Waiting In Rock Island, Illinois

The moon rising in Rock Island, Illinois

We have been off the river at a marina in Rock Island, Illinois the past two weeks due to the Mississippi River being above flood stage. The locks downriver have been closed to ALL north and south bound Commercial and recreational traffic. If the Good Lord's willing and the river don’t rise, we may begin southbound travels on Thursday morning. We have met other Looper boats, so we will be traveling in a group of 4 boats. 

Do you know when you have been in one place too long?

Answer:  When Dan takes up trapping a racoon.

So far the racoon is winning, robbing us of a loaf of bread and four bananas. We put a slice of bread with cream cheese salmon dip on one slice and another sliced bread with peanut butter creamy style in the back of the trap. Dan cut carefully thinly sliced bananas on the dock in breadcrumb style into the trap. The wiley critter ate the banana and reached over the trigger that closed the door and then made off. He left Dan a beautiful trail of white paw prints of cream cheese salmon dip. He did not even leave a note or a thank you on the extensive buffet spread. Dan wanted to take his Henry rifle on the Loop. No. No, Dan. No. He argued how handy a Henry rifle would be.  He mentioned he would like to fly the coon tail on the Gammel Dansk mast. He says we would be more respected in Tennessee flying that coon tail.
Not all problems are maritime related. 

Flying our colors: The Washington State flag. 

Note Trapper Dan’s trap on the dock and also note the absence of
a coontail flying off the mast.