Capt. Steve's Cruises

Picture list:

* The Mark Twain Statue at Hannibal Marina

* A remodeled Victorian style home on our "walk" to the grocery store

* Time travel back a few years....Good ol'e Americana!!

* Hannibal Light House out on the bluff point

* The vast river view from light house point....Nice beach!!

* Everyone that knows me, this speaks for itself

* Dad...sorry Captain Steve at the boyhood home of Mark Twain

* Captain Steve at the Tom and Huck Statue

* Inside the home in his bedroom

* The famous Tom Sawyer white wash fence

* Enjoying a beer and a burger!!!

* The view entering Hannibal

* Leaving town Saturday morning at the Welcome sign

* Me with a slight bump in rank driving the boat...Captain Assistant?!

Well....well....well Hannibal Mo. you really impressed the heck out of us. We came around a majestic bluff line filled with trees starting their annual fall colors. The town of Hannibal greeted us after a long day of remote Mississippi scenery. Hannibal was a welcome site and the excitement of having a sit down dinner started to actually feel like a possibility. An excursion boat filled with tourists was docked in the harbor and we were also able to dock along the sea wall where other river boat casino and paddle boats frequent the town....and we parked for free!!! Docks on average charge about $1.25 per foot to stay per night, and we are 48' so I was immediately thinking "I am for sure ordering that big ol'e steak and a glass of Pinot Noir with the money saved!!" We were greeted by two very courteous and helpful gentlemen that ran the Hannibal Boat Club and they offered to buy us our first round at their bar just to hear about our travel plans and our adventures so far. I started the conversation by stating "Well I have not fallen in the river yet....bonus!"

Dad and I enjoyed the restaurant that Anne Balk recommended that first evening. It is called Lula Belle's and was once a famous and "reputable" bordello. Historically it is the first bordello build specifically for its purpose in the 1920's. In the 1950's, due to frequent police raids, the brothel was shut down until it was converted into the restaurant it is today. At any rate, they still had the red light on in the vestibule as we walked in.

Hannibal is famous mainly for being the boyhood home of Mark Twain. The town gave him the inspiration to write his novels such as "The adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn." The board fence which Tom Sawyer persuaded his gang to pay him for the "privilege" of whitewashing is right there in city center. We toured the Mark Twain Museum, took pictures by the Tom & Huck statue, the boyhood home, and climbed the many steep stairs to the memorial light house at the top of the bluff overlooking some of the most majestic views of the Mississippi. The view reminded me of another favorite of mine...the overlook at Eagle Point Park in Clinton Iowa with the same vast panoramic feel.

The people, restaurants, bars, and the overall historic feel of the town made it one that will stay in my memory with the hopes of visiting again someday. Maybe because growing up on a small river town myself (Fulton, Illinois) and being "mischievous" like ol'e Tom & Huck had a little bit to do with it. Dang I wish we had one more day and I could have gone on that ghost tour!!

We pulled up anchor early Saturday morning after a quick visit to Java Jive (life really is so much better with a good cup a coffee running through my veins in the morning!) Next stop, a town called Louisiana MO. to get some fresh water for the boat, a fuel top off, and pick up some supplies to keep us "Roll'n Down the River" (Dad needs more milk)!!!

A quick note: I apologise for some formatting issues. Due to lack of Internet service, I would rather get the posts out in lieu of making them look "perfect blog quality". Also, if you are a member of our blog, you should be getting notifications on your e-mail that a new blog is posted. Though you are probably able to read the text, is is just that....text. Please visit the blog so you are able to see the pictures as well.

God Bless!!!