Flying Colors

One small step for the captain, one giant step for the family (or so it seemed). As I stepped for the first time from Flying Colors to the dock at Afton. That little step seemed symbolically huge to me as this was the final step after 1,016 miles of boat travel at 7 to 11 mph with many unexpected twists and turns.

Today we experienced 1-2 foot sharp waves on Lake Pepin as a brisk chilly northwest wind blew into town. I’m go glad I got the generator fixed - while underway this morning Lisa and Nancy prepared chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and grapefruit and coffee. Nancy took the helm so I could go below and sit down for a breakfast while cruising through Lake Pepin on the Mississippi.

We made it through our 31st and final lock 3 with a 20 minute delay…the lockmaster wouldn’t wait for us even though we could see the lock as they were letting out a bevy of south bound fun seekers.

We saw more recreational boats today than any time on our 1,000 miles. The St. Croix topped them all. Wind surfers, jet skis, sail boats, big and small power boats, beaches packed with boats, it was so strange having Flying Colors on this water after 4 years of Lake Michigan.

The boat ran flawlessly, like it has ever since I figured out the engines just wanted to run cooler.

I’ll write more tomorrow, and post some pictures.

We landed at Afton Marina, Slip D02 about 2:30pm. The dock had pennants flying, a big bunch of balloons, a banner, and champagne and snacks.

We were greeted at the slip by my son Brad, Pat and Ernie Reimann (my parents) and my brother Bill. Also got to meet some of the great new friends we’ll make on my dock.

We also went out to dinner at the Afton House, had ice cream, and the crew gets to sleep in their own beds at our home in Arden Hills, Minnesota tonight.

Today we (Captain, Nancy, Lisa and two American Girls) work up realizing it could be our last day on the trip. Got some coffee going, made sure the phones and video camera were charged, and we departed Lake City Marina.

About 50 miles, we hoped to arrive by about 4pm.

(Brad Writes)
Compared to what the rest of my family has been experiencing, I can basically say almost nothing exciting has been going on here in Minnesota. But let me start back when I left. I woke up at 4:40am for a 6:30am train in St. Louis. Julie gave me a ride to the train and waited til it arrived with me. It ended up being about 30 minutes late. It was a VERY smooth train ride. We had many stops and lots of engine trouble. When I say stops I mean the train would just stop. Our engine cars were so bad we had to swap them out. One nice thing was the train had outlets so I could just plug my phone and laptop right in. My next train in Chicago would leave at 2:15pm. After all the delays my train ended up getting in at 2:07 so I had to run like an idiot to the next train.

This next train ride went smoothly mechanical-wise, but I had another problem: food. I was going to get food in between stops but since we were so late I couldn’t get any. So I went looking for food proudly stocked with a 100$ bill until I found they wouldn’t accept it and that was all I had! So I ate what I had left of my supply of fruit snacks, pop tarts, and granola bars but that could only stall my hunger. It was 6:00 and I was extremely hungry. I swear I almost died. Meanwhile every ten seconds people are called to their dinner reservations and others were eating dinner right in front me including the lady next to me. As desperation set in I dug in every pants pocket in my bag for some money. And I found 8$ and like 4$ in change! So I had a feast of artificial pizza, a hot dog, skittles, orange juice, and water. After that I felt good but was bored out my mind cause this train had no outlets. But luckily I found one in the bathroom and took and extra long #2 haha! We were supposed to get in 30 minutes early at 10, but out of the blue the tracks caught on fire and were delayed 30 minutes! How does that happen! But so then grandpa picked me up and I was back home, and hopefully ready for soccer tryouts the next day.

Soccer tryouts started at 9 and went to 11 and then were again at 2 and went to 4 every day until thursday. Monday for tryouts I thought I did really well, except for my ride forgetting to pick me up so I was 30 minutes late haha. But Tuesday brought some trouble in that I got put on the sophmore jvb team. I was the only junior. By the end of the day, I had moved up to jv, as I thought I would. I decided the next day when jv and varsity scrimage I would really shine and show the coaches I was varsity material, but the next day I was back on jvb! I started to get worried because going into tryouts I thought at worst I would make jv, I didn’t think it was possible i’d be on jvb! I moved up to jv again and kids who shouldn’t have been on jv to begin with moved down to jvb. It kinda stinks cause if I had been on jv the whole time I probably would have moved up to varsity. Overall though I ended up making jv which I was ok with. We got out jerseys the other day and there is a picture below. We had a team outing the other day and that was really fun! And earlier this week we scrimaged a team and lost 2-1 but we were still figuring how to work as a team so it’s ok. We beat the jvb team in a scrimage yesterday 3-0 and I scored one of the goals. It should be a good season!

But besides soccer, I have been staying with my amazing grandparents. They have put up with me, and fed me awesome food like French toast and ribs, driven me to soccer and places, and have just been great. Thanks guys! I have kinda enjoyed being away from the family and all the problems haha but I will be nice to see them tomorrow! I hope they have a safe last day of travel!

(Captain Ron writes) We made it to Lake City Marina and Lake City Minnesota tonight, beat a storm front coming in. It was the windest day of our trip, some of the gusts were of some concern to the crew.

In lock 5 the wind had a good fetch and blew right into the lock like a wind tunnel, and the lock provided us lines that were too short to secure to a cleat. Arm strength alone cannot hold this boat with a 30 mph gust, so we had our stern swing out and Nancy was able to release the bow line but we spun around in the lock - I used the engines to get it under control, and we moved back to the lock with the bow pointed into the wind, and we found a longer line and got it secured to a bow cleat and we were ok for the rest of that lockage.

The river is so beautiful up here, plush, bluffs, lots of interesting offshoots of water (for a dinghy) and you have to pay close attention as the channel zig zags through this with lots of bouys and wing dams everywhere.

We had to navigate the small entry to the north Lake City harbor in that blustery wind, and we managed to get the boat tied to our designated spot at the end of the 200 pier with the help of our helpful next door neighbor there. Had 50 amp 240v service…first time on the trip, which is our native power, and wireless internet, so happy as a clam. Docks are solid and facilities are the newest and classiest of anything we’ve seen on the entire trip.

Generator worked today, so we had hot lunch. Lisa was so thrilled to have 115v for microwave and stove for lunch prep. Of course I was worried that my fuel pump would malfunction and we’d have some sort of new disaster, but it worked fine.

This is our last night in an “away” harbor if our plan holds. Tomorrow we set out to reach HOME. A 50 mile trip and our LAST lock…the 31st lock that we have gone through on this trip.

We are shooting to arrive at Afton marina, at our slip which is on the D dock … D-2 … around 4pm. The crew voted to celebrate a bit and then they reqested the opportunity to sleep in their own beds at our home tomorrow night. Since they’ve been doing everying I (the captain) wanted the past 4 weeks, I figure it is their turn. So we will try to get to our house tomorrow night and leave Flying Colors in its new home, with out us on board, for the first time since July 26th.

last night the trains were very close and very loud, so Nancy and I had very interrupted sleep. I haven’t noticed any train noises yet here so wonder if it might be quieter…hope so.

So many people have dropped us notes and phone calls and it makes it extra fun to go through all this and know that others can share the trip with us this way. I wish you could sit at the helm like I do and just experience cruising the Mississippi.

Ron,

My name is Bobby D and I am from slip D281, my boat is the Lady Josephine (the burgendy colored canvas sport fish with 35′ of outriggers). I spoke with you the Wendsday before you left on the great adventure.

This blog idea was pertty cool and very interesting as few of us will ever take on a journey of this magnatude, yet we got to kind of follow along. Any way, hello from all of us on “D” in New Buffalo that are keeping up with your family’s journey. You guys will be missed, though we wish you the best

Bobby D.

It’s a good thing we’re almost home. I have made my frozen meals last an extra week. All we have left I’d cheesy caramel popcorn from Galena. Hope Lake City has some great restaurants. First mate Nancy

(Captain Ron writes) Took off at 7am on a cloudy, rainy day, first one like it on our trip.

We hit 4 locks perfectly with no delays.

Engines ran perfectly.

We made such good time that we decided to pass up our planned stop. Problem was I had shipped Kohler generator part there. We made arrangements for them to bring it to the gas dock there, and we went off channel to get there.

We had to go off the main channel, follow some side markers, and then to get into the main back channel, we had to drive through a wing dam…they had removed the rocks to create an opening, and it was marked with floats on each side, but you knew that under the water on each side outside of the markers were rock piles that you couldn’t see. I was very tense. I do not like taking the boat into uncharted waters on the promise that it is deep enough. We paid very close attention to the markers, and I’m pleased to say we didn’t add another mishap to our list of mishaps. I was very relieved to be back on the main channel after that. We draw 39 inches, meaning the propellers are that far down in the water, so it has to be deeper than that or we hit. My depth finder shows how much water is under the depth finder, so when it says about 1.5 feet then that means the water is abougt 39 inches deep in total.

Milestones today…the west shore of the river is now Minnesota! Also we did 4 locks. And I repaired the generator with the new fuel pump that was fed exed.

We are thinking if all goes close to plan that we will be arriving home around Catfish Bar in Afton Minnesota around 4pm this Saturday.

We gassed up today and this could be our last needed gas of the trip. We are switching from “will this ever end” to “oh, no, only two days left”

But they are two full days, with lots of running to do yet.

If you have been reading this blog of our trip regularly, and have not yet left a comment, I invite you to do so. We are interested to know how many are following us. The system may tell you that your comment is not published…that is for security reasons, we have to approve new posters the first time, so you will see your comment it might just take a day. Please say hi.

Maybe rainstorm today

River is wide, plush, little current, more friendly

Wind at our back, doing 9 mph speed over ground

No cell service for hours today

Great 50 mile day

2 locks

Docked on a riverside dock with 12 feet of water and 30 amp power

Lisa getting so good with docklines today she helped a carver land at the dock

Trains running 100 yards away - mississippi and trains seem to go hand in hand