Heading to Dubuque, IA on the Mississippi for July 4th weekend
 

Anyone else going to be in the area boating? We are staying at Hawkeye's Marina and renting a slip for this Saturday/Sunday night. Probably head north saturday and stop at a couple of sand bars to hang out. If anyone else is going to be there look us up.

-Ryan :coolcowboy:

Wish I was, I've always wanted to check out their river museum.

We'll be up the next weekend near Lacrosse though for our annual adult only birthday weekend.

I havn't been that far north yet. Just from Dubuque to the next lock and dam, Gutenberg I believe it's called. I think we may head north from there Saturday, but I havn't been through a Mississippi set of locks yet and not sure what to expect.

Funny you should say since Guttenberg is as far SOUTH as I've ever gone :D

Those locks are nothing to worry about, do it once and you'll be doing them all the time.
We partied in Lacrosse last year (or the year before) with a group who drive up from Dubuque and they were a blast. Had a huge cruiser that cranked tunes all day for the cove. Said they left the fast boats at home to save on gas and all chipped in on one instead.

We will be just south of you in the Dubuque pool. Say hi to Ryan if you see him up there, and the new cook at the view does a GREAT job! We are at Midtown marina. As far as the locks, if you have a radio they are 14 and you can talk to them otherwise there is a cord by each you need to pull to signal your intentions so they know you are not just hanging out.

Can you elaborate on the cord? I do not have a radio, but am putting it on the list to get for the boat. Probably just a cheaper handheld would be fine for me.

I know who Jeff and AJ are, Warren at the marina, but not sure who Ryan is?

I am going to get the Quimby's book so I know where the marinas are on the Miss. Only one I know of now is Hawkeye's. But I think it would be fun to start at Hawkeye, and head north to another nice marina and spend the night there. I just don't know where they are until I run into them yet. It would be obviously good to know where the gas stops are as well being I only have 50 gals. It goes a long way cruising with the Eliminator at 1/2 throttle though.

SOmeone once told me your most fuel efficent at the slowest speed you can go while staying on plane.
If I ever get my Merc monitor hooked up I can verify that

The river is running high and rising so be VERY weary of floating and slightly submerged logs trees etc. Sandbars will be hard to come by if your not in early due to water levels.
Dubuque does have a air/fireworks show also the 3rd. During the air show they do shut the channel down. Best location to veiw everyting is in front of the Yard Arm Marina just south of the lock. You would have to lock thru to get to this location fom Hawkeyes Marina.
If you decide to head north lock thru at Guttenburg and be sure to check out a little hole in the wall bar called Wacks, across on the WI side from Guttenburg... Any local can tell ya how to get in and with the water high you won't have any issues.
Plenty of places as well north of Guttenburg to hang out as well. Winni and Lakeveiw are in back water but easily accessible on the Wi side at PDC. The Winni would have overnight space as well as the Maqutte Marina (Ia side) under the Bridge at the Isle of Capri Casino/Marina.

The pull cords are located in the long concrete wall on the right descending bank (iowa side) they are near the end tucked inside a ladder thats built into the wall. You will hear a horn. then wait for the lights to turn green. when locking down stream NEVER tie the ropes to your boat! just dont tie in locks at all. I saw a boat do that once and it was dangling in the air with the water about 3 feet below! funny for me. for them not so much.

Would the Quimby's book talk about all these places? I'm nervous deviating from the marked channel since that's all I know.