All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
After doing laundry and refilling our water tank, we had a great night of sleep. There were only one or two other boats occupied overnight so we essentially had the restrooms, showers and laundry facilities to ourselves. To top it off, they only charge $15.00 a night for everything. In the morning they opened the ship-store and Denise was able to get her hot coffee. We did a pumpout of our black water tank and topped off the diesel. The river was smooth and we were able to get through Smithland lock in record time. Denise had called ahead, so the doors to the lock chamber were open upon arrival.
While underway Denise made omelets and Jimmy Deans sausage for breakfast.
We arrived at the Paducah City Transient Dock at 1:30. Three boats were already there and all three were displaying the same burgee (flag) as we have on our bow mast. The initials on the flag stand for America's Great Loop Cruisers Association. By displaying the flag you're indicating membership in the association and also that you are "loopers". Since June 1st a lock on the Illinois river has been undergoing maintenance, so no traffic has been able to pass through. That means about 175 loopers, as well as commercial traffic, has been held up in the Chicago area until the lock reopened on October 1st. Our goal, as well as the goal of the other three boats with us in Paducah, has been to beat the huge number of boaters headed this way. As they do, the marinas and anchorages will be crowded.
The dock here at Paducah is very nice with electric and water hookups. Access to the town is readily available, but the ramp from the dock is the longest we've ever seen.
After tying up our boat at Paducah, we decided to get out our folding electric bikes and head to Best Buy and Walmart. The charger Denise brought for her Apple Watch was faulty and she needed a new one, so Best Buy was our best chance of getting one. I looked up the directions to those stores and Google indicated it was about five miles.....well within the range of our bikes. Then I looked up the best route for bicycles, but I didn't check the milage. We took off and found ourself on a beautiful bike path. But the path eventually turned into a gravel path and went through a wooded area. After what seemed like a long trip I realized we had travel about ten miles; but it was too late to turn back. We made our purchases at the store and headed back "home", with over half of our battery charge used up. Upon returning on a shorter, but more dangerous route, we ran out of battery about 4 1/2 miles from the river. These bikes can be pedaled, but they're far worse than a regular bike. So, with a combination of walking and pedaling, we finally made it to the boat before dark.
One of the interesting sights we saw on our way back to the boat was
this huge needle and thread in front of a sewing shop.
Today we traveled 27.7miles by boat and probably 17 miles by bicycle.
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