Although I think Les is doing a terrific job blogging, he told me that I need to start - so here goes. I think Les has covered the boat issues, the rivers and day-to-day activities. I can add a few incidentals.
Since we've been in the river system, we've seen a lot of houseboats. Today we toured one that is for sale (2008, $599K). This one is 82' long by 21' wide!
The upper deck has chairs, lounges, 2 bars and the only control station on the boat. The area is big enough to invite 60 or 70 of your closest friends, but they better not stay overnight because it only has 2 staterooms plus a weird space with a mattress on the floor? I don't even want to venture a guess as to gets it! The lower level also has a dining room-living room combo with big couches and easy chairs, plus a kitchen along one wall. The top level of the houseboat could be used as a dance floor. So are you ready to trade in your boat yet? You too could become a river cruiser .. St. Louis to Memphis to Paducah to Nashville, etc. etc. and never have to deal with 4 to 8 footers on Lake Michigan again.
People have been very friendly. Our current boat neighbor is from Chicago (keeps his boat at Burnham). He has a new Regal 52'. He gave us a tour and we were impressed. A lot of boat, well laid out at a good value. The Regal has a garage where you can keep an 8' dingy with a small 8 HP motor.
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| 52 Regal enroute to lift. He had prop problems too |
After having anchored out a couple of nights, I've really come to appreciate our dingy. I don't know if an 8' dingy would make our cut anymore. However, the Regal does have a "smokeless" grill in the cockpit. I think that would be really handy. Also, it has 2 staterooms with long hanging lockers -- I was envious. We have short hanging lockers that wrinkle everything from about the waist down. So if you are going out and can sit at a table you look great because you're neat. If you have to go to out for cocktails and are standing up it looks like you've rolled your clothes under your arm before putting them on.
If anyone is planning to come down this way let me warn you .. there are NO STARBUCKS!! ANYWHERE. I asked for a cappuccino at Patti's and the waitress said "a what??"
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| Kodi has taken to the river lifestyle |
Written by Diana
Diana--hope this is the beginning of lots of input from you!
ReplyDeleteSorry to tell you that you have not even hit the south yet. I think there might be Starbucks in Mobile, however. Not bad as cities go, but it sure ain't Chicago. (Don't forget, by the way, that it is pronounced Mo-beel.)
Things will seem more "normal" when you get down to southwest and southeast Florida. That is mostly because everyone who lives there is really from either the midwest or the northeast.
I know you will enjoy the experiences along the way. It is so good to see that there are other ways of life. The people you meet on the journey are so interesting and friendly. As Les mentioned some time earlier, so many new friends to make.