MISSISSIPPI CRUISING WITH THE WEBERS - 2005

Friday 16^th September 2005:

WOW - what a day - 100 miles of cruising the mighty Mississippi River in a Starcruiser. Ray Mathews from Freeport, Illinois drove the 80 or so miles to join us for the day, so three Starcruisers were launched from the Potosi Landing a short drive from Cuba City around 10.00 am, under a cloudless blue Wisconsin sky.

We headed north along the broad expanses of the Mississippi River, Peter travelling with Verdon Weber, and Arthur with Linda Weber in the 'Pink Lady'. The GPS was fluctuating between 45 and 50 mph as the three craft skimmed above the surface in synchronized flight northward, while above us, flocks of geese were winging their way south in anticipation of the colder months ahead.

This huge river freezes solid during the winter months stopping all traffic - except hovercraft. Linda pointed out various spots along the way where she and Verdon drill holes through 2 feet of ice to go fishing when temperatures are 10° below zero.

A short stop or two at various sandbars along the way to soak up the atmosphere, and another stop at Cassville, before we headed west into Iowa along the Turkey River for 20 miles or so.

The Turkey river is much narrower than the Mississippi, and quite shallow, winding its way upstream with numerous logs, sandbars and rapids along the way to negotiate - ideal hovercraft territory where no other craft venture, but still an easy 35 mph in the Starcruisers.

Friday 16^th September 2005:

After a lunch stop we retraced our way back to the Mississippi River and continued north to the Guttenburg Dam, where we watched a beaver who thought this dam had been built exclusively for his use, while a honking white swan glided gracefully over the water a short distance away.

Massive barges use the river for commercial travel and the dams have locks to allow traffic to continue upstream. This dam was our northern limit for today, so after a look around the area we headed south towards home, stopping on a large sandbar a few miles north of Potosi Landing to watch one of the barges making its way upstream.

After a short deviation a few miles along the Grant River, we made our way back to the landing to finish a perfect day on the river. Peter took the controls of Verdons craft for the last 20 miles or so and we still haven't been able to wipe the grin off his face. He did make the comment though that he was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs as he flew someone else's craft - with the owner sitting directly behind him....

WOW - what a day. If only we had a few Starcruisers in the Queensland Hovercraft Club.

Even if nothing else happens on this holiday, our expectations have already been well and truely exceeded. Thank you Linda and Verdon Weber for allowing us to accompany you on such a fantastic day on the Mississippi River.