Hannibal, Missouri to Keokuk, Iowa

We departed Hannibal at 6am to head towards Keokuk, Iowa.

Sunrise on the Mississippi River as we departed Hannibal.

  

We had three Lock and Dams to get through, which is always an unknown for time to lock through if a barge is within the lock or will enter before us.  All went smoothly with the 1st two — #21 and #20.  

When we got to #19 at Keokuk, a barge got ahead of us so our wait "would be an hour to 1-1/2 hours,” we were told.  So...we found a boat club near the lock that said we could come ashore to let Tori relieve herself.  While we were tied up waiting for the L&D, another boat tied up next to us and commented on our WASHINGTON state flag, our dinghy that says BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, AND our familiar style boat — Nordic Tug.  I took Tori up the metal staircase and Dan began a conversation with the other boat occupants.  They had moved to Keokuk from Issaquah, Washington. They LOVE being back in her home town.  We felt very connected with our history of the Seattle area and understanding too why we moved to the Midwest...
pricing out of the real estate market.  

We got word that we could soon enter the lock so we departed the South Side Boat Club and new friends.  Floating bollards in this lock.  We watched in horror a woman also in the lock, attempting to lasso the bollard.  I was sure she would fall in — scary. 

New friends, Washingtonian transplants to Iowa.

Finding the Keokuk Yacht Club, we settled in...for 3 nights.