Waiting at the Lock

We had waited over an hour for the barges and tug
 to clear the lock chambers. 

Sometimes 21 barges -- requiring multiple cycles to get them all through and then reassembled and tied together for the tug to push north or southbound  down the river. The barges contain corn soybeans and wheat. It is the most efficient way to haul these commodities. I can’t imagine how many trucks would be crowding the highways.  No fees are collected for use of the locks. Paid for by the US Taxpayers. Administered by the
Army Corp of Engineers.