Too Hull-Areas Adventures

07/24/2025

07/23/2025

07/23/2025

Let us just start by saying, the mighty Mississippi is no joke. It’s definitely called that for a reason. Going up river, we were averaging 5 mph running at 2200 rpm. Riding with the current back, we are averaging 13 mph at 2000 rpm. We have gone 215 miles in two days! Crazy fast! (for us anyway 🤪)

We were thinking going back was going to be easier but we quickly found out, we were wrong. 😏 What we didn’t think about was barges pushing big loads upstream. In order to push upstream in this fast moving high water, they are kicking pretty hard which causes huge swells off their bow and huge wakes off their stern. 😳🌊😳🌊

We almost died (I’m being dramatic…kinda) when we got swamped by a tow pushing ONE empty barge upstream going 8 mph. He was hauling 🫏 and putting out at least a 3 ft wake/swell and by the time they got to us, they were every bit 5 ft!!! 😩😳🤪

We are anchored for the night just around the corner from the Ohio and let me just say, we’ll be so glad to see it!

07/21/2025

Two nights in Grafton, IL and we have very much enjoyed our stay! Got here Saturday morning in the middle of a downpour but that’s par for the course. 🤪

After getting settled in and the rain had passed, we were able to meet up with some fellow Endeavour owners! Ken & Cheryl are the new owners of 4th Dimension and that was the first Endeavour catamaran we were ever on. We saw it when we were traveling on the Erie Canal with Roger’s brother and his wife and we were hooked! We began looking for Endeavours for sale and found Too Hull-Areas almost immediately. So it has been pretty cool to hang out with the new owners of what was our inspiration boat. 😊

During our stay here in Grafton, we had lots of good food, did some cool stuff, and met some good people. Heading back downstream in the morning. Looking forward to riding that current back to the Ohio! 😊

07/18/2025

Less of a haul today…only 8 hours! Lol! Still pretty slow going. Talked to some boaters from St. Louis who told us that the river is crazy high for this time of year which is causing the fast moving current.

Speaking of fast, we passed a boat today going 45 mph down stream. Come to find out, he is trying to break the record for fastest loop (19 days, 19 hours, and 50 mins). Barely got his picture he was moving so fast!!

Today, we made it to Hoppie’s Marina. This place is a must stop for most loppers as it is the last place to get fuel until Paducah (165 miles). We didn’t NEED fuel but we fueled up anyway to support this much needed pit stop for loppers.

Excitement for the day…getting caught in quite a storm about an hour away from Hoppie’s. Couldn’t see past the bow of the boat. It was crazy! 🤪

Since we got here (around 4:00) we have refueled, filled the water tank, and door dashed some groceries (ran out of coffee 😳). Ready for a good nights sleep. Hopefully, not too many barges will pass. 🤞

07/17/2025

13 hour day. 69 miles. Tied to a lock wall. We are safe. That is all. 😴

07/16/2025

Not too much to report today. Departed the anchorage at 7:30. Was pretty slow going upstream. 2200 rpm averaging 5 mph. Lots of debris, lots of current, and lots of swirling water. It was a two hands on the wheel kind of day. Most of the trip was too crazy for autopilot (my favorite thing). 😏 Passed one barge going upstream. Took about an hour to pass him because he was crawling too! 🐌 Barges going downstream are hauling 🫏 so we stay out of their way for sure! Can’t wait to get the current on our way back. Found an awesome anchorage just off the river right before a quick storm passed through. Perfect timing! Back at it again tomorrow!

07/14/2025

We did it! We have officially traveled the Ohio river from end to end! Last summer we traveled from Paducah to Pittsburgh and today we finished up by traveling from Paducah to Cairo, IL.

This morning, we said goodbye to Paducah at 8 am and hardly passed a soul until we arrived at Olmsted lock 3.5 hours later (not even a barge). 🤷‍♀️

The lock master let us know that there was a salvage operation going on right outside the gate and advised us to stay over to the port side as much as possible as we departed. Apparently, on July 1st, there were 2 tugs that sank right outside the lock. One lost power and the other one was trying to assist and let’s just say it didn’t go well 😏 (see pics).

Two hours past the lock and we arrived in Cairo, IL where the Ohio river spills into the great Mississippi. We took a right turn and instantly went from traveling 8 mph to 2 mph! The current is no joke! 😳 It took two hours to go 8 miles! It seemed like every boat we passed going down stream looked at us like we were nuts! 🤪
Probably will be pretty slow going the next couple days but we are determined. 😊

07/14/2025

Back on the Ohio! Traveled 67 miles from Paris Landing to Paducah. Had a two hour wait to get through Kentucky lock but not too bad considering Barkley lock is closed. Once we got tied up, we walked to Doe’s Eat Place and had an awesome steak! Had some dark clouds now and then but managed to avoid all bad weather. Great travel day!

07/13/2025

Beautuful day on the water! Track us on Nebo!

07/07/2025

Haven’t posted a bunch this year but since we left Clarksville in March, we have traveled over 400 miles. We were splashed back into the water June 10th. Since then, we have been exploring the Kentucky lake area and enjoying having some friends and family aboard. Also, spent 8 days in FL doing the grandbaby circuit. 🤣

07/07/2025

Kentucky Lake Boat Life, living the dream!