OUCH! Don't touch me, Babe! What I hoped would be a "fashionable tan" turned into a fiery burn overnight.

Face and arms are burning like fire!  Why I didn't think to wear my famous cowboy hat is beyond me.  It would have saved me a lot of pain.  I'll be wearing it the rest of the summer because I don't need any more sunburn!!
 

Something will be missing on the river for Riverfest this year.

The Coast Guard is warning people they should stay off the river this 4th of July.  The river is too high and running too swiftly to make boating safe.

NO STORMY WEATHER

Even though the forecast gives us an 80% chance, mainly before 10 A.M., for thunderstorms today, I don't see anything on consequence on the radar this morning.  That's good.  We don't need no more rain right now.  The river is high enough, Mama!

I'VE GOT THAT "SPRINGY" FEELING

THE BIG BOATS WILL SOON BE BACK

I was checking the American Cruise Lines web site, this morning, and it looks like the brand new boat, QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI, is just about ready.  This summer will see a shorter season but the 2013 season will run the full spring and summer.

This summer, I see a cruise, departing from St. Louis, scheduled for September 1, for a trip to St. Paul.  I'm assuming they'll make a quick stop in La Crosse and I'm anxious to see the new paddle wheeler.

The last time the Bassmaster Fishing Tournament was held in La Crosse was in 1983.  The four day tournament will return here, next summer, bringing in 100 fishing contestants, thousands of spectators and national television coverage and, of course, millions of dollars of revenue for the city.

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

Lowest Mississippi River Level In Over A Year

As of September 9th, the Mississippi River water level at La Crosse has fallen down to around 5.2 feet. Looking back, this is the lowest that the Mississippi has been in La Crosse since June 11, 2010!

RIVER

OLD MAN RIVER IS FALLING
The Mississippi river at La Crosse has been slowly falling for the last month and is approaching the 6 foot mark. The last time the Mississippi river at La Crosse has fallen below 6 feet was briefly in the month of March 2011 (March 14th - 17th). For comparision, the average river stage in La Crosse during the summer months is 4 1/2 to 5 feet.

I'm hoping for a dry weekend.

SAND ON THE RIVERFRONT is one of my favorite La Crosse events.  It starts Friday at 8:30 A.M., when the teams begin creating their sand sculptures, and runs through Sunday.  I'll get some pictures.

I took a walk down to Riverside Park this morning.

It's been a while since I've been down there and LHI insurance has been busy.  They've added another four story office building and a new three story parking ramp.  In the middle of all of this will be the new Community Theater.

The park is looking just beautiful this summer and I've never seen the flowers looking so good.

MISSING

The search will continue, this morning, for a six year old La Crosse boy who was last seen around 3 P.M. yesterday afternoon while he was swimming at the north end of Pettibone Park.

The last time I was at the park I couldn't help but notice how fast the river was flowing and how high the water was.  I was thinking that I wouldn't have a chance if I fell in there.  It is really a treacherous part of the river as it flows past the city.

DON'T ROCK THE BOAT!

Mississippi Explorer is adding extra cruises during Oktoberfest.  This is the cruise Rita, Roger, Paul, Dorothy and I took a year ago and it's been a long time since I enjoyed anything as much as that.

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