Day 358, 359, 360 Arrived Home 9/8/2010

Thanks Dennis, Diane, Carollee and Ron for the fun welcome reception.








Steve & Liz northbound in Lock 18, Mississippi River. Hate to see them go, they have been fun companions









Roger, Rod & Jolene at anchor our first night back in hometown waters.







Our grandkids Sydney, Jensen and Riley heading home.







Our long time friends Randy and Kris Teel, Paul and Linda Slagel greeted us just before the nights anchorage.








Entering the harbor at our hometown Lindsay Park Yacht Club.







We departed Burlington IA at daybreak for a long days run. We had three locks to pass through, address severe oncoming current, and deliver our daughter Dawn and family to their vehicle located at the Fairport IA marina.

At MM 470 (Andalusia, IL) one of our favorite anchorages of years past, we found our friends Rod & Jolene Teel already anchored. Storms and high winds were predicted later in the evening but we were secured to Rod’s boat just before the high winds arrived.

It was a pleasant surprise as we entered our hometown area to see so many friends welcome us home and the radio chatter was a warm welcome. The following day the very high winds continued as we ventured one additional lock along with our looper friends Steve and Liz Kemper that we caught up with at Lock 15 on the Mississippi River. We peeled off at our hometown yacht club in Davenport IA and decided to stay one additional night out before heading for home port the next morning, eight miles up the river in Hampton, IL. Our very dear friends Ron & Carollee Baltzer, Dennis Smith and Diane Oberhardt greeted us at our home port Tuesday Morning 9/7/10 bringing our “Great Loop” to our final chapter. What an absolutely memorable journey.