August 14 & 15, 2017

 Yesterday we knew we had several locks to do before we could get to Columbus, Mississippi, so once again we were up and ready to push off before daylight.  Our first lock was just around the corner and is the tallest lock in North America (maybe the world)

84 feet.  Something told me to check with the lock master before leaving.  Good thing I did.  There was a tug in front of us going up river and another going down river.  He said about an hour and a half wait.  So much for starting early.  Now that the day is over, it

really was the beginning of what became our most tedious and nerve wracking day we have experienced on the whole trip.  The day should have been easy and boring.  

The North going  tug came out of the lock and the South going tug 

went in.  Jim called and asked if 2 pleasure boats could go down 

with the tug.  We did and that was interesting.  Luckily it wasn't a

great big tug so we snuggled in with 4 coal barges and a tug boat.

Once at the bottom the lock master informed us that the tug wanted to leave first and we were to follow.  Looking back that was again

part of the trip that was not enjoyable.  We needed to go 70 miles yesterday, that meant 7 hours at 10mph for us.  Our traveling 

companions could go twice as fast and planned on it.  Our tug in

the front, in a very narrow canal went 4.5 mph and told us we could pass but it wouldn't do any good as the next lock would not let us

go in front of him.  As good little children we got comfortable going 4mph per hour for the next 2 hours.  By the time we reached

the 2nd of our 7 locks we were already 2 hours behind schedule.

When we were done with that lock, the tug let us go first and we took advantage of it.  The current for some reason would not let us

get up to 10mph, but our friends did pass us and headed to lock 3.

We got to lock 3 way ahead of the tug.  The lock master said he was bringing up a tug and we're next.  That lock was our decision lock.  We figured that we still had enough daylight to reach Aberdeen, Mississippi instead of Columbus so we headed on down the Tennessee-Tom.  Lock 4 put us straight through, we are finally moving.  Then we get to lock 5.  For some reason the lock master would not put us through until a north bound tug was done.  Two and a half hours later the tug shows up and we get ready.  By that time, the tug we had rushed to get by, was fast approaching and we were afraid we were going to have to wait for him to go down with us.  Luckily we didn't.  When we reached the bottom, time was running out.  We had to get through 2 more locks to get to Aberdeen before they closed.  We didn't have any other options, as there are no other marinas, and anchoring wasn't possible.  So we come to the part of the day where everything seems to go against us.  We got through the 2 locks successfully and I called the marina to get instructions on getting there.  On the chart it looked very difficult.  The man who answered had no idea what I wanted.  He didn't know there was a river connected to the marina, let alone how to get there.  He asked a man in the marina if

he could help, and he said no.  With no other options, we decided to

find our way.  At the spot in the river where you turn, a fisherman in a small bass boat told us we were too big, and the water was too shallow.  We now had no other options but to go to Columbus, do our last lock and arrive way after dark.  The last lock master informed us that there were no anchorage between the lock and Columbus.  The dock master said we should not travel down the river at night.  The sun was setting in 45 minutes and we had 20

miles to go.  About that time a tug coming north came by and told us that we would be alright traveling the river at night, just stay in the middle.  Jim pushed our cat well above her normal speed and we took off, trying to beat the sunset.  Of course that was not to be.

Another south bound tug was in front of us and not answering his

radio.  We considered just following him down the river, he would know where to go, and no one would run into him.  To do that would mean getting to Columbus about midnight, the marina was

somewhere, but we didn't know where.  We bit the bullet, gave the

horn a blast and passed him in the dark praying all the while that there were not any fishermen, logs, etc. in our way.  By the time we

reached the marina it was 9:00pm and a black night.  The dock master was kind enough to come back to the marina and help guide us in.  With the help of his radio, my flashlight, Jim's driving skills,and a lot of luck we pulled up to the dock at 9:30pm.  It was a docking of mixed emotions for us.  We started this adventure here last October when we bought the boat and took it to Florida.  So we are crossing our wake here and the Great Loop adventure is officially over.  We still have to do another 829 miles but that is to get the boat home.

 

We never dreamed that we would do the trip in one year, let alone finish before the middle of August.  We don't feel that we missed anything, we didn't rush (except tonight), and we don't care to do it again.  Too many other things to do.  

So now today is a feeling of what do we do now.  It seems almost unreal.  We were so fixated on the loop for so long, it is as if we are

a balloon who has just been turned loose and floating away.  We have to get the boat ready to store for the next 3 months, go home, pack for Africa, then come back and take it home.  I guess that is enough string to hold our balloon for a short time. The blog is taking a vacation until November sometime when we come back to Columbus and take the boat home.  I always wondered if I could write a book.  I think I sort of did, one day at a time.  These memories have been a great experience and I wouldn't change much of anything.  I told someone recently that this trip is like being pregnant.  Nine months of waiting, doing, pain, bliss, and vowing never again.  Then in a couple of years doing it again, not worrying about the stress, pain, etc.  I am afraid I will have only 1

boat adventure, I am too old to go through another pregnancy again. But glad I did it once.!

Jim's take:  What an experience!  This trip has been challenging, eye-opening, full of wonders, stressful and blissful, rewarding, and worth the effort and expense.  The best parts of the trip were the times our friends and family were on the boat.  I want to thank Teri (x2), Kevin, Nikky, Lea (x2), Paula, Fred, Ellie, Jim, Beth, David, Susan, Alex, Amanda, Whitney and Ben for joining us.  We want to thank Angela and Rich for meeting us for drinks and dinner (AND PEACHES) while we were anchored just off the Illinois River.  I know it took effort for all of these people to get to and from the boat, and we appreciate it.  

Yesterday, the Loop Gods really planned a full, eventful and stressful day for us.  We had managed to be "off the water" everyday before dark this whole trip.  That changed yesterday!  Waiting for locks and tows really slowed us down.  Then the marina we planned to use turned out to be just simply dishonest and incompetent.  So, we had to run the boat faster than we had ever attempted.  (The boat is designed to run for hours at 3400 rpm, but we have chosen to normally run between 1800 and 2500 rpm to save money and wear and tear.)  I set the tach at 3200 rpm and down the river we flew.  We cruised at over 16 kt!  The boat got up on plane and just purred down the river.  (I truly believe this is the perfect Loop boat.  We chose wisely!)  We had to slow down for small boats and one tow, but otherwise it was 16+ kts until it was too dark.  We then proceeded down the river going through hyacinth that had been washed down the river in great clumps that went from shore to shore, all the time hoping there was not a big log hidden in the leaves.  We did hear a few bumps as we hit debris.    Finally, we made it to the locks where we had to turn to get into the Columbus Marina.  The dock master was kind enough to return to work to guide us into the docks in the dark.  It was a tricky, hair raising experience to navigate to the docks because the hyacinth almost obscured the channel markers leading to the docks.  I almost kissed the man when I stepped foot safely on the dock.  

We have covered 6,544 miles!  We have put 773 hours on the engines and 45 hours on our generator.  I have changed oil seven times (42 galloons of oil and 14 oil filters), and will need to change oil again somewhere between here and Florida.  We have seen spectacular country and been through some aw inspiring cities.  We've met people from all over the world and made at least two new friends.  It really has been quite a journey.  I only wish more of our friends and family could have experienced some of the wonders.

Now, we must get the boat sold.  I say that with no little emotion because I have developed an affinity for the Colorado Cat.

Leaving the Tallest Lock In North America

"Over and Out".

Sunrise and Set on Our Great Loop Adventure

August 13, 2017

Our books described the Tenn-Tom waterway as one of the most beautiful on the Great Loop.  I do believe they were right.  To us

it looks like Georgian bay with the sun shining, and very warm temperatures.  We left fairly early today (about 7:00AM) and were the only ones on the lake and in the canal.  Delightful!  People bring their boats here and leave them.  They don't have to leave the water in the winter and can use them year round.  It is a lot nicer than Lake Powell in Nevada, and a whole lot prettier. Jim had to check something under the boat, and went swimming and said the water was about 80 degrees. For lunch we used the curtsey car and drove to Tupelo, Mississippi for lunch.  A very nice break. 

In fact we are thinking of renting a big house boat and have the family come here some summer.  Lots to see and do. Hopefully tomorrow we will continue down the Tenn-Tom and lock through the highest lock in North America.  The lift is 84 feet. Oh Boy!!!

Getting Ready For A Dip

Shoreline Of Lake Barkley

Tenn-Tom Canal

Morning on the Tenn-Tom

August 11 & 12, 2017

I was up around 4:45 this morning and looked out into the dark to see dozens of bass boats coming into the marina.  As it turned out there was a bass fishing contest.  Wow!  What beautiful bass boats! Talk about money!  All the contestants had southern accents and were real friendly and were curious about our boat and our trip.  It was fun.  There were about fifty bass boats at the start of the contest. 

This has been a slow process this morning!  We fought a current which is running up to two knots which slowed us down significantly, plus there were many small boats on the river and houses and docks along side the river which made this section one long no wake zone.  These conditions sure eat up our time, engine time and fuel.  We are now tied up to the small lock wall (Pickwick Landing Lock has two lock chambers) because only one chamber is being used.  We have been told our wait will be at least an hour and a half, which means between two and three hours.  At least our engines are not running.  The Tennessee River is mostly one big lake.  It is really beautiful country with all the trees and the sandstone (or limestone? granite?) cliffs.  We've not seen wildlife like I thought we would.  

Now more thoughts about our Mississippi and Ohio Rivers experience:  I cannot imagine just how much money and effort are necessary to keep this whole infrastructure going.  Locks, bridges, docks, piers, dolphins, mooring fields, dredging, erosion control, flow control, sea walls, wing dams, jetties, and who knows what else need constant attention.  The banks of the rivers were in a great many places twenty to thirty feet above the water level and in many places covered with rocks.  (At Hoppie's Marina on the Mississippi the water level rose to the roof line of a big metal building which was sitting at least twenty feet above the docks!  Tree limbs and other debris were in the trestles of a railroad bridge which was at least seventeen feet above the water.)  I will never complain about taxes again!  And on top of everything else, everyone along these water ways wants something from the government, and their desires are in conflict with what other people are demanding.  I'm glad I don't work for the Army Corps of Engineers!  They can never make everybody happy.  

There were many times on this trip I've wished that my sister's present husband, Doug, could be with us.  It would have been interesting listening to him explain the whys and hows of this vast infrastructure.  He sure was a wealth of information as we progressed up the intracoastal north of Charleston.  (I'm still wearing his hat, but his beer ran out.). We're lucky to have people of his caliber working for the Corps of Engineers.  He is knowledgeable and he cares.

Flood Levels at Hoppies were 20 Higher Than Where I  Took This Picture

A Few of the Bass Boats

Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama,
and the Bailey's all Meet At Pickwick Lake

As we were going down the Mississippi attempting to stay in the channels and out of the way, I got to thinking about Huck Finn and Nigger Jim.  They were on a raft in the Mississippi River and were apparently able to navigate to where they wanted to go.  I wonder if that is true!  I'm envious!

August 10, 2017

"St. Louis is a fascinating city, with the "Arch" and all its trappings.  However, don't plan to stop there.  There is virtually no way to get to shore.  The deep river, swift current and stone levy walls eliminate any thought of stopping.

In fact, stopping for the two nights you need to get down the Mississippi is a problem.  There are only two marinas along the 200 mile stretch, if one can call them marinas.  They are actually floating barges anchored in the riverbed that provide very limited services to traveling boaters.  Tying up to one of these barges can be a trying experience.  First, just getting next to a barge in a current flowing at 4 knots is an adventure.  Next, while you sleep that night, the disconcerting sound of a tree branch scraping down the side of your vessel at 4 knots can ruin your whole nights sleep.

We have no fond memories of our short trip on the Mississippi and don't expect many other boaters will either."

This is a quote from one of the guide books we use to find our way from one place to another.  This quote pretty much describes our experience on the Big Muddy.  (You should know that our first mate jumped ship in Grafton, Illinois, just before we entered the Mississippi right when we needed her.  The Shore Patrol is looking for her.  I think she is living with some guy in St. Petersburg, Florida.  I hope they catch her!) We did in fact find this part of our trip exciting and challenging.  The current is terrific, but it did help with our speed.  Having your bow suddenly swing 40 degrees is sure a surprise especially when you are passing a tow.

Now, you need to have some idea of just how big these tows are.  Each tow can contain up to "north of 42" barges.  Each barge is about 200' by 35' all being pushed by a large tug boat which "digs" a hole in the water about 6' to 8' deep and leaves a large wake for about a quarter of a mile.  Each of the barges is at least 9' deep and can hold 1500 tons of cargo.  I asked one captain how long it would take to stop his tow.  He pointed out a curve in the river about 1.5 miles ahead and said, "Maybe by then."  We had to be alert every minute as we hurtled down the river at 12-13kts.  Then we had to be alert every minute as we fought the currents on the Ohio. These were 90nm to over 100nm days.

Good Morning Kentucky

All along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers are great docking areas loading and unloading huge amounts of cargo.  Giant cranes, elevators, loaders, shutes, track hoes, warehouses, explosives docks line the banks and add to the confusion.  The rivers are crowded, fast, and full of curves.  We had to run against the current on the Ohio and Cumberland rivers.  It was 90 nm and 100 nm between our two anchorages between marinas.  We were tired when we finally reached Green Turtle Bay Marina on Barkley Lake in Kentucky.  

Looking Up To The Top Of The Lock

It will be good sleeping tonight.  

Spending The Day On The Narrow Cumberland River

Empty Barges Waiting To Be Moved

August 9, 2017

Once again we are at anchor in a small canal with no services.  I can understand why Huck Finn only wore a pair of cut off jeans

while floating down the river.  It is HOT.  I can't believe 3 weeks ago I was complaining about being cold.  Not any more.  This is what you call marina appreciation time.  We are comfortable enough, but I am use to gloating (glamor boating).  The past 2 days has been far from gloating.  We went 80 some miles and 2 locks.

We went from the Mississippi to the Ohio and are camping at the mouth of the Cumberland River.  Kentucky is on one side of the river and Illinois on the other side of the river, (I think).  Tomorrow

we will be in Tennessee, and Kentucky, and a marina.

Welcome to Kentucky

When We Leave the Lock We're in the Ohio River

Waiting for a Lock to Open

August 8, 2017

Last night we had the pleasure of entertaining friends we met in Europe a couple years ago.  They live in the area and agreed to meet us.  Of course they didn't realize that we were out in the country and the only way they could get to the boat was drive 1 hour, climb into a dinghy, boat 10 minutes down a canal and then climb on the boat.  It was good to see them and we sure appreciate all the time they took to get to us.  They brought us some wine and yummy peaches.  Thank you Angela and Rich, both were great.

Our trip was something else.  I can't believe that  we're on the Mississippi and the barges that we thought were big are not.  They are now 42, and 36 at a time.  We are anchored out in a little canal

Limestone Cliffs on the Mississippi

Morning reflections on the Mississippi

that has no service of any kind.  We really are like Huck Finn on the barge floating down the Mississippi.  Tomorrow will more of the same.  I can't wait.

Welcome aboard Angela and Rich

 

August 7, 2017

One of the things I wanted to do on this adventure was sail or boat

by the Arch in St. Louis.  I did that today.  We didn't get to spend any time there as the current was going at a pretty good clip.  It was pretty awesome anyway.  I got a picture that not many tourist

St. Louis From the Mississippi

get to take,  looking at the arch from the water.  Our marina is different.  It does have electric, water, and fuel.  That is about all that you can say.  It is right on the Mississippi and the barges go by 24 hours a day.  St Louis had a river full of barges, moving, parked, loading and off loading.  Jim did a great job of weaving in and out of the traffic and fighting the current.  We stopped at our accommodations before noon,  we did start at 5:30AM,  and traveled 58 miles.  Tomorrow we get to anchor out, travel 100

Morning Fog

Arch, Capital

miles, and have no air conditioning.  We can hardly wait.

Pre Dawn Moon

Colorado Cat Swimming in the Mississippi

Our Marina--Hoppies at
Kissemet, Mo

August 6, 2017

Today was a catch up and rest up day.  Lea went back to Florida bright and early in the morning, and I started 5 loads of laundry.

Jim worked around on the boat, by noon all the chores were done and the relaxing began.  The next few days are going to be anything 

but not relaxing.  We leave the Illinois river and within a mile

of the marina we enter the Mississippi River.  The next 250 miles

are basically without services.  Tomorrow we have a marina that

is made from old barges.  From then on until we get to anchor out

for the next 3 days.  A few of my favorite photos.

Illinois River at Dawn

August 5, 2017

The water Gods were with us today.  We left Havana, Illinois at 5:30AM with clear skies, no winds or winds.  Only 120 miles to go, and we were ready to "get ir done".  The waters were empty, and

didn't encounter our first big barge load until about 10:00AM.  Then we passed several.   The day was great,  the scenery beautiful but very empty.  there were no services 

for boaters along the way.  No marinas, docks, fuel stations, nothing.  We finally started seeing recreational boaters about 1 1/2

hours out of Grafton, and then they were every where.  A full moon party was being held at the marina we are staying in, and the party started way before the moon came up.  Tomorrow there will be a lot

of people with headaches.  We met up with 2 other couples that are doing the loop also and spent the evening telling stories about our adventures. The vote was 5 to 1 against doing the loop again,  We

Jim Driving by Remote Control on the Bow

An Early Morning Take Off

The River Rises 20ft in the Spring
Houses are on 2 Story Stilts

all have enjoyed it, but once is enough.  Lea leaves tomorrow and we will miss our first mate.  Tomorrow is another day in Grafton and then on to the Mississippi River, and St. Louis.

Lea Enjoying Her First Mate Status

Here's To National Champagne Day

August 4, 2017

In order for Lea to earn her first mate stripes, she has to write tonight's blog.

Needless to say, it feels like coming home being back on the Colorado Cat.  I hopped on board Tuesday in Chicago, and a very special thanks to Ellie Lincoln for picking me up at the airport. We were able to spend most of the day with her which was nice, had lunch downtown at a fancy grocery store, and later walked Navy Pier.  We have been on the Illinois river since leaving Chicago.  It is heavy tree lined on both sides, and we were amazed at what little personal boat traffic is on it, only tugs pushing barges, really large barges.

Today is one of Penny and my favorite national holidays: it is National Champagne Day, and yes, surprisingly, we have celebrated it appropriately.  Our day started at 04:30 with Jim changing the oil in both of these magnificent diesel engines; 05:30 Penny and I defrosting the refrigerator, and us taking off at 7:20.  Today we only went approximately 40 miles in order to be able to stop at the last available marina for the next 120 miles.  We passed by Peoria, which is a larger industrial town, and the only lock of the day could be described as a "drive-by", we didn't have to stop and tie off which was a pleasant surprise.

We are docked at a charming marina, Tall Timbers,  in Havana Illinois, which is quaint but so likable.  Penny and I walked to town, and like so many of our small downtowns, it is withering away, but hanging on.  

I earned my First Mate stripes on this trip by meeting the following qualifications:

1.  Holding the flashlight for Jim when he was finishing the oil change.

2.  Providing the necessary equipment for refrigerator defrosting: blow-dryer.

3. Tied a bumper with a knot that did not slip.

4.  Erected the antenna.

5. Learned the meaning of "let-go".

6. Re-learned the meaning of bow, stern, port, starboard.

7. Threw the lines without knocking the deck master over.

8.  Learned the correct way to push away from the walls.

I will be leaving in the next couple of days, flying from St. Louis, and I have to say, the time has flown by.  The more time I am on the boat, the longer I want to stay.  Safe travels, Colorado Cat, and hurry home.

Tall Timbers Marina

Captain. Penny In her Winter Fannels

A Tug With 15 Barges Close Enough To Touch

Jim Driving by remote Control

August 3, 2017

Today was another day of new experiences.  You would think that after 5 months and over 5000 miles we would have experienced it all.  WRONG.  They weren't bad experiences, more of one learning to be patience.  We hit the water at 5:45AM ready to roll..  Went 1/4 of a mile and called the lock master for a pass through.  We were then informed that a tug pushing 9 barges was coming.  We could go through with him, but would have to wait till he was all settled inside the lock.  We waited patiently for about 30 minutes and then it was our turn to squeeze in.  The tug and his barges were 105 ft. across, the lock is 110ft. wide. There was just enough room for us to snuggle in next to the tug and not get our dinghy caught in the gate.  After we started filling up the lock master informed us that the lock was closing after this pass through until 6:00PM.  We just made it.  Our next lock was 20 miles down river and we got there and nobody waiting.  We then learned that a tug was coming up and we would be next.  It was going to be a while, we best  tie off on the big bumper in the middle of the river and wait.  We did,

after about 45 minutes the gates opened and a tug with 12 barges slowly moved out.  After an hour and a half we were locked in and ready to go.  That's when the lock master explained that if that tug

had 15 barges it would have taken 3 hours for them to go through 1 lock.  The tug pushes 12 in the lock and then the next three.  The lock goes up without the tug.  When the lock is opened the people at the lock then pull the barges out of the lock by hand and little boat, one at a time until the lock is empty and goes down and gets the tug.  Thank goodness that wasn't a 15 barge.  I thought the trucks on the Interstate were bad, but the tugs on the river are something else.  Barges parked on the side of the river 3 and 4 deep,tugs pushing any where from 1 to 15.

Jim on bumper in the middle of river

Tug with 15 barges.  3 across by 5 deep

Foggy lonely morning

We also watched Turkey's, Bald Eagles, and Golden Eagles.  The towns were few and far between and lonely water in between.  After 102 miles we called it a day.  We're at  a very sad marina.  At one time it was probably a very big deal, but time, economy, age, and neglect has been hard on it.  But it was a port in the storm and after 13 hours we were ready to quit.  It has electric for our air conditioning and that's all that matters.

Bottom of the lock

August 2, 2017

There is an saying----"be careful what you wish for".  The whole time I was in Georgian Bay and the North  Channel, I wanted to be in a river system where you didn't worry about winds, waves, etc.  As we leave Chicago I am happy to be in the river again.  Boy did I change my mind quickly.  As soon as we are out of downtown Chicago, the river becomes a barge canal.  They park on both sides 2 deep, they move up and down the waterway with the right a way.

Our experiences were nothing like we expected.  Our first slowdown was an encounter with a train bridge.  The bridge is 

usually open except when a train is coming, when we got there it was closed and after about 30 minutes Jim called and asked when it would open .  The Bridge tender called back, "when the next train comes through."  After 45 minutes the bridge went up, and we finally got to move.  Our next slowdown was a fish trap.  This is where they electrify the water to keep evasive fish out of the water.

We didn't know that this was around, It is open for 2 hours durning the day, and 2 hours in the evening.  After waiting 2 hours for the 

current to get turned off we start booking toward Joliet, Ill.  We

go through one of the 8 locks we need to do on the Illinois river,

when the Lock master informs us that the next lock is closed until

6:30 tonight.  Our only option is to tie to the wall in Joliet and spend the night.  Thankfully it has free electric.  The lock did open early, but the only marina within 60 miles was full.  So here we are

40 miles from Chicago on the wall in Joliet for the evening.  It wasn't all bad today.  The trip through Chicago was fabulous!  We

started at 6:00AM there wasn't another boat on the water and the sun was shining on the buildings and making them glow.  We took both the east and west branch, and then did it again.  I think if I make another wish it will be there won't be any more mechanical problems either on the boat or on land.  Hopefully we have had them all.  Tomorrow we are off to Peoria in two days.  Keep your fingers crossed once again.

Get ready for a lock

August 1, 2017

I can't believe it is the beginning of a new month,  our 5th month

on the boat together in 44 feet of space.  I bet there are people who didn't think we could do it.  So far so good.

Today we waited for Lea to arrive and after she did Ellie, Lea, and I walked to town for groceries and lunch.  Of course there was a glass of wine involved.  After a lovely lunch we came back to the boat and relaxed until it was time to have a drink for happy hour and then dinner.  Needless to say it has been a very relaxed day.

But tomorrow that will change.  We sure do enjoy having people

share our adventures with us and to have someone with us when we travel through downtown Chicago like the sightseeing boats do is

very special.  Lea is going to stay on until St. Louis, if there are any

adventurous people out there now is the time to get on the boat.

Looking out the Salon window

As the song says...."Meet me in St. Louis"

Morning sky looks like a big fish ready to bite

July 31, 2017

Our second day in Chicago and we experienced a non tourist 

Chicago.  We had a native Chicagoian show us around.  We

had lunch in a non tourist restaurant and it was great.  You have your choice of either a hamburger or a cheese burger.  The best 

was a boozy vanilla shake.  It is now my favorite kind of shake.

We then drove around the various neighborhood, and went shopping in my favorite grocery store, Aldi.  Jim and I went to

the Field Museum and saw the sights.  Then this evening we rode

Ready to see the City

Remember the Bob Newhart Show?

the Farris wheel and ate another bag of Garret Popcorn.  Can't get better than this.  Tomorrow Lea is joining us to St. Louis.  Thanks Pam and Ellie for showing us the city.

End of a Great Day