Behind an easy life is always a woman....

Michelle onnistui todella hyvin proviantin kanssa. Han teki perusteellisen tutkimustyon, mita ja miten paljon, millaista ja miten sailyttaa yksinpurjehtia ja aina ankkurissa mieluummin oleva loopperi ruuan, juoman, vaatteen ja hygienian osalta tarvitsee. En ole huomannut minkaan puutuvan tai joutunut heittamaan mitaan hukkaan. Likapyykki "kori" on kylla suunnattoman taynna mutta en viela mene kolikkopesulaan. Kun lankomies Mike poikineen paatti - oksennetuaan jo kahteen suureen jarveen luopua aikaisemmin - minulle jai suuri kasa kaikkea naposteltavaa ja ihan oikeata ruokaakin.

Tassa Paduchan illallinen:

Nice dinner I had in Paducah.

What Michelle did with the provisions was a great success.  She made a very thorough research of  food, drinks, clothes, and hygienic needs  for the single handed and always anchoring Looper -what and how much, which kind and how to store. I haven't noticed that anything is missing or been forced to throw something away.  A dirty laundry basket is more than full but there's still no need to go coin laundry.

When brother-in-law Mike and his son, Gus, decided - after having vomited in two Great Lakes - to return to home earlier than planned, they left me a huge pile of snacks and even real food. 

Hot as Lousy Sauna

Chicagosta Paduchaan oli koko ajan todella kuuma. Tassa kuva Hoppies, IL satamasta.

From Chicago, Illinois to Paducah, Kentucky has been really hot.  This is a picture at Hoppies Harbor.

What a beautiful morning....

Tassa kanadalainen matkaseurani aamunkoitteessa Willow saaren takana turvassa hinausten suurilta aalloilta.

Time & Tide; Christelle & Gary tekivat matkasta paljon helpomman yksinpurjehtijalle. Opin koko ajan todella tarpeellista. He ovat tekemassa toista kertaa Great Loop'ia, joten kaikki ilmaiset satamat ja jokien ongelmat ovat heille tutumpia. Suuret kiitokset viela kerran heille.

Here is picture of my traveling company from Canada in the early morning behind Willow Island, Illinois River.  It is a safe place where the big waves from the tow boats can't reach you.  Time & Tide, Christelle and Gary, make the journey so much easier for a single handed skipper.  I learn all the time something really important; they are second time Loopers and they know all the free docks and the problems of the river are familiar to them.

Once again I have to say a big thanks to Christelle and Gary.

New Equipment

Matkan varrella tuli ensimmaisen oljynvaihdon aika. Taytyi asentaa ojynvaihtopummpu. Toimi erittain hyvin ja nyt vaihto kay lennossa. The Big Red tarvitsee vain noin 12 litraa oljya 200  tunnin valein joten siinakin saastaa.

During the trip the time for the first oil change came.  I had to install an oil change pump; it worked very well and now changing the oil is a piece of cake.  The Big Red only needs three gallons of oil every 200 hours.

If You Think It's Hot Here...

The last week I've spent enjoying the 100 degree weather.  So far on my trip I've needed to wear long johns and use an electric blanket to the extreme of watching the mercury climb to 100 degrees and wearing wet t-shirts to stay cool.

Back on Lake Erie where the weather was cool.

Ohio River At Last

This morning I have finally reached the Ohio River.  She is much wider than the Mississippi and the current is pushing against me at 2 knots.  But even with the slow down, I'll be glad to reach the temporary home port at Warsaw, KY.  

Thanks to my friend, John, for finding the place and for helping me locate a ship yard that will help with the repair to the stuffing box, which is leaking.  

Where the Mississippi River meets the Ohio River

You just never know what you'll see....

Update Aug 31, 2013

Friday 23 August on the Illinois river from Hennepin to Peoria

Gary & Christelle, Mike & Yonetta out to a "free" chicken dinner.

Many thanks to Gary and Christelle for taking these pictures along the Illinois River.  They are friendly folks from Canada; here's a link to their Great Loop Journey Blog:  http://timeandtidetravels.blogspot.com/