24 Hours on the Mississippi (Inland Transit Day 4)

Oct 28

Written By World Ocean School

Mississippi River, Mile 44

Thebes, IL

Log Entry by Program Manager Tatiana Dalton

Friday, October 28, 2022

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Last night (I’m told—I was asleep at the time), we passed from the Illinois River to the Mississippi River exactly at the stroke of midnight. An auspicious moment to enter what is perhaps our country’s most iconic waterway!

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Just a couple of hours later, still snug and warm in my bunk, I heard things shifting around me and decided to investigate. Up on deck, I found that we were entering an enormous lock, much bigger than any of the others I had seen before. Capt. Hill brought us alongside, where we tied up to a floating bit and prepared to descend.

As soon as we began to fall, the air filled with a horrible shrieking sound. It was like a chorus of dying seagulls or a thousand cursed teakettles. It was like the soundtrack of a horror movie surrounding us from all sides.

Luckily, it was none of these things—just the floating bits scraping against the sides of their slots. But it was a haunting addition to the dark night as we drifted deeper and deeper into the concrete chamber of the lock.

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At breakfast, the communal bottle of Tabasco sauce dripped its last drops over scrambled eggs. This is a crew that likes their Tabasco, most of all pilot Captain Sam Hill. We did our best to stay strong but silently mourned the end of this tasty sauce.

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After breakfast, we entered yet another lock just outside St. Louis, Missouri. Cat took advantage of this opportunity to share this experience with her family over FaceTime—while we tied up, drifted downwards, and continued ahead, she showed them each step of the process.

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Soon we could see the city of St. Louis come into view, and as we passed barges and slipped under bridges, we spotted the glittering Gateway Arch. Aurora commented that the moment reminded her of a family road trip, and I had to agree. A few of us gathered on the forward monkey deck and took group photos like a bunch of tourists.

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Some time before lunch, Jake discovered an unopened two-pack of Tabasco sauce he had bought at the Green Bay Costco weeks ago. A miracle! The trip is saved!

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The day continued. As I looked at the map, I realized that we had not left Illinois for Missouri but rather we were drifting directly between the two states. To our port, the riverbanks belonged to Illinois and to starboard, Missouri.