Mississippi River

Last week we went with relatives to McGregor and Guttenberg on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River. The River has been in flood stage for weeks and was still 4 feet above flood stage after the 3 days we were there. My sister-in-law wanted to ride the ferry across the river in the worst way but the currents and whirlpools were really bad and the ferry couldn't run. It would have been too dangerous if it had run. But we had a motel where we could sit outside, right along side the Mississippi and watch barges trying to go south. They couldn't go north because many islands were covered and there were all kind of sand bars that they were getting hung up on even south of Lock #10.

Philippine Ferry Overturns and 40 Die

There was a sudden monsoon squall that overturned a crowded inter-island ferry in the Philippines. At least 40 people drowned and the coast guard said today that the captain and owner may face charges for sailing without a permit. There were seventy-six people were who rescued and taken to two hospitals after the Don Dexter Cathlyn was battered by winds and waves shortly after leaving port in central Masbate island for nearby Sorsogon province on Tuesday. This was according to the regional army commander, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Sodusta. I wonder how many died outright of fright before drowning. I think I would have. What a disaster. Without a permit, they shouldn't have been sailing at all. That is catamount to murder.