Lock 52 – Ohio River
September 19

We left Little Diversion Channel at about 7:45 and made it down the Mississippi at between 12 and 13 mph.  At Cairo, IL, we turned up the Ohio River and our speed slowed to about 6.5 mph.  The Ohio has a nicer color and looks much cleaner than the Mississippi. 

Cairo (pronounced karo like the syrup) is a staging area and is full of barges waiting for the harvest of grain that is coming in here. 

We tied at Lock 53, which is not locking traffic thru just now because of high water.  The lock itself has a current of nearly 5 mph.  The lockmaster told us that they have caught 30 – 40 lb. catfish right there in the lock. 

We helped Wodan on the dock then had supper.  I was asleep before 8:00

Free tie-up at Lock 52
Ohio River

Big E on the Ohio River where everyone 
stays and no one sleeps well

Paducah, KY - Big E Marina
September 20 

We helped Wodan off the dock.  Current pushed us right out of Lock 53.  We traveled at about 5 mph up the river to Lock 52 and got through with no problem.   We had to hand them a line to use.  The guy was “impressed” I handed him a bowline. 

We tied at Big E right in front of the twerp that waked the daylights out of us yesterday.  While we were docking he pulled our fender up from between us and the dock.  What an idiot.  

We walked around in Paducah and saw the National Quilt Museum.  It is just huge.  We had a couple of drinks in a local brewpub that was not yet producing its own beer. 

The barges rub together and make a lot of noise when a tow passes, so we found it to be a very sleepless night there.