The Morning Mist

Mystical Morning

Photo 1. Chip going out in the dinghy to pull up the stern anchor.

Photo 2. A Great Blue Heron flying by.

Photo 3. Before the mist disappeared. (remember, you can click on these pictures to make them bigger)

Got up early and made Chip french toast out of the homemade apple bread we bought at the farmer's market on Saturday...we took care of about two hours or so of "real estate " related work; then decided to head out into the peaceful morning fog...we knew it would burn off quickly, and there was definitely something mystical about traveling alone through the mist.

We saw several flocks of white pelicans...they are amazing! (click on link to learn more, too) I did a little bit of research and found out that they are a bird watchers delight...they show up every year, at this time, right in this very place as they migrate south through the upper Mississippi River Valley on their way from the fresh water lakes up north to the Gulf of Mexico! We watched a magnificent hawk circle overhead, and saw more great blue herons than we could count. The binoculars are coming in handy...

The barge traffic has been minimal...and we passed an old-fashioned paddle boat called The Spirit of Peoria. We didn't have to wait longer than 10 minutes at the lock today and it was the very first time we just floated through...no lines, which was really cool! --haven't encountered many floating logs...and still haven't seen one of those $500 carp! Sheesh! We watched the duck hunters, in anticipation of the upcoming season, trim their blinds and throw the "dumbie" birds out to their Labs--a method of training the retrievers, amazing... We cruised by several little towns, but opted to anchor again tonight...the weather has been beautiful...the water is calm...the sunset is breathtaking...this is the the kingdom...we are so blessed.