Upriver and Downriver

As the song goes: “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.”

For the past few days, we have been defining “easy” as watching the traffic on the Mississippi from our RV and then walking a short distance to photograph "livin'" on the Big Muddy.

Christopher M. Parsonage

The tugs and their cargo provide excellent examples of slow, almost hypnotic, movement. Upriver and downriver...upriver and downriver...upriver and downriver....

Add to the tugs and barges, this fisherman, silhouetted against the sunrise, drifting downstream...drifting...drifting....

Viking Queen

The wake produced by this tug (shown in the two photos below) produced an interesting image.

Lat Gonsoulin

I was attracted to the variety of these hardworking river workers and have identified many of those we watched as they moved their cargo upriver and downriver....

Miss Kathy

Blake Denton

Dean Cochran

Betty Brent

Marquette Warrior

Lucy Wepfer

City of Joliet

The drought has also affected the River. Barges are not as full because the water level of the Mississippi is significantly lower.

Smaller loads means more frequent trips...higher shipping costs...higher costs to all of us.

Upriver and downriver...upriver and downriver....