Upper Mississippi advice please Sept 06

N

Not For Hire

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I will be cruising the Miss. River from Hastings, MN beginning 9/16 or 9/17. Will go downriver for a week and then return. Likely will detour a day on the St. Croix right at the start. I wouldn't mind getting as far as Dubuque to check out the museum and aquarium there but that may be a bit ambitious with my limited time.

I have read all I can on this area, subscribed to Big River magazine, studied Halcyon Days trip etc. If anyone knows of any "must sees" or "must avoids" would you be so kind as to share? If any brats happen to be in the area let me know and perhaps we can visit?

Thanks

Mark
 
Hi-- Mark-- Two books that you may or may not have read regarding the Mississippi River and can be useful to your cruise are: Old Glory by Jonathan Raban published 1981 and Old Man River And Me by Mark Knudsen published 1998. If you can't find these, let me know and I will try and fax you excerpts from both. Hopefully this is of some help.

Just don't rely to heavily on Huckleberry Finn for navigation.

In any case have a great trip! Rich
 
Mark--- There is another good book out that may still be in print regarding a family that went down the Mississippi from Minn. to Fla., etc. in an older fiberglass houseboat, I think around the 1950's or 1960's. As soon as I can check my library I'll get you the information. -------- Rich
 
El and Bill, Thank you. After some research I am launching and storing vehicle/trailer at Hastings marina just as you did. Thanks for that pointer.

Fiddler, I have read the Knudsen book. I have ordered the Raban book and one more. I read another book recently of a full length trip. Don't remember the title but the sub title was
Journeying in the Footsteps of LaSalle". A man and his teen aged son did the trip in a small cruiser. Most of the internet cruise logs concern segments of the great loop and so begin farther south.

I have the written charts and the electronic ones too. Also Richardsons and others.

Jlynch - I feared as much but still have to go when I have this window. Early September is usually the lowest water of the year for our midwest rivers. It could rise a little in the next 11 days though, and I am trusting there will be enough water to float a C-dory. See you out there?

Thanks,

Mark
 
Hello Mark on NOT FOR HIRE
When do you plan on making it into Dubuque? Although we have vacation plans coming up, if we're around when you come floating in I'll stop by and say hello. It's always fun to meet CDory folk. And the museum and aquarium are a must-see when you're here.

Although the river is low, barge traffic is running daily, so floating a C Dory certainly won't be a problem. My only advice.......You'll be running through some absolutely beautiful country, so take it easy and soak up the scenery. Better to have gone only half as far as planned and have seen it all, then to scream past lots of fun little (and big) river towns and some wonderful scenery. Also, don't forget to build into your schedule several ++ hours a day locking through.

Happy and safe floating !
Paul & Joni aboard the JONI LYNN
 
My wife Gerrie and I have been downriver from our home in Prescott, Wisconsin (3miles downstream from your Hastings start point) as far south as Marquette, Ia. That round trip is almost as far as your plan and took 6 unhurried days. About 9 locks down and of course 9 back went amazingly fast because of the reduced river traffic in September. We only had to wait at one lock for about 40 minutes which is so lucky it is spooky. About half the time the doors were open waiting for us. Can't guarantee it will ever happen again though. The Hastings marina is very accommidating and your vehicle will be safe there. We also recommend Red Wing Marina, Red Wing, Minnesota as a great first stop. Cindy and Tom are the very best! It seems when we travel the river, as we often do, we average 10 mph counting locks, no wakes zones, exploring. You will have to slow for the big power boat wakes which seem to amplify on the narrow river. Depth should be no problem unless you stray from the very clearly marked channel. We would like to meet you on your way through. Gary & Gerrie
 
Chad-- my son just flew in from Cape Girardeau, Mo. (Trail of Tears area), he said the river is not real low in that area, but they have had a lot of rain. If you make it as far as Burlington,Iowa, I have some friends in the area that would be happy to assist you if you need any help.---Rich
 
Paul and Joni,

If I get as far south as Dubuque it will be 9-20 to 9-22. I plan to go slow with lots of walkabout stops on both sides of river, exactly as you suggest.

Gary, Minnie Swann is a great boat. Named after your grandmother, great-grandmother? as I recall. A good name for a riverboat! I plan to launch on 9-16 or 9-17. Spend a day on the St. Croix and then continue South so I may stay at Hastings Marina two nights? Red Wing marina will definitely be interviewed in person.

Fiddler, thanks again for your kind offer.

Now here is something you have never heard me say -
I have spent the last couple of days washing and waxing my boat. Figure if I am going out of state gotta shine the girl up. She has been to two foreign countries, Canada and the U.P., but never to a foreign state (well not counting Wisconsin on her own bottom).

Mark
 
If you are going to go up the St. Croix before heading down the Mississippi I would reccommend anchoring or beaching on Kinnikinic island overnight ($14.00 if the ranger is around). It is about 5 miles up the St. Croix from where it joins the Mississippi. You could have dinner in Prescott (free docking downtown) and then be at your campsite in 15 minutes. The next morning you could head up to Stillwater, (nice touristy river town) for lunch and then just 3 miles further up is as far as you are allowed to go because of Zebra Mussel restrictions. At that point you could return to Prescott and tie up for about $20.00 and then head south in the morning or go 15 miles further to the Treasure Island Casino and Marina. Lake City, half way through Lake Pepin on the Minnesota side has a great municiple marina right downtown too. l would also advise you to stop in Waubasha at Slipperys Bar and Restaurant, where The ice fishing scenes from Grumpy Old Men was filmed. Lots of options, lots of fun!
 
Hi Mark, this is Bruce of See-Saw fame from Santa Fe.

We are back from a week on the Upper Mississippi with a break in Milwaukee over the weekend.

We did 290 miles and 9 locks. Put in at the marina at Winona MI, motored up stream to Alma WI, tied up to the city dock and lunched at Kate and Gracie's Restraunt and continued on to Lake Pepkin and the Lake City Marina $1 /ft incl showers. The next day traveled as far North as Red Wing MI, lunched at the St James Hotel Terrace Cafe before turning down river to the Alma Marina for the night. We hauled out back at Winona and trailered to Trempleau where we left the boat for the weekend at the Marina.

Monday we put back in and headed downstream, spending the night on one one of the many wonderful sandbanks. The next day we descended as far as Prairie du Chein and returned to spend the night on the municipal dock at Lansing Iowa, a charming 1850s town.

Back in Trempleau, we hauled out and headed back 1500 miles for Santa Fe, sleeping two hours in the boat at a rest stop in Nebraska and 3 in Colorado.

All in all, a great trip, the scenery is beautiful, the banks receptive, the locks easy and the eagles numerous. Winona, Alma, Red Wing, La Crosse and Lansing are all worth spend some time at.

Enjoy, Bruce :D
 
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