats as they whizzed by. I extended the invitation for them to accompany us for an afternoon and wouldn’t be at all surprised if one of them takes up the offer. We said adios and motored a tad to get out into the main flow. Immediately after shutting down the engine we all assumed our positions on top of the cabin. As Aaron crossed his legs and sank into his chair he said “back to work.”

Mississippi living

Moveable boat hoist

Dy 21, 17 Miles - Dubuque to four miles above Bellevue

A barge that has been wrapped around the bridge pilling from last weeks high water

A working mans smile

Luke's Landing beach party

“Well, we’re here” I keep saying and then chuckle to myself because each time it’s true no matter where we are. Aaron, Johnny and I have been chillaxing like retirees and enjoying the tail wind and high water. The combination of which is tastier than biscuits and gravy. The 17 miles drifted by timelessly. Most of our entertainment came from placing bets as to which side of the buoys we would pass. We kept score and one buoy in particular proved us all wrong. How did that happen you might ask? Well, we didn’t go left or right we went right over it. A close call is an understatement. We plowed right into it. By the afternoon we had found a beach to call home for the evening and helped spice up an impromptu beach party. A bottle of blue something or another was being passed around by a couple of girls who would only let you take a shot if you followed all the rules (I can’t quite remember what those rules were.) I cooked chicken spaghetti for some of our new friends and as we said goodbye they returned the favor by inviting us to breakfast at their house.

Day 20, 20 Miles - Finley's Landing to Dubuque

Looking up river from Lock 11

Saying goodbye

Dubuque

Big and Bigger

Saying goodbye is seldom easy. I was sad to see Marvin and my parent go. Alice has had notoriously wet weather on some recent camping trips so the ever present sun sealed the deal for her. She got to see lots of turtles too, so that helped. Lynn could have stayed on another week or two easy I think and could hardly put the binoculars down. He’s become quite the birder and is already scheming about the next Big Getter venture. Marvin couldn’t have a bad time if someone paid him, so he was shoe in for sure. He exclaimed numerous times on a daily basis, “this is a hundred percent different kind of river trip.” That’s true too. One of the highlights of most river trips is the solitude and remoteness; this adventure however, is chalk o block full of socializing. We said goodbye in Dubuque after visiting the Mississippi River Museum. We all agreed it was on par if not higher caliber than some of the Smithsonians. There were many interactive stations and exhibits. My favorites were the fly over video of the entire Mississippi valley and the model replica of the river floor at Dubuque that you could control the water flow to see the effects of floodwater. Its been a pleasure having family and friends aboard and I know it will only continue.

Day 19, 7 Miles - Cassville to Finley's Landing

Sometimes a lunch spot transforms into a swimming hole and lunch hour turns into naptime. As the shade trees provide more our motivation wanes. I suggested, “let’s just stay here tonight,” but everyone else had already decided to do just that. What more could you want. Life is good. Deadlines and timetables are almost non-existent. We have a beach beneath our toes, an unrivaled view and spirits that are alive with sun and water .Our calendar is only 4 pages long, and we are turned to the summer page.