As we approached Hardin, Calhoun County the scenery became picturesque, New England like, with the colors of the trees turning their yellows, reds, coppers on the hillsides.  River is 100-400 yards wide, tree lined, twists and turns.  Nicely marked with red and green buoys and day markers.  Great navigating.  We are soaking in the beauty of the sunshine reflecting on the water, like diamonds sparkling all around us.  Our wake at times is like curved glass reaching from one bank to the other.  Passed a number of barges in narrow channels.  The under water turbulence pushes us a bit but Al keeps us on a steady course.  He handles the boat like a pro.  He is a little possessive about driving though, and doesn’t give me much time at the helm.  He likes me to bring him things so I’m up and down pretty much fetching this, cleaning up that, making food, getting water, etc.  Al’s knee is a little sore today.  Twisted it in the middle of the night last night while keeping watch while at anchor.

For miles the banks of the river were built up levys to control the flooding. 

West of Springfield we went under a bridge on Route 36 that we crossed by car numerous times as we traveled from our home in Plainfield, Illinois to Columbia, Missouri to see our daughter, Tracy, and her family; our daughter, Heidi and her husband as well as our son, Jonathan.  Also, Al drove across this bridge almost every week while he was building a house in Columbia after he left LCFS in January of 2003.  He has always said, “Someday I would like to go under this bridge in a boat.”  Today he finally did.  Lots of photos.

Waited for a barge to go through then locked us through by ourselves.  We floated/no tie to wall.  Nice.  Only a short drop. 

We kept the generator running while underway today.  Breakfast of microwaved sausage wrapped in toast, coffer and apple slices on the flybridge as we continued to make our way down the river.  Uh oh, Al found the donuts Eric bought.

Mist on inlet but river clear.  Isinglass was wet, and cloudy.  Raised the front smiley.  Burr.  Still pretty chilly but ya gotta see the river to cruise it.