On the Mississippi River, tugs pushing barges are referred to as “tows”. Tows can be combinations ranging from one tug with a single barge, up to two tugs pushing as many as 49 barges (7 long x 7 wide). When a tug pushing a full load (49 barges) is traveling upstream, against the current, the turbulence created can extend more than a mile behind the tow. The turbulence can result in six-foot waves that ricochet off the banks so that waves are attacking from multiple directions at once.
On our second day, while being hurled downstream by a 7-mph current, we encountered a full tow headed north. This occurred just as we were attempting to enter the Kaskaskia River to stop for the night. As we passed behind the tug and turned across his wake, we were sent airborne by a six-foot standing wave. All 15,000 pounds of Stealaway left the river in a skyward direction and was suspended mid-air!! That lasted only a couple of seconds until the laws of gravity took over and Stealaway came crashing down into the Muddy Mississippi. The resulting splash would rival the splash created by the log flume ride at any respectable amusement park. What a ride!! Completing our tun into the Kaskaskia River across the wake of the tow can only be described as whitewater rafting in a 15,000-pound sailboat!
Once in the Kaskaskia River, we tied up at the lock wall for the night. The first order of business was to re-stow all of the items that had relocated from their stowage area into the cabin floor and elsewhere. Bev checked all items on deck and found that everything was accounted for, just not where it belonged. One such item was the forward hatch cover which resides just above our bed. In the chaos of the “launch”, the hatch cover came off but remained on deck. It was not until turning in for the night that we discovered a significant portion of the Mighty Mississippi had come aboard through the hatch and stowed away in our bunk! The bedding and mattress were soaked, and there was an inch of Mississippi mud under the mattress.
Have I mentioned how much fund we’re having?!