An Exciting Time with Loopers

It is hard to believe it is October.  At last the weather is wonderful with warm days and cool nights and best of all...Loopers.  We enjoy the boaters as they adventure south in a Quest to complete the Americas Great Loop (AGLCA).  Many just started in Wisconsin or Minnesota and arrived at the Alton Marina where they are greeted by the Harbor Hosts, Patty and Robert with the Maggi happily wagging her tail.
Such excitement as the boats pause here and are full of happy people with our same sense of adventure wondering what the Big River has in store for them the next 300 miles as the Mississippi joins up with the Ohio and the Ohio joins the Cumberland.  As Robert explains in the nightly briefing, this section of the Loop may be the most difficult as boats much anchor on the rivers before reaching the Green Turtle Marina where fuel, food, stores await.
We enjoy telling them of the independence they will feel as they motor down the river with no fuel except 50 miles downstream at Hoppies.  There will be no tow boats to snare them in an emergency except close to St. Louis and close to Green Turtle in Kentucky.  They stock up on food, fuel and water here and have everything they need for the journey.
We take some to stores here and help find parts for items on the boats that they want to be repaired before leaving.
As we tell them of the hazards and fun of being self-sufficient on this portion of the rivers, we get so excited to go with them.  We plan on it about November 1.

LOOPERS ENJOY A GOOD DINNER AT MAC'S IN ALTON, IL

ALTON MARINA UNDER THE CLARK BRIDGE HOME OF LOOPERS FOR A BRIEF STAY

Of course we cannot forget the other wonderful part of October: BASEBALL.  Our Cardinals won the Central division and are in the playoffs with the Pirates.  The first game was October 3 and we won!  If you think people here are not caught up in Cardinal fever just look at the 40,000+ at each game.