Life on the Illinois River Part 2

Part 2

Saturday Sept 12

We headed towards Peoria IL, at the same time as Here Today, so travelled along behind them. 

There were 3 choices of anchorages for the night depending on how far we got, according to the traffic of the tows, and the wait time at the lock.

Some of the anchorages were just off to the side of the channel, and we weren't too sure about how much rest we would get with the tows going by and rocking us all night.

After about 50 miles, we arrived at Lower Henry Island around 2:30 and dropped the hook into the sand. It's a beautiful cove just off the river and you can hear the birds and tree toads singing.
Finally, we see the stars again. 

By evening, 2 other boats from yesterday's journey arrived to spend the night there.  We witnessed a bit of drama when 1 of them ran aground the sand bar at the mouth of the anchorage. 

We got a lesson in how to 'rock' a boat off the sand by 'waking' it.
It's always nice to have experienced friends around to help out.

Sunday September 13

We continued South and found that there were limited places to stop. There seems to be a lot of us in this area, and the few marinas were booked days in advance.

We may need to start planning more and making some reservations too. Our plan was to go to Tall Timbers Marina at mile marker 120. It was booked for 2 days. 

The next stop was too far, so we pulled over at a dock put in at a trailer park that a couple of people had stayed at.  We are using a program on our computers called Active Captain, and it gives us locations, directions, reviews plus so much more information on the entire route we are travelling.

They had an old dock at the edge of their canal that 2 boats could squeeze in alongside, so we stopped there with Here Today.  It was tight and narrow, we needed to back in, but we couldn't believe it, we fit!
They had a little pub in their boat club called the Pekin Boat Club, where we supported them by buying a pizza for lunch. We only travelled to mile 154 so arrived around 2:30.

Monday September 14

Heading out the next morning, it was SHALLOW!  Seems the water level dropped overnight, and we were sitting on the bottom.

We needed to push on the bow end and got a pull on the stern end, to loosen the keel from the sand. Kinda like being stuck in a snowbank! We hope that was our run aground experience. They say that eventually, everybody has one.

Even the trees sit high and dry when the water levels drop.

Around another corner was a puzzling encounter. It seemed as though the river was blocked, even the binoculars didn't help us figure out what we were seeing. As we got closer we could see it was a work crew. We radioed them and the Captain explained that they were dredging. Good thing!

He gathered himself over to one side and let us go by.

Depositing the river bottom to the river bank

Another try to get in at Tall Timbers Marina, and we struck it lucky! Someone had just cancelled because it was a really windy day, and they weren't going to travel. When we arrived around 2:00, we headed to the main dock first since our slip was real tight and it was still real windy.  When we were docking, with the very experienced help of the owner, Brian heard a small scream and a large splash! He came rushing down from the fly bridge to see if Janice had fallen overboard. Not so! The screaming had come from her being carp-slapped in the face! The splash had come from the carp landing back in the water!

We had seen so many carp jumping, as they like the wake from the back of the boats, and just feel energetic all of the time! But to have one jump in the 12 inch space between the boat and the dock at exactly the spot Janice was standing, was truly a surprise! 

We got our bikes down and headed into town. We found a great little hardware store where we picked up some window screen for Brian to patch up some holes in our screens. Keep those bugs out! 

We also got some proper letters to put our name on the life ring at the stern instead of the duct tape letters Janice created, way back in Chicago.

The marina was full and we met Ivory Lady, Next Chapter, Pearl and Melinda B.

Tuesday September 15

Setting out to accomplish another few miles, hopefully 70, and we have some choices of anchorages tonight. 

We are the last of 5 boats to depart, at 8 am,  headed for the lock at LaGrange.

By the time we arrived there, we were the last of 10 boats locking through together. 

We put in our goal of 70 miles, anchored at Buckhorn anchorage along with 6 of the others from the last few days. One captain came over by dinghy to pick us up for 'Floating Docktails' aboard Gimme Time.  We sure enjoyed their company and their A/C!   Thanks!

Wednesday September 16

We depart Mile 46 at 8:00 am on our own.  Today is the day we merge from the Illinois River into the Mississippi River. We were surprised to see the magnificient white bluffs along the rivers edge.

We are booked into the Alton Marina, where there is a pool, hot tub, laundry, groceries, and a town to visit and eat out.

Tonight, Richard and Kat, Amy and AJ are having a farewell dinner for Terry and Lola of Sunny Days, and we have been invited to join them. Their group is separating at this juncture, as Terry and Lola are continuing on home to Nashville.

Thursday September 17

We stay put today and enjoy the 90 degree weather. Janice is glad the laundry room is air conditioned,
and I crack open my very first book of the trip. It's the first time I've been settled enough to read! 

We drag out our portable A/C unit for the 2nd time this trip and just cooled the bedroom enough for a good night's sleep.

We have made some plans and reservations as we head down the intimidating Mighty Mississippi. 

We have heard that Terry and Lola plan to depart at the same time we do, so it's very comforting to think that we will have such great people to have as a buddy boat for this next section.

Life on the river is very different!

Riverfront Property

The River Ferry pushes from the side.

Impressive Industry

Disoriented Fisherman?

 We are migrating South alongside the Monarchs and pre-historic looking American White Pelicans. 

Opposite sides of the wingspan scale, but headed to the same destination.

The remote locations we are anchoring in blends in the sounds of forlorn train whistles, tree toads singing, and the ever present rumble of the tows pushing barges up the river. 

Daily, we need to be alert for barges that blend into the landscape until you see the looming white tows that rule the riverbanks on both sides! So important are the instructions of the Lockmasters for waiting, anchoring, entry and exit and especially cooperating with other barges needing to use the 'pocket', if they don't make their turns the first try.

Nightly, we feel exhausted from the adventures of the day, and happy to BBQ a little meal for strength for the following day.

We're sure there will be more stories to tell!