Belleville Locks and Dam on an autumn afternoon

My computer died Monday evening, right before I had to go upriver to cover the dedication of the hydroelectric plants at the Willow Island, Cannelton and Smithland locks and dams. I got my machine back yesterday afternoon. Now I need to catch up on a bunch of writing and other stuff.

That would include processing a bunch of pictures I took Tuesday and a few after. Here is one.

This is the Belleville Locks and Dam at Mile 203.9. Like some dams in this area, it's several miles from the nearest traffic light. Racine and Robert C. Byrd (nee Gallipolis) fit that description, too. Because of Homeland Security restrictions after 9/11, the locks are pretty much closed to public access by land. There is a spot on the upper end of the property where you can watch boats locking, though.

It was 1989, I think, that I came to the Belleville locks to ride the Ashland Inc. towboat Valvoline to Kenova WV. That was the day I met Captain David Smith and several other people for a memorable time that including passing through the Gallipolis locks.