I was working at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant north of Red Wing when you motored by. We keep our boat at the Lake City Marina and are very familiar with Lake Pepin. Glad you enjoyed our local area. BTW when you mentioned that the plant was "gassing" what you were seeing was steam from the cooling towers that remove the waste heat from the reactors. We have two nuclear reactors here that produce over 100 megawatts (that's 100 MILLION watts) of electricity, all 100% carbon free. Have a great trip!
Lake City used to have a sizable industry making buttons out of the freshwater shellfish. It's most famous, of course, for being where waterskiing was invented.
I just found your channel and I can’t stop watching. You’re living the dream! …those curls and pushups are inspiring (I’m 48)and I got a got a good laugh, too.
Thats why the Autopilot is my number 1 must have on Long Trawler trips, but thats the great thing about boats, different styles - shapes for everyone. Always love videos on any River.
Just found your channel, super thrilled and looking forward for your great loop videos. I, for one, would like like to see longer videos, showing more detail in both the sites along the trip and everyday types of things of just living on a shanty boat. What you may consider 'boring' is fresh and exciting for a lot of us. Best to you and Wavey.
I'm always grappling with what's worth sharing ans what's boring. I make "Behind the Scenes and In-Betweens" (probably the next video) that goes into more details like that. Thanks for finding us
It is amazing how they can maintain the locks draw bridges and free ferry son our water ways , give them time and they’ll start charging you for each use. A lot of water way city’s only allow you to anchor on a paid mooring ball. It’s the changing time’s glad you’re getting to do this for us. Always happy er on a hook than tied to the bank.
I've been seeing that coming for a while. Especially passing through the locks. I'm getting a slight annoyance vibe from some of the lock masters this trip. :( times they are a changing
It is pretty awesome to see your subscriber numbers rising. Speaking of your movie watching. Doing reactions on your other channel could be cool. 14:23 Now that is a decoration I would be proud to have in my yard. I think we camped at a COE campground in or very near Alma in August. Speaking of fishing, I think there are tons of catfish in the waters you are anchoring in. Throwing out a line when you're anchored with catfish bait might pay off.
I see fish jumping all day long (and hear them at night) I want to start fishing so bad, but winter has caught up (30s this morning) so I doubt there will be any fishing until at least the Ohio River and Kentucky lakes. Stay tuned! Something to look forward to;)
Hello from the quiet cool Ozarks Brenton! Another video of value! Hope your well and enjoying your day! What a great adventure start! Enjoy riding along with you and checking out all the history and little towns! Excited to see your channel growing! tight lines and bent poles!
Brenton, this was the best episode ever! The Church was beautiful and Wabasha was cool, I loved that movie. I worry about Wavey, is she as clumsy as my Cooper-beagle?. He would be overboard in 5 minutes wo a gate across those gaurd-rail openings.....Can't wait for the next episode! I'm heading to bring the Nomad home Tuesday, winter is coming!
Grumpy Old Men was mostly filmed on the East Side of Saint Paul. It was a few blocks from where I grew up so we used to watch them filming when I was in high school. It was near Lake Phalen.
Stop in Bellevue Iowa if you have time can beach the boat at Off Shore Bar and Grill (for free, they even have sand anchors to tie to. Small town grocery, mom & pop coffee shop and a brewery. Really nice town.
@@backwatersandbackroads There's a re-creation just north of Pepin. They also started in the spring, by crossing the frozen lake, just before the ice broke up, because it was the fastest way to cross.
I'm a retired lock and damn operator. To keep off the lock walls while the chamber is filling or emptying. Tie the bow to a floating mooring bit and Idle in reverse. Keep a pole handy just in case.
I love your channel. I live overseas, and watching this brings a tear to my eye as I recall traveling around the Great Lakes with my grandfather on his sailboat decades ago. The music is perfect too.
Love it. Best shanty trip iv seen so far and you just started!. Thank you brother/barge beagle. Its getting rainy and cold up here in da UP. I think you will be keeping just ahead of the cold but you may have some heavy rain coming. Be safe have fun and keep inspiring the rest of us who keep talking about it and not doing it.
Hello Mr River..if you don't mind I'll float along with you and the little rabbit hound..I like the video and the whole thing about traveling on the big river has been a life long dream for me.. thanks for the ride along 🤝
In a year or so, you might wanna check out Lake City, to La Crosse Wisconsin again by road. Winona is nice to Visit, it has the headquarters of Watkins Products, and they have a museum with all past and present products. There is the lakeview Drive in, but it's closed during the winter. Sugarloaf is one of the few registered mountains in the State of Minnesota. It's right off Hwy 61. La Crosse Wi/La Crescent MN sell apple's big time, In fact a lot of the Carmel apples you'll see even in the Upper peninsula I think are grown there. My mom and her best friend used to drive down there from Minneapolis each fall, and buy loads of apples. She'd make all sorts of stuff with them. When I was a little kid 4or 5, my mom would read the little house on the prairie books to us. One of the original cabins they lived in was in on the Minnesota side of Lake Pepin. The cabin is maintained with historical facts. Tiny cabin I might had, not much bigger than your boat, but interesting to see how people lived back in the day. I used to think it was just a TV show, but no, those people were real.
it is nice to sit on the front deck in a lawn chair and just putter down the lake. i see they have steering systems that have a remote control to steer from on deck . i see martin is leaving in his sailboat any time now.👍👍carry on around the bend lol
Been watching your adventures for awhile now. Really enjoying them. I live in Port Byron, IL. Above L&D 14, across from LeClaire, IA. LeClaire is the home of Antique Archeology. Also, 2nd weekend in August we shut down boat traffic for 3 hrs and have a tug of war across the Mississippi. I'm hoping I can at least see you as you float by. Oh ya gas is cheaper in Iowa. Lol. Godspeed on your adventure. Also you will float by a nuclear power plant just north of Cordova
I grew up in New England on a boatyard. I’ve owned many sail and power boats in my life. I had dreams of doing something like this in a hard bottom inflatable around 18 to 20 feet. Nice thing about that is you can pull in almost anywhere 😊. But it seems like the shanty is right good for it as well, little Mor comfort.
Maine is nice, I lived way up down east in Machias, two hours north of Elsworrh. One side of the highway was all lobsters and the other, blueberry barons. There are so many options, Portland is a nice city, not too big, not too small. You have allot of options from there. Close to Boston if that’s your thing. You’re close to everything in Portland. Shore line , mountains.
Maine is nice, I lived way up down east in Machias, two hours north of Elsworrh. One side of the highway was all lobsters and the other, blueberry barons. There are so many options, Portland is a nice city, not too big, not too small. You have allot of options from there. Close to Boston if that’s your thing. You’re close to everything in Portland. Shore line , mountains.
Maine is nice, I lived way up down east in Machias, two hours north of Elsworrh. One side of the highway was all lobsters and the other, blueberry barons. There are so many options, Portland is a nice city, not too big, not too small. You have allot of options from there. Close to Boston if that’s your thing. You’re close to everything in Portland. Shore line , mountains.
Maine is nice, I lived way up down east in Machias, two hours north of Elsworrh. One side of the highway was all lobsters and the other, blueberry barons. There are so many options, Portland is a nice city, not too big, not too small. You have allot of options from there. Close to Boston if that’s your thing. You’re close to everything in Portland. Shore line , mountains.
These times that were living in make anyone wonder what is down the road for humanity. This helps show that even when times get tough the river will keep providing a source of life beit for commercial purposes or living off and on the river. Just imagine two hundred years ago on a flat bottom boat the wonders that were around every corner .How come you haven't purchased larger bumpers for the just in case moments. Excellent video kinda wished you would have explored the towns a little more but then again time waits for no one. Be careful and stay safe my friend God love ya.
The Hubbard's truly lived off the river. Such a huge inspiration. Fenders: I'm setting up spmw old tires on found on the river bank (you'll see) towns: its amazing winter hasn't caught us yet. Hard to relax and hang around when you're already "behind" and moving at 5 mph.
Great series. You need some kinda outdoor grass rug for beagle to do his business on. Tie a rope or 2 onto it and you can dunk it in the river to clean it.
None. I haven't even really had water up on the deck yet. Inside the cabin, thays going to take some waves that honestly I hope I'm smart enough not to be out in. I plan on a few improvements before mobile bay (the first open water crossings on the trip. Stay tuned
Love watching your videos! Watch at least one a day until I catch up with your current videos. I can relate to your lifestyle, being I lived on a houseboat for 10 years and had 2 sources of transportation. My truck and my boat and I used them equally. Many times, it was easier to go to the marina for simple groceries and fuel then to go to town in the truck. Keep them coming.....
I be watching for you on the water when you get close I want to get video of you coming in.i am going to new Orleans this weekend but I be back in Florida before you get here.safe travels
This is absolutely excellent. I have traversed the Erie Canal and Champlain but never "floated" which would have been far easier, I think. Love simplicity of a shanty boat (my boats have been older sailboats) Slow and steady wins. Although far less draft sure helps. Well done and its great that you share your thoughts along the way.
Will follow your travels. I happen to be familiar with Pickwick Lake (TAG). Great that your videos are pretty much real time. Sorry I can't be a patreon. @@backwatersandbackroads
This channel was recommended to me with the first video of this trip. Subscribed immediately and I'm now going back thru this boats playlist. Always had a dream of doing this trip on the cheap. Not sure it will ever be a reality though. It always annoys me to hear someone tell me they know what I'm thinking but I do understand the things you say. Enjoy the trip!
Hi from Germany . Since they showed the adventures of Tom sayer ans Huckleberry Finn in the german television around 55 years ago l m addicted to water and boats . To me you have the perfect boat and companian . Very nice to follow. My dream journey but french canals or german rivers are also nice ✌️
Hello sir! An honor to have you here. My last name is German (Netz) my other side is Irish. They are in constant battle! Lol. I've seem some German houseboats on UA-cam, I'm guessing you have somw rivers over there for it. Welcome!
Brenton, your trip is flooding back the memories for me. From 95 to 98, the Coast Guard sent me to Keokuk, Iowa, where I was to assume the duties of Chief Engineer on the USCGC Scioto. It was I believe the summer of 96 that we had to fill in for that River Tender you passed outside the lock, the Wyaconda out of Dubuque, IA. Our normal area of responsibilities for maintaining the buoys and lights on the Mississippi ranged from Clarksville, MO to the South and Clinton, IA to the north. Alot of river miles. Tack on the Wyaconda's area of responsibility north of Clinton all the way to the end of naviagation at St Anthony's Falls lock in the Twin Cities. That's alot of river miles and buoys! But what a trip! What sights to see. When I came aboard Scioto, I did not consider the deep american history contained within that river and the wonderful small towns alongside the Mississippi River. I love to dive into any books about a topic I'm interested in and the Mississippi has alot of great contemporary books for anyone interested in your voyage to consider: Jonathan Raban's "Old Glory'; Mark Twain's "Life On The Mississippi", "Mississippi Solo" by Eddy L Harris and "Up On The River" by John Madson. Madson devotes a chapter on the Armistice Day Storm of 1940, where a vicious cold front collided with a warm front over the great lakes and the upper mississippi. 85 duck hunters alone on the Mississippi lost their lives when the weather dropped some 50-60 degrees to near zero in less than 24 hours. So, She can be a fickle river. Always keep a good weather eye, as well as a good eye for those barges. Especially this time of the year as they are moving the grain to the south. There always seemed to be a mad rush in barge traffic, especially leading up to the closure of the Upper Miss Locks on 1 December (with global warming what it is these days, not sure if that plays out the way it did in my time on the Mississippi. In my time, 1 December was lock down time for the locks, to prepare for the river being iced over until March........ In my CG career, I was fortunate and lucky enough to have been stationed on the Rivers Delaware, Hudson and Mississippi. Been down the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake. Been off the coast of Cape Hatteras in it's stormiest. But nothing, nothing, touched my heart and soul like the Mississippi did. I still hope to return there one day, with my own boat, to float upon those quiet waters again. Your videos convey that feeling I felt, some near 30 years on.....perfectly. Safe travels to you and Wavey, my friend.
What a comment. Thank you! I wrote down those book titles to look for. I'm always ducking into book stores when I can find them. Or Amazon in a pinch. Speaking of weather, tonight I'm ducked behind the only wind break we could find from Cassville to dubuque lock and dam. The north wind is blasting down all day and cold! 2 anchors out and all the curtains up for all night checks. I'd hate to go over that dam ;( should be fine. God has more plans for us. Not so sure about the global warming stuff, but that doesn't need to be a problem here. So glad you found our little channel. We've been plugging along for 7 years, I guess YT was waiting for another shanty boat trip to pffer us up to new viewers;) let me know if Wavey can send you a BWBRs post card from the rivers ;)
@@backwatersandbackroads Been following you and Wavey for a few years now; it's always a treat and inspiration to see what you're up to! I've no doubt that this trip will snag some new viewers! Sounds like a nice night for a small fire in the stove, all snug up safe and sound. Some advice (If I may!) based on personal observations in my time on the river: Once south of Clinton or even the Quad Cities, watch out for Wing Dams. stay clear of them, especially in the low water the river is experiencing now. Definitely look for a back water slough to tuck behind, overnight; away from the night time barge traffic that picks up the further south you go. It's been a long, long time since I looked at my Army Corps of Engineers book of maps for the Upper Mississippi, and I am not sure if they include the wing dams on those charts...... For sure, Brenton, stay clear of the dams! And once down Keokuk, know that you will be going through the longest lock on the entire Mississipi, capable of taking in an entire towboat and barge set, whereas all the others have to break up their barges and lock them through. Oh, and if you can, a shot of my old boat as you pass Keokuk, would warm my heart, for sure! All the best and stay safe and warm!!!
@michaelnotigan7796 those wingdams are the real deal. I clipped one today. Thankful mo damage. Nicked the prop and slow speed. Must have been just below the water. Where is your old boat when I get there? Happy to get some footage of it. You might like this story: a green can must have pulled lose, went way off channel, but in such a way that from a distance it looked like it was in place, I headed to it, but started noticing low depth and a wingdam sticking just above the water. I quickly went back to the channel and no problems. Those misplaced cans can be a problem.
@@backwatersandbackroads Brenton, when you exit Lock 19, she'll be about oh, a half mile, Right Descending Bank, tied up alongside a floating barge. Heck, if you talk to the Officer in Charge (the 'captain" of the boat, if it's during working hours) or the Officer of the Day, past 4pm, you might be able to get permission to tie up for the night on the inboard side of that floating barge. Maybe even the barge attached to the Scioto, itself. USCGC Scioto. Of course, if the boat is not there, she's likely off doing her normal buoy maintenance run for the week.Misplaced cans: From my time on the river, buoys could be moved "off station" by two things: A floating object like a large tree within a strong current lifting the buoy and 1500lbs sinker off station......or a towboat setup that ran over the buoy and moved it. Happened alot on my time there.
Just found your channel,can’t wait to check out your adventures, just sold my 54’ trawler that my wife and dog and I cruised from Daytona to key west for 10 years. I always wondered about the great loop trip and the best boat to do it with, that looks right up my ally. My wife got tired of being stuck on the boat , even though our boat had a 23’ beam and 3 levels we still lived on it for 13 years. I like watching you leisurely cruising down the river, I’m sure you have your cruising guide learning along the way. Things are really changing now , the culture is changing . I can’t wait to hear your take on everything , I try to be positive about it all, but not sure if it’s good or bad,anyway You and Wavey seem like it’s grand and that wonderful.
Very cool. My and one of his best friends canoed from source to sea in 2019. They made it in 42 days. Yes they hauled ass. That was the year of flooding on the Mississippi. I dropped him off at source, met him in Memphis and picked him up at the end. Great adventure.
@@backwatersandbackroads 2019 was the year of floods. They started June 1st and 4th of July they were in Memphis. The river was flowing 5-7 mph. Many roads were flooded. They took the Atchafalaya River. The last two days they covered 200 miles to get below I-10. Tropical Storm Berry was coming into the area.
A lot of Hmong were resettled by the US government in this part of the midwest after the Vietnam war because they were known for having collaborated with the US military. They wouldn't have lasted long if they'd stayed in Vietnam.
If you want an idea how it would be without the locks and dams read Mark Twain Life on the Mississippi. It was a different world. Now most of our power plants depend on barges of coal.
Awesome video first i messed up and started at Ep 3 but i'm guessing no big deal i'll catch Ep1 next. i'm a big fan of Harland Hubbard shantyboat adventure and of course Tom, Jim & Huckberry raft adventure as a kid . your shantyboat is Beautiful inside i'm anxious to see more of it and your beagle pup - Wavey what a excellent companion . i so want to do this it's been on my bucket list for years i've owned a ton of boats over the years and sailed but the shantyboat is just inspiring to me as i love the water and small town America .i'll be sure to follow your adventures .
The Hubbard's are legends. Amazing they did all of that without a motor. Thank you for finding our little channel, it seems to have been discovered finally. We're just getting started
Hello! You're getting close to my stretch of the river, Caseville Wis on down to lock and dam 11. Bagley and Glen Haven WI have town docks. Hope to catch you when you come by.
I just passed by this afternoon. I even commented on camera that it looks like a nice place to explore. I saw a car ferry come out of there too. Only saw fishing boat ramps. No place to tie up for a while. I wish I had stopped. Coming into dubuque late is a nightmare. You'll see
This is the first of your videos that I have seen, and I was really surprised to see you using a shantyboat to do the great loop. I wonder how your boat handled in open ocean waters of the east coast? Very cool, certainly more comfortable that the small tugboat type rigs I have seen a lot of people use for the trip. Blue skies and tailwinds to you.
Awesome adventure Brenton b'y! Loves the shanty boat, seems nice and cozy. Lake City and Wabasha are interesting towns. They sort of remind me of Grand Falls - Windsor here in NFLD.
@@backwatersandbackroads I have been toying with idea of doing van life for a while. One year from retiring, but it seems like people are constantly talking about finding places to overnight. This seems to be the perfect solution. Stay on the hook most of the time, pay for a marina when needed and you can pretty much see most of the eastern half of the country.
Looking back to the first episode of this boat i see the dimensions of 30x8, with 9' of deck space. Does that mean your cabin is 21' or is the 30' the hull dimension?
Love it! I have a slip just across the river from where you tied up. Had I seen your videos before this morning I could of given you a quick tour and offered Wagges some treats.
I'm curious about statistics, have you figured out your fuel usage / mileage etc... gallons per hour, or MPG etc. What power settings are you using? What is your average speed through the water at those power settings etc... I'm trying to calculate an hourly expense estimate. I have access to a 3 cyl Yanmar marine diesel, which I can run into a tunnel drive system to protect the prop, or I can go with the std, outboard. So I'm just looking for real world experiences to help me decide which way to go. I love these videos. As a young man I had the dream of traveling the nations inland waterways and documenting every little river town. This is just to cool.
Howdy! Welcome. Glad you found us. Yes, I can give you spmw real world stats. I will do a detailed break down in a future video. Soon. ;) nutshell: 3-4 gallons a day going approx 5 mph at approx 2k rpms. I don't have a tach. Educated guess. Down stream of course. Very good economy. I'd only go outboard for the tilt and trim option. You need it. We're anchored in 2 feet of water tonight. I wouldn't try that with anything other than an outboard.
@backwatersandbackroads I wish I could, I'd love to hop on a solar pontoon and start heading down the Ohio.. if I could find a way to make money along the way,I'd be an eBay solar panel, battery ordering fool..
Great episode, I dream about making the Great Loop. My son and used to talk about it a lot, but he has a new girlfriend and seems to be distracted. I am working on improving my health so maybe I could get in good condition and do the loop with my little dog.
It’s very relaxing to watch your videos!! A man and his dog!! My dog’s name is Cooper and he is always within a few feet of me!! People don’t realize how dangerous Mobile Bay can be because it is so shallow!! Safe travels!! Larry Moons, Mobile
No problem. Good question! It came with them. They do function well in keeping the rain off the boat. I was thinking about utilizing them for rain water catching too.
I don't know if this will help you or if your boat is capable of it but next time you get in them waves that is coming over the bow (or nose as you call it..ha) it might help to raise that motor up and give it a lot of gas to get that bow up and keep it from being overtaken by them waves.
@raybrdjr I think the hull to HP ratio is low enough that there's minimal difference. There is a little though. If we come back from the loop alive, so many improvements on the list ;)
Ep:2 here. ua-cam.com/video/N17RrjqxBG4/v-deo.htmlsi=XaJ8zweBUdWuWmbg
They understand. They were born in USA.
Your Great Loop adventure is crushing it! So happy for you! Enjoy the journey!
@@MoneyPitBoating thank you. Finally! We broke until the algorithm;)
I was working at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant north of Red Wing when you motored by. We keep our boat at the Lake City Marina and are very familiar with Lake Pepin. Glad you enjoyed our local area. BTW when you mentioned that the plant was "gassing" what you were seeing was steam from the cooling towers that remove the waste heat from the reactors. We have two nuclear reactors here that produce over 100 megawatts (that's 100 MILLION watts) of electricity, all 100% carbon free. Have a great trip!
Lake City used to have a sizable industry making buttons out of the freshwater shellfish.
It's most famous, of course, for being where waterskiing was invented.
I just found your channel and I can’t stop watching. You’re living the dream! …those curls and pushups are inspiring (I’m 48)and I got a got a good laugh, too.
Thats why the Autopilot is my number 1 must have on Long Trawler trips, but thats the great thing about boats, different styles - shapes for everyone. Always love videos on any River.
23:24 You should do this when you get back from from the loop, it would be a very important video!
I will. I have several videos I'd like to do in this nature
Just found your channel, super thrilled and looking forward for your great loop videos. I, for one, would like like to see longer videos, showing more detail in both the sites along the trip and everyday types of things of just living on a shanty boat. What you may consider 'boring' is fresh and exciting for a lot of us. Best to you and Wavey.
I'm always grappling with what's worth sharing ans what's boring. I make "Behind the Scenes and In-Betweens" (probably the next video) that goes into more details like that. Thanks for finding us
I agree
The further south you go, the more winter becomes summer! With an inside helm and a stove, you're golden!
You got it Bev ;) like a Nomad
Very enjoyable viewing. A bit like being there on the boat looking out a the river. Great to see you enjoying your freedom.
It is amazing how they can maintain the locks draw bridges and free ferry son our water ways , give them time and they’ll start charging you for each use. A lot of water way city’s only allow you to anchor on a paid mooring ball. It’s the changing time’s glad you’re getting to do this for us. Always happy er on a hook than tied to the bank.
I've been seeing that coming for a while. Especially passing through the locks. I'm getting a slight annoyance vibe from some of the lock masters this trip. :( times they are a changing
It is pretty awesome to see your subscriber numbers rising.
Speaking of your movie watching. Doing reactions on your other channel could be cool.
14:23 Now that is a decoration I would be proud to have in my yard.
I think we camped at a COE campground in or very near Alma in August.
Speaking of fishing, I think there are tons of catfish in the waters you are anchoring in. Throwing out a line when you're anchored with catfish bait might pay off.
I see fish jumping all day long (and hear them at night) I want to start fishing so bad, but winter has caught up (30s this morning) so I doubt there will be any fishing until at least the Ohio River and Kentucky lakes. Stay tuned! Something to look forward to;)
Hello from the quiet cool Ozarks Brenton! Another video of value! Hope your well and enjoying your day! What a great adventure start! Enjoy riding along with you and checking out all the history and little towns! Excited to see your channel growing! tight lines and bent poles!
Man crossing Mobile Bay was scary!
There's a line in a Rush song, "I was only a kid, didn't know enough to be afraid." I wasn't exactly a kid at 45 years old...but the lyrics apply ;)
I'm excited about your adventure. Safe travels. Yall have fun.
Glad you're here. ;)
If I wasn't 20 your senior I would go in a minute. But I do believe in Jesus Christ and heaven and hell. Love watching your adventures ❤
Thank you Beverly :)
TREATS??!!! Thanks for a rocking my world - again!
She's always on the hunt for treats ;)
Cool trip. Look forward to new videos all the time. See you in Sebastian 🌴
Brenton, this was the best episode ever! The Church was beautiful and Wabasha was cool, I loved that movie. I worry about Wavey, is she as clumsy as my Cooper-beagle?. He would be overboard in 5 minutes wo a gate across those gaurd-rail openings.....Can't wait for the next episode! I'm heading to bring the Nomad home Tuesday, winter is coming!
Thanks Don. The feedback helps. Rough day today. You'll see....
Grumpy Old Men was mostly filmed on the East Side of Saint Paul. It was a few blocks from where I grew up so we used to watch them filming when I was in high school. It was near Lake Phalen.
Neat! It's one of my all-time favorite movies. ;)
Stop in Bellevue Iowa if you have time can beach the boat at Off Shore Bar and Grill (for free, they even have sand anchors to tie to. Small town grocery, mom & pop coffee shop and a brewery. Really nice town.
I'm only a couple of miles up from there. I'll stop tomorrow. Thanks for the tip ,)
Lake City is where the Ingalls crossed the lake to head west in The Little House in the Big Woods. I love it.
Really? Someone else mentioned their cabin is around there too
@@backwatersandbackroads There's a re-creation just north of Pepin. They also started in the spring, by crossing the frozen lake, just before the ice broke up, because it was the fastest way to cross.
I'm a retired lock and damn operator.
To keep off the lock walls while the chamber is filling or emptying.
Tie the bow to a floating mooring bit and Idle in reverse.
Keep a pole handy just in case.
@@austincjett thank you ! ;)
I love your channel. I live overseas, and watching this brings a tear to my eye as I recall traveling around the Great Lakes with my grandfather on his sailboat decades ago. The music is perfect too.
Understood. Singlehanding the sailboat, autopilot is a game changer.
Love it. Best shanty trip iv seen so far and you just started!. Thank you brother/barge beagle. Its getting rainy and cold up here in da UP. I think you will be keeping just ahead of the cold but you may have some heavy rain coming. Be safe have fun and keep inspiring the rest of us who keep talking about it and not doing it.
This is sedentary Adventure but Soul Satisfying as well!
Where you at in da UP eh? ;)
@@backwatersandbackroads Menominee co.
Hello Mr River..if you don't mind I'll float along with you and the little rabbit hound..I like the video and the whole thing about traveling on the big river has been a life long dream for me.. thanks for the ride along 🤝
Welcome;) Thanks for finding our little channel
Very nice. Enjoying your travels.
Viking! Awesome. Still watch all your excellent videos. Hope we cross paths on the inland seas next season. Hails! ;)
Awesome series Brenton, thanks a lot!
Awesome series Brenton.. the lock system is pretty cool, also it's amazing that it's free .. so far , anyways 😊
It really hits you when you go through it solo. All that for little ol us ;)
Wavey Treats!!
Always! ;)
Just saw that this is a super thanks. Thank you Bill. You're already a member, that is helpful enough. Let's save your funds for your shanty build :)
Good vid get:n better and better
Thank you! ;)
In a year or so, you might wanna check out Lake City, to La Crosse Wisconsin again by road. Winona is nice to Visit, it has the headquarters of Watkins Products, and they have a museum with all past and present products. There is the lakeview Drive in, but it's closed during the winter. Sugarloaf is one of the few registered mountains in the State of Minnesota. It's right off Hwy 61.
La Crosse Wi/La Crescent MN sell apple's big time, In fact a lot of the Carmel apples you'll see even in the Upper peninsula I think are grown there. My mom and her best friend used to drive down there from Minneapolis each fall, and buy loads of apples. She'd make all sorts of stuff with them. When I was a little kid 4or 5, my mom would read the little house on the prairie books to us. One of the original cabins they lived in was in on the Minnesota side of Lake Pepin. The cabin is maintained with historical facts. Tiny cabin I might had, not much bigger than your boat, but interesting to see how people lived back in the day. I used to think it was just a TV show, but no, those people were real.
Really? I'm sorry I missed that. I use to watch it as a kid. We have loads of apples in the UP also.
good job! your getting better and better at your editing!!
Thank you :) certainly better than the first trip
it is nice to sit on the front deck in a lawn chair and just putter down the lake. i see they have steering systems that have a remote control to steer from on deck . i see martin is leaving in his sailboat any time now.👍👍carry on around the bend lol
Ted Schoenfelder has something like that. I want one too ;)
Been watching your adventures for awhile now. Really enjoying them. I live in Port Byron, IL. Above L&D 14, across from LeClaire, IA. LeClaire is the home of Antique Archeology. Also, 2nd weekend in August we shut down boat traffic for 3 hrs and have a tug of war across the Mississippi. I'm hoping I can at least see you as you float by. Oh ya gas is cheaper in Iowa. Lol. Godspeed on your adventure. Also you will float by a nuclear power plant just north of Cordova
Iowa also has non ethanol 87 too! Love Iowa ;)
Great episode 👏. Don't forget to pet your Beagle!( I have 2 of those "Treat Fiends")
Great video 👍
Seeet video. Love seeing the adventures
What can i possibly add lap of luxury my friend
Weather changing down here in Oquawka Brenton . Rainy and temp dropping. 34 Saturday morning and 40s for next week or so 😊just letting you know 😉
It changed here. Strong north wind and cold.
Too sweet,thanks.
I grew up in New England on a boatyard. I’ve owned many sail and power boats in my life. I had dreams of doing something like this in a hard bottom inflatable around 18 to 20 feet.
Nice thing about that is you can pull in almost anywhere 😊. But it seems like the shanty is right good for it as well, little
Mor comfort.
We can float in 1.5 feet pretty easy. We've done it twice already at anchor. I've been dreaming of moving to Maine. Opinions?
Maine is nice, I lived way up down east in Machias, two hours north of Elsworrh. One side of the highway was all lobsters and the other, blueberry barons.
There are so many options, Portland is a nice city, not too big, not too small. You have allot of options from there. Close to Boston if that’s your thing. You’re close to everything in Portland. Shore line , mountains.
Maine is nice, I lived way up down east in Machias, two hours north of Elsworrh. One side of the highway was all lobsters and the other, blueberry barons.
There are so many options, Portland is a nice city, not too big, not too small. You have allot of options from there. Close to Boston if that’s your thing. You’re close to everything in Portland. Shore line , mountains.
Maine is nice, I lived way up down east in Machias, two hours north of Elsworrh. One side of the highway was all lobsters and the other, blueberry barons.
There are so many options, Portland is a nice city, not too big, not too small. You have allot of options from there. Close to Boston if that’s your thing. You’re close to everything in Portland. Shore line , mountains.
Maine is nice, I lived way up down east in Machias, two hours north of Elsworrh. One side of the highway was all lobsters and the other, blueberry barons.
There are so many options, Portland is a nice city, not too big, not too small. You have allot of options from there. Close to Boston if that’s your thing. You’re close to everything in Portland. Shore line , mountains.
Are u coming all the way down the Mississippi, I leave near Greenville Ms. Just curious if ur going to be coming this way
Howdy. We'll be doing only the upper Mississippi. Turning up the Ohio in Cairo
These times that were living in make anyone wonder what is down the road for humanity. This helps show that even when times get tough the river will keep providing a source of life beit for commercial purposes or living off and on the river. Just imagine two hundred years ago on a flat bottom boat the wonders that were around every corner .How come you haven't purchased larger bumpers for the just in case moments. Excellent video kinda wished you would have explored the towns a little more but then again time waits for no one. Be careful and stay safe my friend God love ya.
The Hubbard's truly lived off the river. Such a huge inspiration. Fenders: I'm setting up spmw old tires on found on the river bank (you'll see) towns: its amazing winter hasn't caught us yet. Hard to relax and hang around when you're already "behind" and moving at 5 mph.
Spot on! Concerning the locks and all trade up and down this amazing river.
I'll try to do a video on them this winter;)
Rented a houseboat there in Alma this past June. We had a really nice and fun vacation. Seeing a lot of the same sights you are showing on your visit
Great series. You need some kinda outdoor grass rug for beagle to do his business on. Tie a rope or 2 onto it and you can dunk it in the river to clean it.
She will poop on a towel, but nothing can get her to pee unfortunately
It's been nice and warm here in north west Alabama. But it is supposed to turn colder next week.
Any issues with big waves bringing water inside the boat?
...Love the relaxing inside of the boat.
None. I haven't even really had water up on the deck yet. Inside the cabin, thays going to take some waves that honestly I hope I'm smart enough not to be out in. I plan on a few improvements before mobile bay (the first open water crossings on the trip. Stay tuned
Love watching your videos! Watch at least one a day until I catch up with your current videos. I can relate to your lifestyle, being I lived on a houseboat for 10 years and had 2 sources of transportation. My truck and my boat and I used them equally. Many times, it was easier to go to the marina for simple groceries and fuel then to go to town in the truck. Keep them coming.....
@jamesmesenbrink7788 thank you for Watching our channel ;) it's a great lifestyle
😊 Show some more enjoyed the video
A little behind on catching up, but enjoying every min! Keep moving forward and enjoy every bit.
Episode 3.5 and 4 coming up...;)
I be watching for you on the water when you get close I want to get video of you coming in.i am going to new Orleans this weekend but I be back in Florida before you get here.safe travels
This is absolutely excellent. I have traversed the Erie Canal and Champlain but never "floated" which would have been far easier, I think. Love simplicity of a shanty boat (my boats have been older sailboats) Slow and steady wins. Although far less draft sure helps. Well done and its great that you share your thoughts along the way.
Thank you for finding us. We're just entering the Kentucky lakes. Stay tuned..
Will follow your travels. I happen to be familiar with Pickwick Lake (TAG). Great that your videos are pretty much real time. Sorry I can't be a patreon. @@backwatersandbackroads
This channel was recommended to me with the first video of this trip. Subscribed immediately and I'm now going back thru this boats playlist. Always had a dream of doing this trip on the cheap. Not sure it will ever be a reality though.
It always annoys me to hear someone tell me they know what I'm thinking but I do understand the things you say. Enjoy the trip!
Welcome. Glad you found us. This will definitely be on the cheap. Q: do I tell folks what they're thinking?
@@backwatersandbackroads No. Not at all. You just seem like a free thinker.
Hi from Germany . Since they showed the adventures of Tom sayer ans Huckleberry Finn in the german television around 55 years ago l m addicted to water and boats . To me you have the perfect boat and companian . Very nice to follow. My dream journey but french canals or german rivers are also nice ✌️
Hello sir! An honor to have you here. My last name is German (Netz) my other side is Irish. They are in constant battle! Lol. I've seem some German houseboats on UA-cam, I'm guessing you have somw rivers over there for it. Welcome!
Great stuff right here!
wish i was floating it thanks for the show.
Thanks for coming along;)
I always enjoy your videos.... my dog loves and watches Wavey😂
Such an awesome adventure
Never thought about a auto pilot but mite be a good idea for shanty boat
Brenton, your trip is flooding back the memories for me. From 95 to 98, the Coast Guard sent me to Keokuk, Iowa, where I was to assume the duties of Chief Engineer on the USCGC Scioto. It was I believe the summer of 96 that we had to fill in for that River Tender you passed outside the lock, the Wyaconda out of Dubuque, IA. Our normal area of responsibilities for maintaining the buoys and lights on the Mississippi ranged from Clarksville, MO to the South and Clinton, IA to the north. Alot of river miles. Tack on the Wyaconda's area of responsibility north of Clinton all the way to the end of naviagation at St Anthony's Falls lock in the Twin Cities. That's alot of river miles and buoys! But what a trip! What sights to see. When I came aboard Scioto, I did not consider the deep american history contained within that river and the wonderful small towns alongside the Mississippi River. I love to dive into any books about a topic I'm interested in and the Mississippi has alot of great contemporary books for anyone interested in your voyage to consider: Jonathan Raban's "Old Glory'; Mark Twain's "Life On The Mississippi", "Mississippi Solo" by Eddy L Harris and "Up On The River" by John Madson. Madson devotes a chapter on the Armistice Day Storm of 1940, where a vicious cold front collided with a warm front over the great lakes and the upper mississippi. 85 duck hunters alone on the Mississippi lost their lives when the weather dropped some 50-60 degrees to near zero in less than 24 hours. So, She can be a fickle river. Always keep a good weather eye, as well as a good eye for those barges. Especially this time of the year as they are moving the grain to the south. There always seemed to be a mad rush in barge traffic, especially leading up to the closure of the Upper Miss Locks on 1 December (with global warming what it is these days, not sure if that plays out the way it did in my time on the Mississippi. In my time, 1 December was lock down time for the locks, to prepare for the river being iced over until March........
In my CG career, I was fortunate and lucky enough to have been stationed on the Rivers Delaware, Hudson and Mississippi. Been down the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake. Been off the coast of Cape Hatteras in it's stormiest. But nothing, nothing, touched my heart and soul like the Mississippi did. I still hope to return there one day, with my own boat, to float upon those quiet waters again. Your videos convey that feeling I felt, some near 30 years on.....perfectly. Safe travels to you and Wavey, my friend.
What a comment. Thank you! I wrote down those book titles to look for. I'm always ducking into book stores when I can find them. Or Amazon in a pinch. Speaking of weather, tonight I'm ducked behind the only wind break we could find from Cassville to dubuque lock and dam. The north wind is blasting down all day and cold! 2 anchors out and all the curtains up for all night checks. I'd hate to go over that dam ;( should be fine. God has more plans for us. Not so sure about the global warming stuff, but that doesn't need to be a problem here. So glad you found our little channel. We've been plugging along for 7 years, I guess YT was waiting for another shanty boat trip to pffer us up to new viewers;) let me know if Wavey can send you a BWBRs post card from the rivers ;)
@@backwatersandbackroads Been following you and Wavey for a few years now; it's always a treat and inspiration to see what you're up to! I've no doubt that this trip will snag some new viewers! Sounds like a nice night for a small fire in the stove, all snug up safe and sound. Some advice (If I may!) based on personal observations in my time on the river: Once south of Clinton or even the Quad Cities, watch out for Wing Dams. stay clear of them, especially in the low water the river is experiencing now. Definitely look for a back water slough to tuck behind, overnight; away from the night time barge traffic that picks up the further south you go. It's been a long, long time since I looked at my Army Corps of Engineers book of maps for the Upper Mississippi, and I am not sure if they include the wing dams on those charts...... For sure, Brenton, stay clear of the dams! And once down Keokuk, know that you will be going through the longest lock on the entire Mississipi, capable of taking in an entire towboat and barge set, whereas all the others have to break up their barges and lock them through. Oh, and if you can, a shot of my old boat as you pass Keokuk, would warm my heart, for sure! All the best and stay safe and warm!!!
@michaelnotigan7796 those wingdams are the real deal. I clipped one today. Thankful mo damage. Nicked the prop and slow speed. Must have been just below the water. Where is your old boat when I get there? Happy to get some footage of it. You might like this story: a green can must have pulled lose, went way off channel, but in such a way that from a distance it looked like it was in place, I headed to it, but started noticing low depth and a wingdam sticking just above the water. I quickly went back to the channel and no problems. Those misplaced cans can be a problem.
@@backwatersandbackroads Brenton, when you exit Lock 19, she'll be about oh, a half mile, Right Descending Bank, tied up alongside a floating barge. Heck, if you talk to the Officer in Charge (the 'captain" of the boat, if it's during working hours) or the Officer of the Day, past 4pm, you might be able to get permission to tie up for the night on the inboard side of that floating barge. Maybe even the barge attached to the Scioto, itself. USCGC Scioto. Of course, if the boat is not there, she's likely off doing her normal buoy maintenance run for the week.Misplaced cans: From my time on the river, buoys could be moved "off station" by two things: A floating object like a large tree within a strong current lifting the buoy and 1500lbs sinker off station......or a towboat setup that ran over the buoy and moved it. Happened alot on my time there.
Just found your channel,can’t wait to check out your adventures, just sold my 54’ trawler that my wife and dog and I cruised from Daytona to key west for 10 years. I always wondered about the great loop trip and the best boat to do it with, that looks right up my ally. My wife got tired of being stuck on the boat , even though our boat had a 23’ beam and 3 levels we still lived on it for 13 years. I like watching you leisurely cruising down the river, I’m sure you have your cruising guide learning along the way. Things are really changing now , the culture is changing . I can’t wait to hear your take on everything , I try to be positive about it all, but not sure if it’s good or bad,anyway You and Wavey seem like it’s grand and that wonderful.
Very cool. My and one of his best friends canoed from source to sea in 2019. They made it in 42 days. Yes they hauled ass. That was the year of flooding on the Mississippi. I dropped him off at source, met him in Memphis and picked him up at the end. Great adventure.
That IS hauling ass!
@@backwatersandbackroads 2019 was the year of floods. They started June 1st and 4th of July they were in Memphis. The river was flowing 5-7 mph. Many roads were flooded. They took the Atchafalaya River. The last two days they covered 200 miles to get below I-10. Tropical Storm Berry was coming into the area.
Great video .. keep them coming !!
Lake City Hmong...fishing for carp. Rough fish, no limit.
Thank you! I knew someone would know ;)
A lot of Hmong were resettled by the US government in this part of the midwest after the Vietnam war because they were known for having collaborated with the US military. They wouldn't have lasted long if they'd stayed in Vietnam.
@Avro7 bingo. Good people too ;)
If you want an idea how it would be without the locks and dams read Mark Twain Life on the Mississippi. It was a different world. Now most of our power plants depend on barges of coal.
That's a book I'd like to read. Thanks for reminding me. I'll ad it to my Amazon list.
Love the old Brick Buildings! Where were YOU in 1892?
Time traveling brother ;)
I smell that!@@backwatersandbackroads
loved it. very chill. thanx. wow, those locks are pretty incredible! also the massive barges you've been yielding to.
Glad you're here. ;) thanks for finding us.
I keep wondering how that shanty boat is going to handle the mighty Atlantic Ocean. I guess I will find out!
The ICW is mostly protected. A few open water crossings. But yeah...I'm wondering myself ;)
I watched another channel that had a pontoon boat on the Loop. When they hit the ICW it came apart.
@@DavidSmith-lp5tz was that Wayne's Diaries?
In future EP. Tell us about your navigation and how you take on water.
Sure. Welcome. Q: as in drinking water? There's no plumbing on board. Just good ol 5 gallon buckets :) Thanks for finding us
Awesome video first i messed up and started at Ep 3 but i'm guessing no big deal i'll catch Ep1 next. i'm a big fan of Harland Hubbard shantyboat adventure and of course Tom, Jim & Huckberry raft adventure as a kid . your shantyboat is Beautiful inside i'm anxious to see more of it and your beagle pup - Wavey what a excellent companion . i so want to do this it's been on my bucket list for years i've owned a ton of boats over the years and sailed but the shantyboat is just inspiring to me as i love the water and small town America .i'll be sure to follow your adventures .
The Hubbard's are legends. Amazing they did all of that without a motor. Thank you for finding our little channel, it seems to have been discovered finally. We're just getting started
Hello! You're getting close to my stretch of the river, Caseville Wis on down to lock and dam 11. Bagley and Glen Haven WI have town docks. Hope to catch you when you come by.
I just passed by this afternoon. I even commented on camera that it looks like a nice place to explore. I saw a car ferry come out of there too. Only saw fishing boat ramps. No place to tie up for a while. I wish I had stopped. Coming into dubuque late is a nightmare. You'll see
Our dog Tramp came from Bagley.
great video, I'm from Alma WI.
Hi Brian, welcome! Looked like a nice little town. Living on the Mississippi is not a bad life. We're past lock 13 now....running from the cold
AMAZING !!!!
Thank you so , so much for another great video ❤
Thanks for coming along;)
And glad you're here ;)
Don’t tie up to the wall in a lock.. if you forget to untie as the water drops the line will tighten and pop the cleat or break the line
5:37-6:03---pretty funny
NICE JOURNEY
Thank you Pink Lady ;) We're just getting started
This is the first of your videos that I have seen, and I was really surprised to see you using a shantyboat to do the great loop. I wonder how your boat handled in open ocean waters of the east coast? Very cool, certainly more comfortable that the small tugboat type rigs I have seen a lot of people use for the trip. Blue skies and tailwinds to you.
Hi Linda. We are going to find out together;) I'll definitely be picking my days on the open water crossings.
@@backwatersandbackroads I will be really interested to see how that goes! Best wishes for safe travel.
The river must have been much different when it was free flowing before the dams were built.
cool little towns
Ep:6 tomorrow. McGregor;)
Awesome adventure Brenton b'y! Loves the shanty boat, seems nice and cozy. Lake City and Wabasha are interesting towns. They sort of remind me of Grand Falls - Windsor here in NFLD.
Norm! Always glad to see you here. I hope to get back to Newfoundland again, sooner than later. Such an amazing place. Thanks for sharing it with us
Better hurry, snow flurries through that area in a couple of days.
Feels like it tonight. ;(
Pay Britain
I like your channel.
Let me know when you're close to prairie de chen
I just missed you. Anchored off McGregor (across the bridge?) 2 nights ago. That was a cool town. I got lots of footage.
Hello from Wabasha, would have been fun to see you go by
Howdy! Awesome river town ;) coming up next episode
I wonder if you couldn’t find a nice location between locks, with plenty of mooring spots and easy access to supplies and spend a summer there.
Easy! ;) the trouble would be picking one
@@backwatersandbackroads I have been toying with idea of doing van life for a while. One year from retiring, but it seems like people are constantly talking about finding places to overnight. This seems to be the perfect solution. Stay on the hook most of the time, pay for a marina when needed and you can pretty much see most of the eastern half of the country.
What a journey and you will learn a lot more the further you go. Barges may be a bother but they run the river and have the right of way. Enjoy
Yes they do ;) and we stay out of their way
Matt sent me. Love the content! 😀
Yes! Matt's channel is my favorite channel on UA-cam:) welcome
Looking back to the first episode of this boat i see the dimensions of 30x8, with 9' of deck space. Does that mean your cabin is 21' or is the 30' the hull dimension?
The hull is approximately 30x8.6 with an approximately 20 foot cabin. As far as I can remember.
Glad you made it to Slipperys!
You must of passed us in Red Wing.
Have safe travels!
Red wing is a nice little river town. Do you like living there?
Love it! I have a slip just across the river from where you tied up.
Had I seen your videos before this morning I could of given you a quick tour and offered Wagges some treats.
@brianklawitter8710 we walked around a bit. Looks like a very nice ans prosperous town. I'd live there! I might!! Lol
"I'm going down to slippery's" --Gustafson:)
I’m sure your past slippery’s but the best thing on their menu is their ribs. It comes with fries and they are awesome! Putz.
I'm curious about statistics, have you figured out your fuel usage / mileage etc... gallons per hour, or MPG etc. What power settings are you using? What is your average speed through the water at those power settings etc... I'm trying to calculate an hourly expense estimate. I have access to a 3 cyl Yanmar marine diesel, which I can run into a tunnel drive system to protect the prop, or I can go with the std, outboard. So I'm just looking for real world experiences to help me decide which way to go. I love these videos. As a young man I had the dream of traveling the nations inland waterways and documenting every little river town. This is just to cool.
Howdy! Welcome. Glad you found us. Yes, I can give you spmw real world stats. I will do a detailed break down in a future video. Soon. ;) nutshell: 3-4 gallons a day going approx 5 mph at approx 2k rpms. I don't have a tach. Educated guess. Down stream of course. Very good economy. I'd only go outboard for the tilt and trim option. You need it. We're anchored in 2 feet of water tonight. I wouldn't try that with anything other than an outboard.
Ok, how did you keep the dingy from taken when you stopped at Lake City?
Like stolen? ;)
Yes, it looks like not all of the towns have a dock or pier for you to tie off.
Now,you've made this trip before. When you finally round Florida and stat coming up the entercoastal Waterway,how well do pontoon houseboats do?
Good question buddy. There will be some spots we'll have to pick our days for sure. Come along and we'll find out together ;)
@backwatersandbackroads I wish I could, I'd love to hop on a solar pontoon and start heading down the Ohio.. if I could find a way to make money along the way,I'd be an eBay solar panel, battery ordering fool..
Great episode, I dream about making the Great Loop. My son and used to talk about it a lot, but he has a new girlfriend and seems to be distracted. I am working on improving my health so maybe I could get in good condition and do the loop with my little dog.
I don't know if you heard that...I just did a 1000. I like to break a mental sweat too
Cheap way to cover scooter is BQ grill cover front Walmart
It’s very relaxing to watch your videos!! A man and his dog!! My dog’s name is Cooper and he is always within a few feet of me!! People don’t realize how dangerous Mobile Bay can be because it is so shallow!!
Safe travels!!
Larry Moons, Mobile
My dog Cooper does the same!
Sorry if I missed it, but why do you have gutters, is it for rain water catchment or just keeping rain water off the side of the boat?
No problem. Good question! It came with them. They do function well in keeping the rain off the boat. I was thinking about utilizing them for rain water catching too.
the smell is from an ethanol plant......the people you saw are indeed Hmong
Thank you.
Question, new to your channel, what did you do for a living? Love the Beagle, have 1 as well.
Beagles are great companions. Work: who has time for a job?! Lol. Oh it's a long story my brother. Welcome BTW, thanks for finding our little channel.
I don't know if this will help you or if your boat is capable of it but next time you get in them waves that is coming over the bow (or nose as you call it..ha) it might help to raise that motor up and give it a lot of gas to get that bow up and keep it from being overtaken by them waves.
I do play with the trim a little ans it does help a little. I seem to gain .05 mph when it's just right.
@@backwatersandbackroads no I’m talking when you’re in rough waters
@raybrdjr I think the hull to HP ratio is low enough that there's minimal difference. There is a little though. If we come back from the loop alive, so many improvements on the list ;)